The EBC Invitational is here and Round 1 did not disappoint.
On Tuesday 5 May 2026, EBC Group hosted the first of five invite-only qualifying rounds at the spectacular Hollinwell Golf Club (The Notts Golf Club) in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Glorious sunshine, immaculate course conditions, and a highly competitive field made for a truly memorable day’s golf.
It’s a tournament series organised by EBC Group, bringing together an exclusive field of invited guests across five qualifying rounds held at some of the finest golf courses in the country. Each round is a chance for players to stake their claim, with the strongest performers across the series earning a coveted place at the grand final.
That final takes place on 1 October 2026 at the prestigious JCB Golf & Country Club, one of the most stunning venues in the Country. It’s a prize worth competing for, and after Round 1 at Hollinwell, the race to be there is already well and truly on.
Players arrived from 9:30am to a warm welcome, with registration followed by bacon baps, tea, and coffee in the private clubhouse section exclusively reserved for the EBC Invitational. With a private area of the clubhouse to call their own throughout the day, guests were able to relax, get acquainted, and soak in the surroundings of one of the finest golf courses in the East Midlands.
Before the first tee shot was struck, the driving range was buzzing with activity. With golf balls supplied and the range in excellent condition, players took the opportunity to dial in their swings and sharpen their short games on the putting green. Competition may not have officially begun, but the focus and determination were already evident.
With tee times commencing from 11:03am, the field headed out into stunning sunshine across Hollinwell’s championship layout. The format for the day was Individual Stableford, with two additional competitions to add extra excitement throughout the round:
As you might expect from an IT company, EBC Group couldn’t resist bringing some cutting-edge technology to the course. Trackman, the world’s leading ball-tracking system was set up on Hole 4, giving players real-time data on ball speed, launch angle, carry distance, and spin rate. It was a brilliant addition that had players engrossed in their stats and added another layer of competition to the day.
After 18 holes in outstanding conditions, the Stableford scores were tallied and the leaderboard confirmed. The standard of golf was exceptional throughout, here’s how the top 13 finished:
Congratulations also to our special prize winners on the day:
Matt Ross for Nearest the Pin on Hole 9
Sam Lowes for Longest Drive on Hole 18
With all 4-balls completing their rounds, players reconvened in the private clubhouse section from 4:00pm for a well-deserved post-golf meal. The atmosphere was fantastic — great food, great conversation, and the buzz of competitors comparing scorecards after a superb day on the course.
The evening was rounded off in style by Richard Lane, CEO of EBC Group, who took to the floor to present the prizes and announce the winners. It was a fitting and celebratory end to a brilliant first qualifying round — and a moment that highlighted just how special this tournament is set to become.
Round 1 may be in the books, but the EBC Invitational is just getting started. Four more qualifying rounds remain, with the next event heading to the iconic Lindrick Golf Club.
Details on the date and tee sheet will be announced soon, so watch this space.
The leaderboard is taking shape and the race for a place at the grand final at JCB Golf & Country Club on 1 October 2026 is well and truly on. Who will be there come October? The competition is only going to heat up from here.