Thirteen of Ireland’s top golfing talent will receive a total of €221,000 in funding through the Team Ireland Golf Scheme in 2020.

Additionally, 28 starts on the European Challenge Tour have been secured for Irish golfers.

Among the newcomers onto the scheme in 2020 are Conor Purcell and Ronan Mullarney, who recently turned professional.

Both golfers have experienced amateur success in recent years with Purcell winning the Australian Amateur Championship and reaching the top-20 in the World Amateur rankings when he turned professional.

Mullarney was reigning Irish Close Champion and a top-50 player at the time of turning professional.

“To qualify for Team Ireland support is an achievement in itself and this year I proposed a new way of funding all our golfers,” said team Ireland Lead Des Smyth.

“Instead of seeding the funding as we have done in the past, we have decided to equalise it across all successful applicants.”

“In my view, the efforts of all those that qualify for our support should be recognised equally. Funding for all our up and coming golfers needs to be at a level that it will make a difference and I believe that’s what we have done today, provided all our players with the same opportunity financially.”

“Sport Ireland is delighted to continue to support Ireland’s up and coming golfers through the Team Ireland Golf scheme as they transition into the professional game,” said Sport Ireland CEO John Treacy announcing the details.

“In recent years we have seen some excellent performances by Team Ireland Golf members including the likes of Cormac Sharvin, who has earned his European Tour Card for 2020 and Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow who will both compete on the LPGA Tour in 2020.”

“Through the access to the GUI National Golf Academy at Carton House, and the facilities and supports provided by the Sport Ireland Institute, Team Ireland Golf members are well placed to push for further honours in the year ahead.”

More than €4m has been provided to members of Team Ireland Golf during the last 20 years.

Team Ireland Golf was established in 1999 to assist Irish golfers, both male and female, in the early stages of their professional careers on tour. Over 100 players have benefitted from the scheme, including players such as Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne and Michael Hoey.

Image Credit: Tommy Dickson, Inpho.ie