GOLF DIGEST:US OPEN champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell is to receive an honorary doctorate. The Portrush golfer is being recognised by the University of Ulster (UU), which has a campus at nearby Coleraine, for his phenomenal year on tour.
The 31-year-old, who is already favourite to lift the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, will receive a Doctor of Science degree at a gala ceremony in the new year.
Earlier this year the university appointed fellow north coast man and well-known actor Jimmy Nesbitt as its chancellor.
Vice Chancellor Prof Richard Barnett said it was appropriate to honour the success of local lads.
“We are delighted that Graeme has accepted an honorary doctorate after what has been an amazing year for him on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.
“Like our Chancellor, he is a local lad who through passion and determination has achieved excellence on the international stage.
“He has been a terrific ambassador for Northern Ireland, Irish and European golf and has fulfilled the potential that many saw in him when he won the Ulster Boys Championship in 1996 and later the Haskins Award as the top collegiate golfer in the United States in 2002.”
When he picks up the degree he will join fellow golf star Darren Clarke as an UU honorary doctor.
* Colm Moriarty of Team Ireland was tied eighth at the end of day one of the Apulia San Domenico Grand Final after carding an opening round of 69 in Puglia, southern Italy, in the final event of the 2010 Challenge Tour season – three shots off the pace.
Peter Gustafsson of Sweden, Steven Tiley of England and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria share the lead on five under after rounds of 66 at San Domenico Golf.
Gustafsson has twice missed out on securing a European Tour card by a single place in the Challenge Tour Rankings, finishing 16th in 2004 – when only the top 15 earned promotion – and then 21st a year ago.
With three rounds of the €300,000 event remaining Gustafsson has a chance of jumping from his current ranking position of 35th into the all-important top 20 if he continues his form over the next three days.
And luck may be with Gustafsson this year as he holed a bunker shot for a birdie on the fourth hole yesterday.
After 24 tournaments played across four Continents over nine months in 18 different countries, this is the climax of the 2010 Challenge Tour season as the top 45 players chase one of those vital 20 spots on offer to the European Tour next season.
