Sir Reg Empey and the University of Ulster Vice Chancellor, Professor Richard Barnett meet PJ Collins from the Golf Union of Ireland at the scholarship awards event in Coleraine

The University of Ulster is backing some of the county’s top golfers with academic scholarship awards for six of its students.
 
Minister for Employment and Learning, Sir Reg Empey, was on hand to present the recipients with their awards, which aim to help the sports stars progress on the fairways while also achieving academic excellence.

The scholarships are sponsored by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrew’s, supported by the Golf Union of Ireland, Ulster Branch.
 
Sir Reg said: “It is a great pleasure for me to be here as Northern Ireland is on a bit of a roll for golf,  with a number of players from here playing at the very top. It is quite an achievement for such a small place to produce so many top players.
 
“It is interesting that the University has taken such an initiative in sport as a means of access to University,  and these scholarships are wonderful.”
 
The Minister also enjoyed a tour of the facilities on the Coleraine campus which included a visit to the recently refurbished Saad Building, which houses the Diabetes Research Group and is home to the University of Ulster’s newly introduced Pharmacy degree. The Minister also toured the Learning Resource Centre at the campus.
 
Sir Reg said: “The breadth and range of activities that are going on within walking distance of each other at the University is breath-taking.”
 
Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University, said:  “Golf at the University of Ulster has been going from strength to strength and we have had a most successful year both at home and abroad.  

"Golf is one of our focus sports at the University and we are dedicated to its development and putting structures in place with the top golfing organisations to drive our vision forward.”
 
Ulster’s students have already shown the benefits of the scholarship scheme as last season they finished up winning the Irish Colleges League, the Irish Intervarsity title, the British Home Nations, and taking the team title in the European Universities competition.
 
The University of Ulster is aiming to be the number one university in Ireland for golf, and is developing plans to make the Coleraine campus a centre for golfing excellence.
 
The University has in recent months enlisted the assistance of Bill Donald, Director of Golf at the K-Club, to help develop a strategy to make Ulster an all-island leader in golf.
 
Special guest Johnny Foster, former Irish international golfer and Golf Union of Ireland professional coach, was on hand to lend his support to the upcoming talent. Johnny is a former Ulster Golf Scholar (1998-99), and during this time he represented Ireland at the Student World University Golf Championships in Durban.
 
As part of the scholarship scheme, students are offered financial assistance as well as support services ranging from strength and conditioning, sports science and nutrition, to performance lifestyle advice.
 
The students who received Golf Scholarship Awards are:

Aaron Kearney (Limavady, Co Derry)
Jack Owens (Bangor, Co Down)
Paul Doherty (Clonmany, Co Donegal)
Adam Leslie (Ballyclare, Co Antrim)
Paul Reavey (Warrenpoint, Co Down)
Louise Coffey (Newry, Co Down)

 Sir Reg Empey with some of the University of Ulster's golf scholars -
Adam Leslie, Paul Doherty, Jack Owens, and Aaron Kearney.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office, Department of Communication and Development
Tel: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk