Sugrue looking forward to the Team Championship
Ljunghusen, Monday: The day before the start of the European Amateur Team Championship a happy British Amateur Championship winner shines together with the Swedish summer sun: James Sugrue, Ireland.
Portmanock GC two weeks ago: A very happy James Sugrue lift the trophy to the sky with a big smile on his face.
No wonder. Soon he´ll be playing the British Open at Royal Portrush, and next year he´s got exemption to both US Masters and US Open.
But first things first. This week James and his teammates in the Irish Team aim for the medals in the 2019 European Amateur Team Championship at Ljunghusen GC, in the very south of Sweden.
- We have a strong team and we have fairly high expactations. It´s a nice course, a mix between links and heatland, and it´s quite windy, he says.
The wind is a challenge even though he and the rest of the Irish team is used to it from back home.
- We are used to it, yes, but it’s quite windy so it will be a challenge. It´s not what I expected. I packed a lot of shorts and t-shirts.
Magnus Jivén, General Manager at Ljunghusen GC, and his staff have worked hard and long to prepare both the course and the staff, with a lot of volunteers, for this week.
- Simon Månsson, our course manager, and his team have done a great job getting the course in best shape, and our staff and volunteers are enthusiastic about starting the tournament.
About the wind and what hole that can be crucial for the fight about the medals, Jivén says:
- Without wind Ljunghusen Golf Course is fairly easy, so a slight breeze is pretty nice for the championship. I think the 17th hole, a short par four, can be the crucial one. You need to keep the ball in play, you don´t want to be out in the heather, I promise you…
See todays interview with James Sugrue here!
Text & interview: Thomas Björn, press officer