28. Jack Hume Turns Pro

3rd October 2016

Jack HUME today confirmed what everyone already knew – the man from Naas in Ireland was turning professional.

Having signed with International Sports Management (ISM) he will make his professional debut at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.

He is the last of the ‘famous five’ Irish players who made the 2015 Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) Walker Cup team to do so, following in the footsteps of Paul DUNNE, Gary HURLEY, Gavin MOYNIHAN and Cormac SHARVIN.

Jack won 1.5 points out of a possible 4 at the 2015 Walker Cup; he won his opening morning foursomes with Gavin Moynihan 3&2 against Mike McCoy and Lee McCoy and halved his final day singles with Robby Shelton.

All 10 of the 2015 GB&I Walker Cup team have now turned pro. Gavin MOYNIHAN and Jack MCDONALD also signed for ISM, Gavin straight after the Lytham match and Jack in March 2016.

Jack, who will turn 23 this coming Saturday, has been one of the world’s leading amateurs for the last few years. He made a superb start to 2016 winning both the South African Stroke Play Championship and the European Nations Cup. Results that made him an obvious choice for the inaugural Golf Bible Player of the Quarter award (for Quarter 1 2016).

He also starred for Europe in the Bonallack Trophy in March winning all four of his matches, played well for Ireland in the European’s Men’s Amateur Team Championship and was a leading contributor for GB&I in the retained (halved) St. Andrews Trophy match.

In his amateur swan song last week he helped Ireland to a best ever tied 3rd finish at the World Amateur Team Championship, finishing in a share of 11th in the Individual standings in Mexico.

Jack first came to prominence in 2010 still when he won all four boys provincial championships in Ireland, a feat never achieved before or since.

Jack will be looking for some invites on to the European Challenge Tour in the next few weeks before teeing it up at one of the European Tour’s Second Qualifying Stage events in Spain in early November.

He said: “It’s been a great year but I want to move to the next level and I can’t wait to turn professional. I’m really looking forward to the weeks and months ahead and testing myself.

“Joining ISM is a big part of it. They’ve helped a lot of players from the very start of their careers and that’s obviously a path I’m hoping to follow.”

ISM’s Chief Executive Officer Chubby Chandler said: “We’ve monitored Jack for a long, long time and he’s a player with a huge amount of potential.

“He’s got all of the ingredients and we’re excited about doing what we can to help him be the best he can be and really flourish.”

Good luck to Jack this week and in his future professional career.

ME.

Copyright © Mark Eley. All rights reserved.

2. Cormac Sharvin Turns Pro

28th January 2016

The omission of Northern Ireland’s Cormac Sharvin from yesterday’s World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) update hinted that something was afoot for the man from Ardglass GC.

A few enquiries later and it was confirmed that Cormac had turned Pro on Tuesday.  You will recall that he was one of the stars of the winning 2015 Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team delivering a 3 out of 3 100% win record.

With Paul Dunne, Gary Hurley and Gavin Moynihan all turning Pro shorty after the 2015 Walker Cup had finished that now leaves just Jack Hume from the ‘Famous Five’ (Irish players) still in the amateur ranks.  In addition to Jack the only other team members to remain amateur are the three Scottish lads, Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest and Cormac’s foursomes partner Jack McDonald.

The timing and lack of fanfare, i.e. no announcement whatsoever, for the reigning Brabazon Trophy champion was something of a surprise to me.

Cormac had suggested after the Walker Cup that he would finish his final year at the University of Stirling.  I also thought he may wait until he had some tour playing rights before making the jump.  He confirmed to me yesterday evening that the rankings had caught him out and that he had been planning to make a formal announcement next Monday (1st February).  Presumably this will still take place when no doubt more of the story and his plans will be revealed.

Clearly something has happened to change his mind ?  A financially attractive offer, the progress contemporary Paul Dunne is making or perhaps he was simply fed up of college life – who knows.  Cormac was a late starter to golf only taking up the game at 14.  He is also older than he looks, turning 23 last October.  Whatever the reason I am sure he must feel ready and now just wants to get on with it.

He will make his Pro debut at the Oates Victorian Open next week.  This PGA Tour of Australasia event starts on 4th February at Barwon Head’s Beach Links and is unusual in that men and women play together.  Well known Australian left-hander Robert Green is the defending men’s champion.  Cormac’s entry stands out a little – Tournament Information.

Good luck to Cormac ! His infectious enthusiasm, competitiveness and strong play, all evident at Royal Lytham last September, will hopefully ensure he makes a smooth transition to the paid ranks in 2016.

ME.

Copyright © Mark Eley. All rights reserved.