Mangan sure to be in European shake-up at Shannon

Amateur Scene News round-up:  After narrowly missing out on her first major success in the Women's British Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Royal Portrush last week, Tricia Mangan will be among the favourites to take the Women's European individual title at Shannon GC this week.

Leading at Portrush with one round to play, Mangan, from Ennis, let it slip with a final round of 79 that allowed England's Shelly McKevitt snatch the title.

But in neighbouring Shannon, Mangan, a member of the victorious Vagliano Trophy-winning team at Co Louth, is sure to be in the shake-up.

Becky Brewerton from Wales is the defending champion with last year's runner-up, Dewi- Claire Schreefel of the Netherlands, and Spain's up-and-coming star Emma Cabrera also in the field. Mangan, Claire Coughlan (Cork), Sinéad Keane (Curragh) and Heather Nolan from the host club lead the Irish challenge.

This is the first time Ireland has hosted the event and Fáilte Ireland and Philip Lynch's IAWS have given their backing to the event, which is being run by the ILGU. A total of 25 countries will be represented at Shannon.

Sutton GC won their first Barton Cup in 1909 and Milltown were successful one year later. All kinds of records could be broken when Milltown host Sutton in the final - first leg - of the FBD-sponsored event on Sunday (12.0).

Five-time winners Sutton will be endeavouring to become the first club since Kildare GC (Cill Dara) - 1933 and 1934 - to retain the Cup while Milltown will be all out to bridge a 93-year gap to their only success in 1910.

After six months of competition and a starting line-up of 128 clubs Sutton are on a 12-match unbeaten run, with the hero of last year's final Alan Darbey - the man who holed the winning putt on the fifth tie hole against Baltinglass - again unbeaten with new partner John Taylor.

John Cody and Keith Martin are also unbeaten this year and while Sutton have no pairing from last year, panel member Bill Thompson will be seeking a fourth winner's medal with Kieran O'Byrne and Brian Wallace chasing a third.

Walker Cup star Jody Fanagan leads a strong Milltown side. A Walker Cup player in 1995 when he recorded a victory over Tiger Woods, Fanagan will be joined by former rugby international Jimmy Bowen, squash international Chris Collins, tennis international Tommy Burke and Olympic fencer John Bouchier-Hayes, while 15-year-old Paul Meagher is the baby of the team.

The Barton Cup was first played in 1903 when Bray were the winners of the trophy presented by Mr Justice Dunbar Plunket Barton for competition between Leinster clubs. Plunket Barton was president of the Golfing Union from 1903 to 1924.

Bray were again winners in 1907 and 1925 while Clontarf GC are a long way ahead in the winners' stakes with nine successes - the last in 1968 - four more than Sutton and Hermitage.

Meanwhile, Portmarnock GC and Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links will host the Darren Clarke Foundation Champions Weekend on October 11th and 12th.

"We are very fortunate to secure the support of Portmarnock and Portmarnock Links once again," said Clarke. "I am delighted to be returning to both of these great golf courses and I know the participants of this year's Champions Weekend will enjoy playing them."

Included in the invitations are the boys and girls Irish and provincial winners, who will benefit from two day's coaching from Clarke.

The Foundation recently received a major boost with Clarke passing on the €10,000 charitable donation he received from O2 for being the best Irish player at the European Open. Clarke has also agreed to donate his winnings from the Northern Ireland Challenge, a European Challenge Tour event being held at Castlerock GC on September 11th-14th.

Portmarnock will be the Leinster representatives in the Bulmers All-Ireland Senior Cup finals for the third year in a row.

Despite being without Walker Cup team member Noel Fox, Portmarnock edged out Stackstown 3-2 in an exciting Leinster Senior Cup final at Headfort GC on Sunday. The deciding match between Michael Brett and Michael McDermott went all the way to the 18th, with Brett winning one up, while Portmarnock's other winners were seasoned cup campaigners Niall Goulding and Adrian Morrow.

Neighbours Malahide were also celebrating on Sunday after their 12½ to 5½ win over Beaverstown in the Peter O'Brien Landscaping-sponsored Metropolitan Cup. Malahide laid the foundation for victory when they won the away leg 7-2 at Beaverstown and secured the necessary winning points when taking three of the top four matches in the second leg.