The Golfing Union of Ireland has confirmed on Monday that next year's West of Ireland Amateur Championship at Rosses Point is moving from its traditional Easter Weekend date to early April and will be played as a four-round stroke play competition, instead of matchplay, from April 4th-7th, 2019.
The reason for the move from the Easter weekend is because Co Sligo will also host the prestigious Irish Amateur Open in May, and there needs to be a miminum six-week gap when events of this magnitude are being staged on the same course.
The new format for the West will mimic that of the Irish amateur open. Four rounds of strokeplay with the cut coming in after round three - 54 holes.
It's going to be a busy 2019 nationally for Co Sligo golf club, with the introduction of a new interclub championship for over 55 players. It will be known as the Fred Perry trophy, in memory of the late Fred Perry who served on the West of ireland committee with distinction for 42 years. Teh inaugral All-Ireland finals of the Fred Perry trophy will be held on Fred's home course, Rosses Point, on September 26th and 27th next year.
