Irish Challenge

For the former Challenge Tour event played in Ireland, see Challenge of Ireland.

Irish Challenge

Tournament information
Location	County Meath, Ireland
Established	2015
Course(s)	Killeen Castle
Par	72
Length	7,596 yards (6,946 m)
Tour(s)	Challenge Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	€300,000
Month played	August
Tournament record score
Aggregate	269 Todd Clements (2022)
To par	−19 as above
Current champion
Oïhan Guillamoundeguy
Location map
Killeen Castle Location in the Republic of Ireland

The Irish Challenge is a golf tournament on the Challenge Tour which has been played since 2015.

History

The tournament was formed in 2015, hosted at Mount Wolseley Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in County Carlow. It was first time the Challenge Tour had staged an event in Ireland since 2009. ^{[1] [2]} The first event was played in October and was won by Tom Murray who beat Nino Bertasio at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff, winning the first prize of €28,800. ^[3]

The 2019 event was shortened to 54 holes after the final was abandoned because of heavy rain. ^[4] Emilio Cuartero and Oscar Lengdén were tied for the lead after three rounds and had a playoff at the par-3 17th hole. Cuartero won with a birdie at the third extra hole. ^[5]

The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ^[6] but returned in 2021 and was held at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links. ^[7]

In April 2022, it was announced that The K Club would host the event as part of an agreement, which is also involved hosting the Irish Open. The K Club would host the Irish Challenge in 2023, 2024 and 2026. ^[8]

Winners

Year	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue
Irish Challenge
2025	Oïhan Guillamoundeguy	277	−11	3 strokes	Ronan Kleu	Killeen Castle
2024	Joakim Lagergren	272	−16	1 stroke	Sébastien Gros	K Club
2023	Brandon Robinson-Thompson	272	−12	2 strokes	Will Enefer Jordan Gumberg	Headfort
2022	Todd Clements	269	−19	6 strokes	Tom McKibbin	K Club
2021	Daan Huizing	275	−9	Playoff	Eduard Rousaud	Portmarnock
2020	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Stone Irish Challenge
2019	Emilio Cuartero	205 [a]	−12	Playoff	Oscar Lengdén	Headfort
Monaghan Irish Challenge
2018	Oliver Wilson	276	−12	2 strokes	Marco Iten	Concra Wood
Irish Challenge
2017	Julien Guerrier	271	−17	6 strokes	Jarand Ekeland Arnøy Steven Brown Oscar Lengdén	Mount Wolseley
Volopa Irish Challenge
2016	Bernd Ritthammer	278	−10	5 strokes	Marcus Armitage Sam Walker	Mount Wolseley
2015	Tom Murray	272	−16	Playoff	Nino Bertasio	Mount Wolseley

Notes

1. Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.

References

1. "Challenge Tour makes Republic return at Mount Wolseley". European Tour. 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015.
2. "Harrington, Lowry and McGinley welcome Irish Challenge return". Irish Golf Desk. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
3. "Majestic Murray seals dramatic Irish win". European Tour. 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015.
4. "Play-off after fourth round cancelled". European Tour. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
5. "Cuartero Blanco seals victory in Irish play-off". European Tour. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
6. Keogh, Brian (14 August 2020). "2020 Irish Open moved to Northern Ireland's Galgorm Castle due to Republic's Covid travel restrictions". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2020. The €220,000 Irish Challenge, which was scheduled for the Republic of Ireland from September 10-13 but without a confirmed venue, has been removed from the Challenge Tour schedule.
7. "Portmarnock Links to host Irish Challenge". Golf Ireland. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
8. "K Club to host Irish Open and Irish Challenge from 2022 to 2027". Golf Ireland. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2025.

External links

• Coverage on the Challenge Tour's official site