The winning sentiments of Jack Buckley, Past Captain, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, the overall winner of the 2015 IGTOA Killeen House Trophy National Tournament as he proudly raised the silver trophy over his head. Jack set a new record as the only person to have claimed the national tournament title twice, having previously won in 2009 when the event was last hosted at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club on the championship Killeen Course. Jack Buckley was the 1st place Individual Prize winner and was also part of the winning 1st Place team alongside Past Captain Kieran O’Connor, Ger Lenihan, and Amy Duggan, playing on the SOL GOLF team.
The 2015 IGTOA Killeen House Trophy National Tournament was officially opened at the Welcome Reception by Mayor of Killarney Cllr John Joe Culloty at the Killarney Plaza Hotel. The Mayor welcomed the Ireland Golf Tour Operator Association and their golf industry guests, many of whom had played in the “Golf Industry Invitational Day” on the Mahony’s Point course that morning.
It was an early start on tournament day at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club who delivered great hospitality at the clubhouse and a serious test of golf on the magnificent championship Killeen Course for the representatives of the Irish golf tourism industry. IGTOA “Official Event Partner” House of Waterford Crystal displayed the “Irish Open Trophy” and the PGA Tour “Honda Classic Trophy” to showcase their close alignment with the world of professional tournament golf. Tournament Directors Brian Wilson, Golf Digest Ireland Events and Cormac Flannery, General Manager, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club managed a full draw sheet of entries for the shotgun start. The tournament was a great success with very positive feedback from competing golfers on conditions of the Killeen Course.
And while the golfers took to the fairways of Killarney, a group of brave delegates headed off on an expedition to “Discover Kerry with Pat Falvey”. An exciting day was had by all discovering Co.Kerry by land and water through Twomies Wood, on boats across the three lakes to Lord Brandon’s Cottage, and on to the Black Valley, iconic Ladies View and renowned Molls Gap before reaching their final point at the historic Muckross Park Hotel.
The Malton was the host of the “Prizegiving Ceremony & Wild Atlantic Way Banquet” with Master of Ceremonies Michael Rosney, Killeen House Hotel managing proceedings.
Minister for the Diaspora Jimmy Deenihan T.D addressed the delegates on the significant role that golf tourism plays in delivering for the Irish economy. He was keen to highlight the vast untapped potential that the Irish diaspora holds for the golf tourism industry in Ireland. The Minister further announced that he intends to engage with the IGTOA and Tourism Ireland to put in place a marketing strategy for the diaspora that would promote Irish golf tourism to the various business networks and other channels available to him.
After dinner international world adventurer and Artic explorer Pat Falvey delivered a presentation on his expeditions, his life or death experiences on Mount Everest and K2 and climbing the seven highest mountains in the world.
The Gala Prize on the night was provided by the European Tour to celebrate the return of the British Masters with two corporate hospitality tickets for the forthcoming tournament this October at Woburn Golf Club, which was won by IGTOA Business Partner Peter Finnan.In addition the prize was supported by Kerry Airport who provided two return flights from Kerry to London and two night’s accommodation with Jury’s Inn.
The IGTOA would like to recognise and thank 2015 Tournament Hosts Killarney Golf & Fishing Club and Event Partners The Malton, Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa, The Europe Hotel & Resort, O’Leary’s at The Granary and the Muckross Park Hotel.
The IGTOA would like to thank Failte Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way, Kerry County Council and Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, EZGO Ransomes Jacobsen, Broderick’s Machinery, Golf Digest Ireland Events, SWING, SOL GOLF, Oscar Jacobson, Skycaddie, Eno Wines & the Dublin Wine Rooms, Waterford Crystal, Aer Lingus, Hertz Ireland, Kerry Coaches, J. O’Callaghan & Sons, Pat Falvey Worldwide Adventures, JDM Photography and Killarney Art, Antiques & Interiors, Coole Swan Superior Irish Cream Liqueur and Killarney Brewing Company.
The IGTOA would also like to thank our “Official Media Partner” Linton Walsh, Managing Director Walton Media Group and their leading publications Golf Digest Ireland, Golfing Magazine and Golfing Weekly for their long standing support.
Tournament Winners:
Individual Competition
1st Jack Buckley
2nd Bjorn Minnie
3rd Andrew Cooke
Team Competition
1st – Ger Lenihan, Kieran O’Connor, Jack Buckley & Amy Duggan
2nd Cathal O’Donoghue, Hal McElroy, Craig Reilly & Heinz Rohleder
3rd Sinead Maher, Martin Mangan, John O’Donoghue & Tom Kennedy
Additional Competitions
Longest Drive: Gary Howie
Longest Drive: Lynn McCool
Nearest the Pin: David O’Brien
Best Score: Patsy Hanley
Photo: Jack Buckley, Past Captain, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, Winner of the “2015 IGTOA Killeen House Trophy National Tournament” presented by Gerladine Rosney, Killeen House Hotel.
