Playing in the first of five 36-hole events forming the EDGA European Tour in 2021, Lawlor followed up his one under par opening round of 70 with a five over par round of 76.

The tournament featured eight of the top-ranked players on the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD). They competed on the same layout as the European Tour field is tackling at the Cazoo Open.

Lawlor, who has Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome, a disability characterised by a shorter stature and shorter limbs, finished ahead of Italy’s Tomasso Perrino for his second victory at an EDGA European Tour event. His maiden win came at the 2019 EDGA Scottish Open.

“An incredible week”

“It feels amazing,” said Lawlor. “It has been an incredible week. The hospitality and the course here at Celtic Manor has been amazing. To lift the trophy at the end of the week is just a pleasure, I’m delighted.

“The top EDGA players are competing and it’s hard to separate each other – whoever has a good day will win. We’re trying to get more and more people into the game and the European Tour has given us an amazing opportunity to promote the game on the world stage. It’s going to bring so many more people into the game and keep it moving forward.

“I enjoyed it. I’ve put a lot of work in; it was a long year stuck at home and I put a lot of work in hitting balls into a net. I kept myself ready because I knew we’d be back at some stage. It’s an honour playing courses like that. The fairways are lush, the tee boxes are lush. You have to blame yourself if you hit a bad shot, you can’t blame the course.”

The field of eight players will also take part in the ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational, which is being hosted by Lawlor, next week at Massereene Golf Club and Galgorm Castle in County Antrim. The event will run concurrently with the ISPS HANDA World Invitational presented by Modest! Golf Management.

“I shot one under on the first day, basically off the back sticks, which is good shooting,” Lawlor added. “We can go out there and show we have game, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what people want to see. We had fans following me and Tomasso out there today, they loved to see it. I’m lost for words – it was a great week.”

EDGA Tour Schedule

After the ISPA HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor, a new group of golfers taken from the WR4GD will participate in the EDGA Hero Open, at Fairmont St Andrews from August 7-8, and the EDGA Cazoo Classic, at London Golf Club from August 14-15.

The top four players from each group of two tournaments qualify for the returning EDGA Dubai Finale – the fifth and final EDGA European Tour event of 2021. This will be held alongside the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai on Friday and Saturday, November 19-20.

Scoring for the remaining four EDGA tournaments will feature on the European Tour’s website and App for fans to follow, while the tournament world feed broadcast will also feature updates across the weekend, with the winners also part of the main prize-giving ceremonies.

Remainder of the EDGA European Tour Schedule

• ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor – Massereene and Galgorm Castle (July 31 – August 1)
• EDGA Hero Open – Fairmont St Andrews (August 7-8)
• EDGA Cazoo Classic – London Golf Club (August 14-15)
• EDGA Dubai Finale – Jumeirah Golf Estates (November 19-20)

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The first of five 36-hole tournaments forming the 2021 EDGA European Tour that will run alongside the Cazoo Open at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales from July 24-25.

Daphne Van Outen

Daphne van Houten of Holland will tee it up at the inaugural event becoming the first female golfer to participate competitively in the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) initiative. The competition takes place under the umbrella of the European Tour’s Golf For Good initiative – the Tour’s overarching Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

The 22-year-old was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition which causes a sideways curvature of the spine, at age 12. She made the decision to have corrective surgery at age 17. In 2018, she became the European Golf Association’s Champion Women Golfer with Disability, winning the title at her first attempt.

She is the highest-ranked female player on the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), currently tenth.

“I have done a lot of amazing things with EDGA, playing in Australia, playing here with the European Tour and I played in the Diversity Cup ahead of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019,” said van Houten. “I’ve done a lot because of EDGA.

“Golf has always been a part of my life. After my operation they told me I wouldn’t be able to play golf for a year. I worked hard and shortened that to just two weeks. You can achieve anything if you have a passion for it and want to do it.”

Tournaments over next three weekends

Golfers taken from the WR4GD will have the opportunity to tackle the same course set-up as the European Tour professionals. The remaining three qualifying tournaments taking place over the weekends of the next successive European Tour events in Ireland, Scotland, and England.

Each player will participate in two back-to-back tournaments with the entry lists finalised for the EDGA Cazoo Open at The Celtic Manor Resort and the ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor from July 31 – August 1. It will be hosted at Massereene (Saturday) and Galgorm Castle (Sunday), Co Antrim.

The top four players from each group of two tournaments qualify for the returning EDGA Dubai Finale. The fifth and final EDGA European Tour event of 2021 will be held alongside the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Friday and Saturday (November 19-20).

Scoring for all five EDGA tournaments will feature on the European Tour’s website and App for fans to follow. The tournament world feed broadcast will also feature updates across the weekend.

Entry List – 2021 EDGA Cazoo Open and ISPS HANDA World Disability Invitational presented by Brendan Lawlor
Kenny Bontz (USA)
Felix Norman (SWE)
Tomasso Perrino (ITA)
Brendan Lawlor (IRE)
Ryan Brendan (USA)
Daphne van Houten (NED)
Mike Browne (ENG)
Timo Klischan (GER)

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