Bridgestone has come back on board as sponsors of the Golf Ireland Order of Merit.
The brand first got involved as Title sponsors with the old Golfing Union of Ireland in 2018 and despite the disruption caused by Covid they stood by Golf Ireland and the event last year which was held in a reduced sprint format.
The continued support at the time was a significant vote of confidence in sport, as it is again now in 2021.
The Order of Merit consists of ten events, including last weekend’s AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship at Tullamore GC, which was won by Peter O’Keeffe from Douglas GC.
2020 Bridgestone Order of Merit winner Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire GC) helped launch the sponsorship. He currently lies in 13th place in the standings.
North of Ireland champion Alex Maguire currently leads the Bridgestone Order of Merit on 573 points. The Laytown and Bettystown golfer also won the Connacht Men’s Stroke Play in what has been an impressive 2021.
O’Keefe’s win in Tullamore sees the Cork golfer move up nine spots into second place, on 493 points, leapfrogging Co. Sligo’s TJ Ford (430 points).
After losing to O’Keeffe in the Play-Off on Sunday evening in the Offaly venue, Castle’s Robert Moran jumped five spots to fourth place on 417 points.
Forrest Little’s Jack McDonnell completes the top-five after his T3 finish in Tullamore. He has moved 12 places up the standings and is on 302 points.
“Last weekend’s event in Tullamore, shows the strength we have in Irish men’s amateur golf currently,” said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly.
“Bridgestone have become synonymous with the Order of Merit in recent years, and their support for the remainder of the exciting 2021 season is much appreciated.”
“We are delighted to return as sponsors of the Order of Merit, continuing our association with amateur golf in Ireland,” said Colm Conyngham, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Bridgestone Ireland.
“We are very happy that we can once again shine a spotlight on emerging talent golfers in the early part of their career and help them on their way. It’s encouraging for all to see the continued return of golf fixtures in Ireland at all levels, including those in the Bridgestone Order of Merit.”
A minimum of three events remain in this year’s Bridgestone Order of Merit, including the West of Ireland Men’s Open in September and the Munster Stroke Play Championship and Flogas Irish Men’s Amateur Open Championship in October.
The postponed East Of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open will also form part of the Bridgestone Order of Merit if played in 2021.
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