The Irish pairing of Olivia Byrne and John Murphy secured a thrilling win in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge Final at Royal Liverpool.
Over 100,000 golfers from all over the world entered nine-hole qualifying events in the hope of securing the opportunity to play the Championship course just days before the world’s best men’s golfer compete in The 151st Open.
First staged in 2016, The R&A 9 Hole Challenge encourages people to compete in a shorter format of the sport, with players from Great Britain and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and, for the first time, Argentina, France and South Africa participating to be one of the 38 finalists in action at Hoylake.
From the 19 team pairings, it was the Irish duo from Glenlo Abbey Golf Club – a nine-hole course in Galway, Ireland – who won the Stableford competition with a nett aggregate score of 36 points to take the 2023 title.
Following a card countback for second place, their compatriots Susan McKnight and Alan McKnight (Cork) finished as runners-up on 30 points ahead of the Australian pair of Erin Del Pizzo and David Baker who claimed third place.
Dream day at Hoylake
While three teams took home trophies, it was agreed by all finalists that the real prize was the dream opportunity to play the venue in championship conditions, including the two new closing holes at Hoylake.
Murphy said, “It’s unbelievable to have won. We come from a small little club in the west of Ireland and this is beyond our wildest dreams. We thought the prize was getting to play Royal Liverpool, but to have won is incredible.”
In challenging conditions over Hoylake, which saw nature throw wind and rain at the players, golfers with a handicap index ranging from eight to 45 enjoyed the unforgettable opportunity.
Byrne said, “It’s a tough course, especially for an amateur. I only took up golf three years ago so it was challenging, but we managed.”
Murphy added, “The course is in fabulous condition. To have the opportunity to play it is amazing, despite the windy, wet weather.”