The 2008 Champions Weekend

Once again the Darren Clarke Foundation is pleased to announce that the Champions Weekend will take place again this year.

Darren is delighted that Portmarnock Golf Club have agreed to host the Champions Weekend on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of October 2008.

Now in its 7th year the Champions weekend is an invitational event, which consists of 2 days of personal coaching and tuition with Darren. Invites are extended to the winners of our National Boys and Girls Championships.

This year we will have 13 participants in total, 5 girls and 8 boys from all over the country.

The girls are:

Sarah Louise Winter, (Carnalea) winner of the Northern and Eastern Girls Championship.
Caoimhe Quinn, (Dungannon) winner of the Midland Girls.
Patrice Delaney, (Birr) winner of the Southern Girls.
Lisa Maguire, (Slieve Russell) winner of the Irish Girls.
Leona Maguire, (Slieve Russell) winner of the Irish Ladies Championship.

Unfortunately Emma O’Driscoll, (Ballybunion) winner of the Western Girls is unable to accept her invitation as she is competing in a tournament in Brazil.

The boys are:

Michael Durcan, (Co. Sligo) winner of the Under 18 Connacht Boys Championship.
Enda Maguire, (Seapoint) winner of the Under 18 Ulster Boys Championship.
Graham Donohoe, (Enniscorthy) winner of the Under 18 Munster Boys Championship.
Chris Keightley, (East Clare) winner of the Under 18 Leinster Boys Championship.
Colm O’Sullivan, (Fota Island) winner of the Under 15 Boys Connacht and Munster Championship.
Paul Dunne, (Greystones) winner of the Irish Boys Under 18 Close Championship.
Ian O’Rourke, (Cork) winner of the Irish Boys Under 17 Championship.
Keith Egan, (Curragh) winner of the Irish Boys Under 16 Championship.

Dermot McElroy, (Ballymena) winner of the Under 15 Boys and Leinster Under 15 Boys Open Championship is also unable to accept his invitation as he is also competing in Brazil.

Ross Young, (Rosslare) winner of the Under 15 Ulster Boys Championship, unfortunately due to a recent injury is unable to participate in the weekend.

The format for the weekend will largely be the same as in previous years.

All participants will arrive at Portmarnock Golf Club on Saturday morning and play 18 holes. This will be followed by a short game clinic with Darren.

Sunday morning Darren will start with a long game clinic and some personal tuition and then all participants will play 18 holes, Darren will join each group for 3 or 4 holes.

This year for the first time we are pleased to welcome members of the Junior Golf Ireland Initiation Programme which is sponsored by The Darren Clarke Foundation.