The team representing Europe in this year’s Cairns Cup – the premier handicap golf event between the USA and Europe – heads Stateside this week ahead of matches against their American counterparts at Cherry Creek Golf Club in Detroit, Michigan.
Five talented British golfers will fly across the Atlantic to represent Team Europe against Michigan from July 27 to August 3.
The Cairns Cup is a week-long golf festival that includes a pre-tournament golf day, followed by a fundraising dinner and an open day where players hold workshops for handicap groups and individuals near the host club.
The opening ceremony is followed by three days of tournament play that includes fourball, fourball and singles formats. The opening ceremony and three days of matches will be broadcast live on Cairns Cup’s social media channels and via the LIVE SPORT NOW YouTube channel.
in England Chris Aves from Barnet in London, James Gallagher from Huddersfield, Iain Millar from Alton, Hampshire,Charlie Appleyard from Thames Ditton, Surrey and Chris Foster from Manningtree in Essex are part of a 16-man European team looking to win the Cairns Cup for the first time, after losing to the Americans in the first tournament played in London two years ago.
They will be joined by disabled golfers from eight other European countries – Scotland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands – to face their American counterparts for the prized trophy, named in memory of a British disabled golfer. Billy Cairns.
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Kris Aves, who is also the vice-captain of the European team, was injured during the Westminster Bridge terror attack in 2017, which left him paralyzed and using a wheelchair. Introduced by The Golf Trust to golf for the disabled, he now regularly plays using a Paragolfer at The Shire GC.
“I am honored to be Vice-Captain of Team Europe for two consecutive tournaments and I am looking forward to competing against a strong American team in Michigan” said Kris, who attributes her success to hard work, determination, and a great support network. “
James Gallagher, who has cerebral palsy, started playing handicap golf in 2012 with British Inclusive Golf and now plays club tournaments at Meltham Golf Club. He volunteered for the inaugural Cairns Cup in 2022, before being selected for this year’s European squad.
A staunch golf advocate for those with disabilities, Iain Millar suffered a brain injury and multiple injuries playing rugby before joining the Disabled Golf Association in 2018 after five years of rehabilitation. He credits the game with helping his physical recovery and mental health and plays at Worldham GC.
Charlie Appleyard has Parkinson’s Disease but has managed to improve his disability since his diagnosis. He started playing golf at the age of eleven and is always very competitive, especially when it comes to his favorite golf match. He plays at Wentworth Club and recently competed in Holland.
Chris Foster, who played in the 2022 event, was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of five and had his left leg amputated at the age of nine. A former Great Britain swimmer, he turned to golf after an injury and became a PGA Professional at Hanbury Manor Golf & Country Club in Hertfordshire.
This event includes well-known American golfers Amy Bockertstette, former US Open champion Kim Moore (US Captain) led by European Dutch golfer Tinke Loogman.
The event is supported by major golf companies, including Sun Mountain, Mizuno, Titleist, Adidas, and 5iron Golf and Purpose Media are team sponsors.
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