The Irish Challenge is a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour which has been played since 2015.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | County Meath, Ireland |
| Established | 2015 |
| Course(s) | Killeen Castle |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,596 yards (6,946 m) |
| Tour(s) | Challenge Tour |
| Format | Stroke play |
| Prize fund | €300,000 |
| Month played | August |
| Tournament record score | |
| Aggregate | 269 Todd Clements (2022) |
| To par | −19 as above |
| Current champion | |
 Oïhan Guillamoundeguy | |
| Location map | |
  Killeen Castle Location in the Republic of Ireland | |
History
editThe tournament was formed in 2015, hosted at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in County Carlow. It was first time the Challenge Tour had staged an event in Ireland since 2009.[1][2] The first event was played in October and was won by Tom Murray who beat Nino Bertasio at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, winning the first prize of €28,800.[3]
The 2019 event was shortened to 54 holes after the final was abandoned because of heavy rain.[4] Emilio Cuartero and Oscar Lengdén were tied for the lead after three rounds and had a playoff at the par-3 17th hole. Cuartero won with a birdie at the third extra hole.[5]
The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] but returned in 2021 and was held at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.[7]
In April 2022, it was announced that The K Club would host the event as part of an agreement, which is also involved hosting the Irish Open. The K Club would host the Irish Challenge in 2023, 2024 and 2026.[8]
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Challenge | ||||||
| 2025 | Oïhan Guillamoundeguy |
277 | −11 | 3 strokes |  Ronan Kleu |
Killeen Castle |
| 2024 |  Joakim Lagergren |
272 | −16 | 1 stroke | Sébastien Gros |
K Club |
| 2023 |  Brandon Robinson-Thompson |
272 | −12 | 2 strokes | Will Enefer Jordan Gumberg |
Headfort |
| 2022 | Todd Clements |
269 | −19 | 6 strokes |  Tom McKibbin |
K Club |
| 2021 |  Daan Huizing |
275 | −9 | Playoff |  Eduard Rousaud |
Portmarnock |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||
| Stone Irish Challenge | ||||||
| 2019 | Emilio Cuartero |
205[a] | −12 | Playoff | Oscar Lengdén |
Headfort |
| Monaghan Irish Challenge | ||||||
| 2018 | Oliver Wilson |
276 | −12 | 2 strokes | Marco Iten |
Concra Wood |
| Irish Challenge | ||||||
| 2017 | Julien Guerrier |
271 | −17 | 6 strokes |  Jarand Ekeland Arnøy Steven Brown Oscar Lengdén |
Mount Wolseley |
| Volopa Irish Challenge | ||||||
| 2016 |  Bernd Ritthammer |
278 | −10 | 5 strokes | Marcus Armitage Sam Walker |
Mount Wolseley |
| 2015 | Tom Murray |
272 | −16 | Playoff |  Nino Bertasio |
Mount Wolseley |
Notes
edit- ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
References
edit- ^ "Challenge Tour makes Republic return at Mount Wolseley". European Tour. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015.
- ^ "Harrington, Lowry and McGinley welcome Irish Challenge return". Irish Golf Desk. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Majestic Murray seals dramatic Irish win". European Tour. 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Play-off after fourth round cancelled". European Tour. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "Cuartero Blanco seals victory in Irish play-off". European Tour. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ Keogh, Brian (14 August 2020). "2020 Irish Open moved to Northern Ireland's Galgorm Castle due to Republic's Covid travel restrictions". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
The €220,000 Irish Challenge, which was scheduled for the Republic of Ireland from September 10-13 but without a confirmed venue, has been removed from the Challenge Tour schedule.
- ^ "Portmarnock Links to host Irish Challenge". Golf Ireland. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
- ^ "K Club to host Irish Open and Irish Challenge from 2022 to 2027". Golf Ireland. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2025.