Global event showcases Northern Ireland as a world class golf destination

Ellvena Graham, Chair of Tourism Northern Ireland, pictured with ISPS HANDA World Invitational winners, Daniel Brown from England and Alexa Pano from the US

Thousands of golf fans ventured to the majestic Galgorm in Ballymena and the wonderful links course at Castlerock Golf Club to watch the stars from the DP World Tour, LPGA and Ladies European Tour play across the two sites between Thursday and Sunday.

On Sunday, Daniel Brown from England and Alexa Pano, from the US, were named the champions of the tournament.

The ISPS Handa World Invitational, a tri-sanctioned event, featured two tournaments with 144 men and 144 women competing over the four days.

Broadcast to a potential global audience of 600m viewers, the tournament also hosted the G4D Tour at the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, which brought together 11 of the world’s best golfers with disabilities, seeing Kipp Popert, from England, emerge the winner after finishing a huge ten strokes clear of second place.

Tourism Northern Ireland has been a proud sponsor of the event for the past three years and has worked closely with the organisers and sponsors on the organisation and promotion of the event.

Ellvena Graham, Chair of Tourism NI, congratulated all those involved in organising and staging the unique sporting occasion.

“Tournaments such as the ISPS HANDA World Invitational help strengthen Northern Ireland’s reputation for delivering high-profile international sporting events.

“It also allows us to showcase to the world the breadth and quality of the golfing experience visitors can have when they too come to play in Northern Ireland.”

“Tourism NI has been proud to sponsor this truly inclusive sporting occasion which brought together men, ladies and disabled golfers to play concurrent tournaments on two outstanding courses. I would like to congratulate the three winners and all those who made this event possible and the great success that it has been.”