Costantino Rocca of Italy will defend his title this week when the Buzzgolf.com North West of Ireland Open is played for the first time at Slieve Russell Hotel Golf and Country Club, Co Cavan.
Last year, Rocca put up a superb performance in the inaugural event, shooting rounds of 70, 68, 68 and 70 for a 12 under par winning total of 276 at Galway Bay. That win, his fifth on the European Tour and first for two years, sustained Rocca's dream of playing in a fourth successive Ryder Cup Match.
However, in the event, the Italian was unable to qualify for the team - unlike the man who ran him close at Galway Bay. Padraig Harrington finished runner-up, and repeated that achievement the following week in the BMW International Open, to earn a Ryder Cup debut.
The event made history as the first 'double badge' tournament, incorporating both the European Tour and European Challenge Tour.
Also in the field are Ryder Cup players in Peter Baker, Eamonn Darcy, Philip Walton and Des Smyth. The latter came close to winning the title last year when he finished tied third, three strokes behind Rocca.
Meanwhile several of the leading lights on the Challenge Tour will be keen to improve their standing in the rankings and possibly gain the chance of a one year exemption on the European Tour.
Waterville's David Higgings, current No.1 on the European Challenge Tour Rankings, is hoping to make an impact in his homeland while Sweden's Henrik Stenson, lying second behind Higgins, is also taking part.
The Buzzgolf.com North West of Ireland Open, in association with Bord Failte, incorporates an equal number of golfers from each of the two Tours eligible has a prize fund of 350,000 euro and counts towards the Volvo Order of Merit as well as the Challenge Tour Rankings.
The tournament further emphasises Ireland's position as a leading destination on all three Tours. The country already hosts the Murphy's Irish Open, the Smurfit European Open on the European Tour. The European Seniors Tour schedule for 2000 includes the AIB Irish Seniors Open, which was won by Bruce Fleisher in May at Tulfarris GC, and the Senior British Open, presented by MasterCard, which this year moves to Royal County Down for the first time after five successful years at Royal Portrush. The Buzzgolf.com North West of Ireland Open is therefore the fifth annual European tournament to be staged in Ireland.
Buzzgolf.com, which was launched on June 15, 2000, is the first European ebusiness marketplace to serve buyers and suppliers to the rapidly expanding golf industry.
The Slieve Russell course was opened in 1992 and was the venue for the Smurfit Irish PGA Championship in 1996. Forming part of the 300 acre estate, including 50 acres of lakes, the unique style of the Slieve Russell course is sensitively wrapped around the lakes and drumlins of the County Cavan landscapes.
