Cian Foley celebrates big Dunhill Links Team Championship golf success in Scotland

CIAN Foley claimed the Team Championship title alongside young Australian professional Harrison Crowe at an Alfred Dunhill Links Championship cut to 54 holes in Scotland because of Storm Amy.

Foley, son-in-law of Irish racehorse owner and businessman JP McManus, was making his 12th appearance in the tournament and said: “It was so enjoyable playing with Harrison and we had a great time.”

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Crowe and Foley’s superb nine-under-par 63 at Carnoustie gave them a three-round total of 33 under-par, clinching them victory by one shot on Sunday.

Harrison Crowe, a 23-year-old from New South Wales, earned $50,000 in prize money as the professional in the winning team, and added: “We teamed up brilliantly. I played very well on the first day and Cian came in strongly in the second round. Today we had a solid team round at Carnoustie and it’s been a lot of fun.”

A host of celebrities again graced the Team Championship, with two-times Wimbledon champion Andy Murray a particular crowd favourite in his first appearance at the event. Among the other celebrity amateurs playing were Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Murray, Matthew Goode, Ronan Keating, Tom Chaplin, Dave Farrell, Mike Rutherford, Huey Lewis, Peter Jones, Andy Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Kelly Slater, Steve Redgrave, A.P. McCoy, Kevin Pietersen, Allan Lamb, Mark Nicholas, Michael Vaughan, Schalk Burger Jnr, Morné du Plessis and Rob Louw.

Cian Foley can also now add his name to a remarkable family roll of honour at the Dunhill Links, with father-in-law JP McManus winning the Team Championship alongside Padraig Harrington in 2002 and 2006 and JP’s son Kieran McManus a record three-time winner in 2009, 2014 and 2017 alongside Soren Hansen, Peter Lawrie and Jamie Donaldson respectively.

In second place was another Irishman in Dery Desmond and his partner, English professional Jack Senior, who ended up on 32-under-par with a round of 64 at Kingsbarns.

Desmond, whose father Dermot was defending champion in the Team Championship, said: “It’s very special getting to play while my brothers and my Dad are here – we love getting away and playing together. Dad has set the bar very high for our family. But this week has been the best week of my life – an unbelievable tournament. It’s such a privilege to play alongside the pro’s, and such a great experience.”

In unprecedented scenes for the tournament, enthusiastic golf fans crowded around home hero Robert MacIntyre to congratulate him when he completed his winning final round of 66 at St Andrews – and then also surrounded his fellow Scot Murray and Hollywood actor Bill Murray, patting them both on the back and asking for autographs.

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a celebration of Links golf, played over the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, three of the greatest Links courses in the world.

With a prize fund of US$5 million, the Alfred Dunhill Links incorporates two separate competitions - an Individual Professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and the Team Championship in which the professionals are paired with amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.

This is the 40th year that Alfred Dunhill has supported golf at St Andrews – first in the Alfred Dunhill Cup from 1985, then in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship from 2001. During that time, many millions have been raised for charity.

In June 2011 the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation was established as the official Foundation of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. The Foundation is committed to developing young amateur golfers in Scotland and South Africa and also supports the University of St Andrews and the St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation, which refurbishes and preserves historical monuments in the town.