The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
THE KPMG Women’s Irish Open, which is to be held in Dromoland Castle, will take place from August 31 until September 3 in 2023 three weeks earlier in the calendar than this year’s event.
More than 24,000 people attended this year’s event at Dromoland Castle’s championship course in September, a record for a women’s golf event in Ireland.
Located on the shores of Lough Dromoland, Dromoland Castle’s 18-hole 6,824 yards par 72 championship course, designed by Ron Kirby and JB Carr, was a brilliant setting for the return of the Women’s Irish Open following a ten-year absence.
The world class course, undertook a €2 million upgrade in advance of the 2022 tournament, proved to be a demanding and exhilarating test for some of the game’s top golfers in September 2022.
Mark Nolan, Managing Director at Dromoland Castle said, “We are all thrilled that yet again Dromoland Castle will host the Women’s Irish Open August 2023, consolidating our position as the home of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, of which we are all truly proud.”
The tournament was ultimately won by Klara Spilková from the Czech Republic, claiming her first LET Tour victory in over five years, overcoming Ursula Wikström and Nicole Broch Estrup in a nail-biting playoff on Sunday.
Having come agonisingly close to securing a spot in that playoff, Irish golfer and KPMG ambassador, Leona Maguire will once again tee it up at Dromoland Castle as she seeks to become the first Irish winner of the event.
The Cavan native missed out on the playoff by a single shot despite playing incredible golf over the weekend, including the lowest score of the 3rd round, a magnificent 65 (-7) which saw her charge up the leaderboard to sit just two shots off the pace going into the final round on Sunday. A final round 68 (-4) secured Maguire a share of fourth place.
Europe’s top professional golfers will once again descend on the County Clare venue in August 2023 to compete for the €400,000 prize fund. The KPMG Women’s Irish Open will also begin an exciting two weeks of professional golf on the island of Ireland with the Men’s Irish Open taking place in The K Club the following week.
Speaking about theannouncement Cian Branagan, CEO and Founder of Forefront Sports said, “We are delighted to announce the new date for the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in 2023. It is our hope that this new position on the LET schedule will kick off a festival of golf for Irish golf fans as the summer of 2023 comes to a close.
“The tournament proved to be a brilliant success in 2022 with a record number of people attending the event in Dromoland Castle and we are delighted to be returning to this world-class venue in 2023.”
Seamus Hand, KPMG Managing Partner said, “We are looking forward to the return of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open next year and seeing our KPMG ambassador, Leona Maguire play on home soil once more. We were delighted to support the tournament in Dromoland Castle last September as it returned for the first time in 10 years, continuing our ongoing commitment to the development, advancement, and promotion of women’s sport in Ireland.
“It was fantastic to see the incredible support for the tournament last year and we look forward to welcoming golf fans from home and abroad to the KPMG Women’s Irish Open next year.”
Dr. Una May, CEO of Sport Ireland commented “Following the overwhelming success of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open in 2022, everyone in Sport Ireland is overjoyed to see the tournament return to Dromoland Castle in August 2023. After such a long absence without women’s professional golf in Ireland, it was amazing to see so much interest in the tournament this year. Now with an earlier date and so close to the men’s tournament, I hope even more people attend the event in 2023 as we showcase the immense strength of professional golf in this country.”
Tickets for the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open will go on sale in January. To keep up to date with all the latest news on the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open, please visit www.kpmgwomensirishopen.ie. You can also follow the tournament via social media by following @womensirishopen on Instagram and Twitter.
