McAteer ready to rock the K Club

James McAteer has a memorable September in his sights as he aims to reach the final of the Lombard Trophy just days before his university graduation.

The 22-year-old, who has completed his degree at University College Dublin, found the sport to be the ultimate stress-buster as he revised for his final-year exams.

Prolonged spells of practicing transformed the novice golfer, who only took up the sport a year ago, into a man capable of winning his Lombard Trophy club qualifying competition with a score of 40 points.

McAteer will now team up with his Powerscourt PGA Professional Paul Thompson, above, for the regional final at former Ryder Cup venue the K Club on June 17.

The winner there will secure a dream ticket to play in the grand final, which carries an £80,000 total prize fund, over the King’s Course at Gleneagles on September 2-3.

“I am very excited,” McAteer enthused. “I’ve never played in an event like this before.

“I don’t know too much about the K Club. I watched the Ryder Cup when it was there but I’ve never played the course myself so it will be an experience.

“I only joined Powerscourt in January so I’m chuffed to have qualified, I certainly didn’t expect it but I have been playing a lot of golf recently while I’ve been studying for my exams.

“I’d say I’ve been playing at least 18 holes a week, if not 36. I just found that it was the best way to clear my head while I was revising.”

Lifelong Leinster fan McAteer has seen his handicap tumble from 19 to 13 since the start of the year, and he admits the trip to Gleneagles would be a welcome distraction as he works hard to secure his dream job.

“It’s a pretty ridiculous idea that I could be playing at Gleneagles,” he said, “although I have to admit I’ve tried not to think about it too much.

“When I’m playing golf I only ever think about my round and what score I need to get, so that helps me focus and forget about other things going on around me.

“This summer’s going to be busy for me as I try to get my foot on the career ladder.

“At the moment my first priority is getting that first job after uni. I was really happy with my degree and I feel that the best way for me to learn even more will be to go straight in and get a job within geology.

“I know it may be hard work but I’ve put a few lines out for some entry level jobs, and we’ll see what I get back!”

Other pairings playing at the K Club regional final include: Brian Cosgrove and Brendan Casey (a) (Killeen), Peter Morgan and Niall O’Connor (a) (Elm Park), Wesley Ramsay and Scott Dickson (a) (Mount Ober), and Barrie Trainor and Neil Gorman (a) (Cairndhu).