Tom McKibben and Steven Davis head up Pro-am at Galgorm - with FREE admission for spectators!

ON Tuesday (July 23) Tom McKibben will compete in the Northern Ireland Open Pro-am event at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

The 21-year-old from Newtownabbey will line up with the likes of Steven Davis, Aaron Hughes, Stuart Dallas and Linfield manager David Healy in the event which offers FREE ENTRY for all the family.

McKibben has played in many Challenge Tour events when starting out in his career, saying there are hugely competitive with great players from all over the world.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to Galgorm in what promises to be a great week,” said McKibben, who turned professional in 2021 and won his first DP World Tour title at the Porsche European Open in 2023.

For the Pro-am and NI Open register for tickets on www.niopen.golf

Meanwhile, Pro-am player Davis equalled Pat Jennings’s Northern Ireland record of 119 caps (September 7, 2020).

On October 8 that year he played his 120th match for NI against Bosnia and Herzgovina in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying play-offs to become the most capped player in their history.

The former Ballymena Academy pupil is looking forward to the Pro-am.

Aso taking part will be GAA’s Terence McNaughton, Neil McManus and Oisin McConvile.

From Rugby there will be Stephen Ferris, while sport broadcasters Liam Beckett and Joel Taggart are included in the line up.

NI Open

Meanwhile, the Black Desert NI Open presented by Tom McKibbin, returns to the Challenge Tour schedule for the first time in four years, with Galgorm ready to welcome some of golf’s future stars alongside former DP World Tour winners from July 23-28.

Galgorm will play host for a ninth time on the Challenge Tour, and a strong field is set to tee it up at the renowned County Antrim venue that hosted the 2020 Irish Open on the DP World Tour.

Hospice is official charity

Northern Ireland Hospice is delighted to be named as the Official Charity for this year’s Black Desert NI Open.

This further enhances the longstanding relationship McKibbin has with the local charity, as he has been an Ambassador for NI Children’s Hospice since 2016.

The DP World Tour winner has been involved with the charity since he was 13.

Lauren Doherty, NI Hospice’s Interim Director of Brand and Income, said they are proud to have Tom as their Ambassador for NI Children’s Hospice.

“We are also delighted to be involved for the first time with the prestigious NI Open. It will be a fabulous few days of golf at Galgorm and a great opportunity to raise awareness and support for our mission,” said Lauren.

“With the widening gap between our costs and the statutory funding we receive, this partnership with the NI Open will help us make a real impact in providing our specialist care to those who need our help the most – local babies, children, and adults with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.”

‘Wee Course’

NI Hospice will be set up at Galgorm’s ‘Wee Course’, the six-hole short game area where everyone is welcome to visit.

A number of activities will take place where members of all the family can play a few holes or try golf for the first time, while raising much-needed funds for the local charity.

All clubs, balls and equipment will be provided.

Tournament week at Galgorm commences with the popular NI Open Pro-am on Tuesday (July 23) where a host of local sport and entertainment celebrities will play in the fun team format alongside their designated professionals.

The Challenge Tour event gets under way from Thursday (July 25-28) and promises to be one of the most high-profile events on the tour’s schedule this year.

A host of leading players will make up the international field, including Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen who will be one to watch.