Kilpatrick ‘has what it takes’ to win NI Open title

Banbridge man Richard Kilpatrick with Ballyliffin GC Captain Phelim Davenport after winning the Ballyliffin Pro-Am last month. Now he is hoping to carry on that form at Galgorm.

The 33 year-old is playing in the Northern Ireland Open from Thursday and, fresh off the back of a Pro-Am victory in Ballyliffin, he’s aiming for top spot.

“I’m playing well and I know the course very well at Galgorm,” he told the ‘LEADER.’

“I know I have what it takes to win the event but I’ll just go there focusing on playing well and see what I can do.”

The NI Open has gone from strength to strength, attracting over 34,000 visitors last year with even more expected to flood through the gates over the course of the four-day tournament this weekend.

“It’s a great course and they always run a really great event,” said Kilpatrick.

“The locals support it really well and there are always plenty of people filling the grand-stands.

“Any time I play a Challenge Tour event, all the players always talk about looking forward to getting to Galgorm for the NI Open.

“It feels more like a European Tour event than a Challenge Tour tournament.

“At a normal Challenge Tour event, if we got three or four thousand, that would be well supported so everyone looks forward to this.”

Kilpatrick will need to improve on his last performance at Galgorm, when he missed the cut by five shots in 2013.

Richard didn’t play in the event last season but should he fulfil his dreams of a winning return, he would net a cool €27,200 in prize-money.

The Banbridge GC Pro is already looking ahead to the remainder of his season and another chance to make it onto Europe’s top golfing platform.

He said: “After this, my aim is the same as every other year, to get down to Tour School and get onto the European Tour.”

“At a normal Challenge Tour event, if we got three or four thousand, that would be well supported so everyone looks forward to this.”

Kilpatrick will need to improve on his last performance at Galgorm, when he missed the cut by five shots in 2013.

Richard didn’t play in the event last season but should he fulfil his dreams of a winning return, he would cash in a cool €27,200 in prize-money.

The Banbridge GC Pro is already looking ahead to the remainder of his season and another chance to make it onto Europe’s top golfing platform.

He said: “After this, my aim is the same as every other year, to get down to Tour School and get onto the European Tour.”