Reigning British Amateur champion, Alan Dunbar will make his professional debut this week in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
Dunbar has received an invitation tee-up in Europe’s secondary Challenge Tour’s Challenge de Madrid being staged at the El Encin Golf Hotel course at Alaca de Henares.
The 22-year old Northern Irishman captured last year’s British Amateur title at Royal Troon in Scotland to also qualify for the recent Masters at Augusta National, and his decision to join the play-for-pay ranks means missing out on contesting June’s US Open at Merion in Pennsylvania.
Dunbar has signed with the England based International Sports Management who also look after the business affairs of Open Champions Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Clarke, past Masters winner Charl Schwartzle and along with former World No. 1 Lee Westwood.
Dunbar went into the season’s first Major in good form having defeated reigning US Amateur champion, Stephen Fox a week earlier in the Georgia Cup in Atlanta.
However Dunbar’s maiden Masters showing was disappointing when he signed for scores of 83 and 77.
Dunbar arrived back to Portrush tweeting: “Thanks everyone for the support! Augusta 1, dunbar 0!”
Joining Dunbar in Madrid will be amateur Javier Ballesteros, the 26-year old son of the late, great Seve Ballesteros. Ballesteros qualified for the event in capturing the recent Madrid Amateur title and intends remaining an amateur for a few more years.
Dunbar has also accepted invitations to contest the following week’s Challenge Tour Montecchia Golf Open in Padova, Italy. He will also compete in the Maderia Islands Open starting on May 16th.
His first full European Tour event invitation will be the May 30th commencing Nordea Masters in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Montecchia Golf Open presented by POLAROID
- Golf Club della Montecchia,Padova,Italy
