Irish make strong debut in Europe

Ireland's first venture into the European Nations championship for the Sherry Cup at the Royal Golf Club, Sotogrande, last week almost came up trumps when the two teams finished second and third respectively in the nations cup, and Michael McDermott took third place in the individual event.

The tournament was reduced to 54 holes because of rain on the second day, and Ireland A (653) finished eight shots behind the winners, Wales, who shot 645 from their three best cards over three rounds. Ireland B were three shots further back on 256.

Lee Harpin of Wales also came good in the individual event with round of 71, 71 and 70 for 212, a shot better than Gongola Castiano of Spain on 213 and three ahead of McDermott, who shot rounds of 71, 72 and 72.

Limerick's Tim Rice finished 10th overall on 218, the same mark as Birr's Justin Kehoe, with Athlone's Colm Moriarty on 219 and Gavin McNeill of Waterford on 221.

England's Gary Wolstenholme, who was bidding for a third successive individual title, finished well down the field on 222 after rounds of 72, 76 and 74

Meanwhile, at a time of growth in Irish women's golf, the Irish Ladies Golf Union is concerned with the lack of numbers joining the junior ranks. A recent survey of all clubs found a healthy growth in the women's game generally, but that was not reflected at junior level.

Last week 280 delegates representing 32 countries attended the first World Conference on Junior Golf in Rome. The Irish delegation at the conference was Alan McIllraith, the GUI's convenor on junior golf; John Ferriter, of the GUI Leinster Branch; and Liz Kinchella, junior development committee of the ILGU.

Among the topics discussed at the conference were: introducing children to the game at an early age; getting golf on the school curriculums; training professionals, teachers and others to teach a basic junior programme in clubs; developing golf programmes in primary schools; increasing the number of juniors in golf clubs, particularly girls, training programmes for all juniors.

The ILGU recently introduced a junior pilot scheme in three Leinster schools, designed to introduce girls between nine and 14 to the game. Over two months, girls from Rathbeggan National School, Gael Scoil na Rithe and Mount Sackville attended coaching at Black Bush Golf Club.

One teacher from each school, Siobhan Cartur, Marianne McGrane and Mary Devine, together with the ILGU Leinster Junior Committee co-ordinated the coaching sessions.

PGA professional Shane O'Grady coached 20 girls from each school over eight weeks.

The first phase of this pilot scheme was such a success that the ILGU, in conjunction with the Golf Foundation, has decided to continue the programme for eight more weeks over the summer.

Boosted by a third round 67, Shandon Park's Alistair McKinley won the Connacht Youths Championship at Athenry GC on Sunday with a four-round total of 284.

McKinley had rounds of 73, 69 67 and 75 to win by two shots from halfway leader Barrie Trainor from Warrenpoint. Trainor led by two shots after 36 holes, but was overtaken by McKinley in the third round, and in a tense battle over the final 18 holes the Shandon Park player's 73 was good enough to take the Ken Cunningham Cup.

Local Michael Mulryan gave the home support plenty to cheer about in this their centenary year by taking third place on 298 after rounds of 70 76, 75 and an championship-equalling best of 67 in the last round which propelled him up the leaderboard.

Mulryan became the first player from the Athenry club to represent the club at international level when he lined out against Wales in the recent youths international.