CANON SPONSOR IRISH YOUTHS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The Golfing Union of Ireland has concluded a new sponsorship deal with wide reaching implications for youths golf.

Canon will sponsor the Irish Youths Amateur Open 72 holes Strokeplay Championships which will become the Irish qualifier for the Canon European Under 21 Golf Championship. The leading two Irish players will qualify for the Final of the Canon European Under 21 Golf Championships to be held at Almenera Hotel-Golf, Sotogrande on 2nd and 3rd October 1999.

Richard Denton, Sponsorship and PR Manager for Canon Europa said: "We have been delighted with our entry into amateur golf at European level and now feel that the time is right to develop a close relationship with the Golfing Union of Ireland."

"Ireland have had many fine winners of their Youths Championship and we welcome the opportunity of seeing their top players in the final of our Canon European Under 21 Golf Championship, won last year by Sergio Garcia of Spain."

Last year's Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship at Headfort resulted in an exciting finish in which Lana Murray from Greystones defeated David Jones from City of Derry at the second extra hole of sudden death, following a three holes play off.

The 1999 Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Canon, will be played at Cork Golf Club on Thursday and Friday, 24th and 25th June and will be preceded by an international match between Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, 23rd June, at the same venue.