Senior call-up for Kevin LeBlanc; selected for Sotogrande

Kevin LeBlanc. Picture: Pat Cashman

The Island's Kevin LeBlanc has been named in the four-man Irish team alongside Stuart Grehan, Alex Gleeson and Robin Dawson for the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande later this month.

Victorious at La Reserva in 2016, where Jack Hume also won the individual title, Ireland will defend the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande Cup from 29 March – 1 April with 18-year-old LeBlanc making his senior debut.
 
Fresh from his impressive semi-final appearance in last week's Spanish Amateur Open Championship at El Saler, where he lost to eventual champion Jack Davidson from Wales, Maynooth University student LeBlanc will make his senior bow at the classic Robert Trent Jones Snr. design in Cádiz.

"I'm delighted," LeBlanc said. "I wasn't expecting it." 

Tullamore’s Grehan, who qualified second at the Spanish Amateur before going out in round two, is one of three players from Maynooth University in the team alongside Le Blanc and Tramore’s Robin Dawson. 

Kevin LeBlanc hits to the 17th in the Radisson Blu sponsored West of Ireland Championship quarter-finals in 2016.

AIG Irish Amateur Close champion Alex Gleeson from UCD and Castle completes the four-man line-up for the 72-hole stroke play event under the management of County Armagh's John White.

The best three cards in each round will count towards the team score while all four players will also contend for individual honours.

This year’s European Nations has an added significance as it is the first event at which the GUI’s representative players will wear their new Under Armour ‘Ireland Golf’ playing apparel.

European Nations Cup, Sotogrande, 29 March – 1 April

• Stuart Grehan (Tullamore/Maynooth University)
• Alex Gleeson (Castle/UCD)
• Robin Dawson (Tramore/Maynooth University)
• Kevin Le Blanc (The Island/Maynooth University).

Rory McIlroy with the trophy in 2007

Past winners of the Sherry Cup include Sergio García, Rory Mcllroy, Pádraig Harrington, Francesco Molinari, Shane Lowry and Catherine Lacoste.

"Winning the Sherry Cup in 2007 was a big achievement," McIlroy said. "It reassured me that I was capable of competing against the best players in the amateur game and getting ever closer to my dream of professional golf."