Up-and-coming young golf stars competing at Killeen Castle this week
Second year of HotelPlanner Tour Irish Challenge at Dunsany course
This week sees 156 emerging stars of international golf compete in the HotelPlanner Tour Irish Challenge, being hosted at Killeen Castle for a second consecutive year from Thursday to Sunday.
Staged on Killeen’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Design Course, the most exciting emerging professionals in men’s golf compete for a €300,000 prize fund and valuable Road to Mallorca ranking points.
Formerly known as the Challenge Tour, the HotelPlanner Tour is an important pathway to the DP World Tour and has helped launch the careers of Major champions and Ryder Cup players including Tommy Fleetwood, Brooks Koepka and recently crowned Open Champion, Ryan Fox.
The international field at Killeen Castle is expected to include leading players from the Road to Mallorca Rankings alongside a strong contingent of Irish professionals. The leading Irish player will be presented with the Christy O’Connor Jnr Memorial Trophy and will also earn an invitation to compete in the 2026 Amgen Irish Open at Trump International Golf Links Ireland in Doonbeg.
The return of the tournament builds on the success of the 2025 Irish Challenge, which saw Frenchman Oihan Guillamoundeguy produce an outstanding performance to secure the title. Robert Moran finished as the leading Irish player, earning the Christy O’Connor Jnr Trophy and a place in the Amgen Irish Open.
The 2026 tournament arrives during an exceptional period for Killeen Castle’s touring professionals. Touring Ambassador John Gough recently secured his maiden HotelPlanner Tour title at the Blot Play9 at Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André in France. Gough carded a final-round 68 to finish on 14 under par and claim a two-shot victory, marking an important breakthrough in his professional career.
Killeen Castle’s Cormac Sharvin also enters the week following a major victory, having captured the 116th TouchStore Irish PGA Championship at Limerick Golf Club. Sharvin defeated Conor O’Rourke on the first hole of a sudden-death play-off after the pair finished tied on 15 under par. His victory places him among an illustrious list of former Irish PGA champions that includes Pádraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Des Smyth, Fred Daly, Eamonn Darcy and Philip Walton.
The achievements of Gough and Sharvin underline Killeen Castle’s commitment to supporting professional golf and celebrating excellence at every level of the game, according to Cormac Ryan, Director of Golf & Hospitality Operations at Killeen Castle.
One of the defining features of the HotelPlanner Tour Irish Challenge is the opportunity for spectators to experience elite tournament golf at exceptionally close quarters, Ryan explains.
Fans can walk the fairways and follow the professionals from hole to hole as they take on the challenges of the championship course. This immersive format gives spectators a rare insight into the skill, strategy and composure required to compete at this level of the professional game.
Admission to the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour Irish Challenge is completely free, making the tournament an ideal day out for dedicated golf followers, families and anyone interested in seeing the next generation of international stars compete. General admission provides access to the golf on the selected tournament day and includes complimentary onsite parking. Parking will be available on hardstanding and adjacent grass areas, with visitors asked to follow the directions of the parking attendants upon arrival.
The week begins with the Irish Challenge Pro-Am on Wednesday 12th August, when amateur golfers will have the opportunity to play alongside HotelPlanner Tour professionals before the main tournament gets underway the following morning.