Mallow raises €25,000 for Sugrue’s touring dream

Mallow Golf Club raised over €25,000 to help James Sugrue achieve his tour dreams at last week’s James Sugrue Golf Classic.

Co Cork club were determined to do something to help the former Amateur Championship and Southern Ireland winners on their way but were prevented from giving him the secondment he deserved when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold .

The event was originally scheduled for the whole of Friday and Saturday, but due to demand, additional start times were opened on Thursday.

Local businesses and Sugrue supporters sponsored 80 tees and holes.

Sugrue is now struggling to work his way up the rankings starting with the Alps Tour and he was immensely grateful to everyone especially main sponsor Denis Walsh of Walsh Engineering and club captain Joe Dowling of Dowling Security.

While attending the Alps Tour in Austria, he sent a video message thanking the club and those who sponsored the event, or the many who were unable to play but made donations over the phone.

“It’s great to know that people have your back,” he said. “And I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.”

His mother, Margaret, gave an emotional speech, emphasizing her son’s great pride and love for Mallow Golf Club.

Captain Dowling thanked the many sponsors and the “non-golfers and non-golfers” who helped raise over €25,000.

Older members who couldn’t play called for donations, while the raffle for the wedge that won Sugrue the 2019 amateur won a tidy sum.