Hynes aiming high at Headfort

Leo Hynes, right, believes the key to impressing in the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship is keeping pressure to a minimum.

Hynes, of Co Dublin’s Killiney Golf Club, will team up with Waterford Castle Golf Club’s Ryan Madigan for the Irish qualifying round at Headfort Golf Club in Co Meath on Wednesday, July 20.

They will be aiming to return to the £33,000 SkyCaddie and BMW supported final which takes place on the Jack Nicklaus designed course at Carden Park in Cheshire between August 17-19.

Hynes secured a top 25 finish last year with Patrick Devine. And 12 months earlier, he was in the top 16 with Madigan.

“Ryan used to work with me so we got together again for the competition this year again,” said Hynes.

“We both really enjoy it, and while there’s definitely a competitive edge to it we think it’s more important to enjoy ourselves first and foremost and take the pressure off if we can.

“We made the final in 2013 and missed the cut maybe for that reason but the next year we were top 16 at St Mellion.

“I want to get back to Carden Park because I enjoyed playing there last year with Paddy.”

But Hynes knows that, if he can qualify from the Headfort event, that he and Madigan will have their work cut out to do well in the final.

“We found last year that Carden Park is one of those courses that can bite you in the backside if you’re not careful,” he said.

“It’s easier to know where to miss on a course like that rather than where to put it.

“If we get through then I’ll have to give Ryan a few tips, but point him in the right direction and I’m sure he’ll be fine.

“What I like most about this competition is the camaraderie among the players when we get together.”

Also due to take part at Headfort are:  Brady Sherwood  (Castlemartyr Links Golf Club) and David Foley  (Dromoland Castle);  Kenny Fahey  and Colin Starrett  (GUI National Academy); Matthew Dunmore  and Adam Dunmore (Bundoran Golf Club); and Gary Chambers  (Killymoon Golf Club)
and Joseph Frawley  (Joe Frawley Golf & Leisure).