Mullingar Scratch Trophy behind closed doors for first time this weekend
Initiated in 1963, the prestigious Mullingar Scratch Trophy, one of the country’s top events for amateur golfers, has gone from strength to strength.
This year’s hosting of the event by Mullingar Golf Club marks the club’s 58th consecutive staging of the trophy, which this year is once again sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt and Davitt and Pinergy.
With a practice day for competitors scheduled for Friday August 14, the main event takes place over the following two days, August 15/16. However, due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, for the first time in its history the competition will be played behind closed doors.
This year, 90 competitors will start on Saturday and after two rounds this number will be whittled down to 39. On Sunday, those who had made the cut will play an additional two rounds before the eventual winner is announced.
For amateur golfers this two-day, four rounds of golf contest is very demanding and the winner of this trophy will be truly deserving. He will be following in the footsteps of some of the great names in Irish golf including Joe Carr, the inaugural winner, Open Champion Winners Darren Clarke (1989), Padraig Harrington (1994), Rory McIlroy (2006) and Shane Lowry (2008), as well as several European Tour winners and Walker Cup players.
This year two local players, Liam Grehan and Adam Smith (pictured above), made the draw and the club wishes them the very best in their endeavours to capture the prestige title of winner of the Mullingar Scratch Trophy 2020.
The Mullingar Scratch Trophy could not proceed without the generous support of sponsors Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt and Davitt and Pinergy and the club thanks them for their continued support, particularly in these difficult and uncertain times.
Many people have contributed to the success of the tournament over the years including past and present club Captains, Presidents and committees. They have all worked very hard to make it a success, none more so than Mr Albert Lee who is synonymous with the Mullingar Scratch Trophy.
For anyone interested in following the progress of the competitors live scoring and news will be available throughout the championship at www.golfnet.ie.