Mount Juliet welcomes back the most accurate putters

Amateur Scene: The identity of Ireland's most accurate putter will be discovered tomorrow, when men and women go head to head as Mount Juliet Golf Club stages the fifth National Putting Championship.

Over 40 players from across Ireland will compete on the par 53 course.

The three players with the best scores after one round will play a final round to decide Ireland's National Putting Champion for 2003.

Along with the national title, the winner will receive a Waterford Crystal trophy and a trip, as guest of Mount Juliet, to the WGC - American Express Championship, which takes place from September 30th to October 3rd next year at the course.

Mount Juliet's putting course was created by course architect, Jeff Howes, and incorporates 18 holes, varying in length from 10 to 36 yards.

Each hole has its an individual design and feature, including bunkers and water hazards, with a putting surface quality similar to the quality of the greens on the main course.

Mount Juliet's top-class greens received the ultimate accolade at the American Express Championship last year when world number one Tiger Woods, commented: "The greens are the best we have putted on all year, including the Majors. These things are absolutely pure."

Last year the management of the Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links put a number of tee-times at the disposal of the Golfing Union of Ireland, Munster Branch, in order to generate some revenue with a view to setting up a bursary/scholarship for young Munster golfers.

Twenty-six clubs in Munster were invited to run a singles competition with a tee-time for four per club as a prize, with the money generated going towards this bursary.

There was a great response with Adare Manor, Ballybunion, Carrick-On-Suir, Castletroy, Dromoland, East Cork, Ennis, Fota Island, Kinsale, Lahinch, Lee Valley, Limerick, Limerick County, Macroom, Mahon, Mallow, Monkstown, Muskerry, Nenagh, Newcastle West, Raffeen Creek, Rathbane, Shannon, Spanish Point, Tralee and Tramore all competing.

A committee was set up to undertake the onerous task of selecting the recipients of the bursary. The criteria were set out that would comply with the R & A guidelines. The bursary was subsequently advertised throughout the province, and even though it was originally intended for only two, three worthy candidates were selected in John D Guiney (Ballybunion), Ian Spillane (Mallow) and David McLoughlin (Woodstock) in recognition of their golf achievements.

The three candidates will receive a nominal sum over the next three years, subject to satisfactory academic and physical fitness progress, while attending a third level institute of education with funds subsidising golf expenses during this time.

Instigated by Jim O'Brien, general manager of the Old Head of Kinsale Golf Links, and Jack Lynch, the immediate past president of the GUI, the bursary is sure to prove of great assistance to some of the best young talents in Munster.

At the presentation of the bursary, O'Brien said "We are delighted to be able to support the tremendous work of the GUI in the youth area with this bursary. We hope this contribution will make a difference to these three young men in their efforts to gain recognition in the golfing world."

The Ladies' Golf Union has named Scotland's Fiona Norris team manager for the Curtis Cup match to be played at Formby Golf Club on June 12th and 13th next.

She will again work alongside Ireland's Ada O'Sullivan, the captain, with whom she formed a successful partnership in guiding the British and Irish team to a victory over their continental opponents in the Vagliano Trophy at Co Louth Golf Club in July.

"Fiona is a captain's dream to have as a manager," said O'Sullivan. "She knows exactly what is required and stays calm and level-headed, in even the worst crisis. And her superb organisational skills leave me to take care of the playing side of the matches."

O'Sullivan and Norris will be hoping to instil in the team the same confidence which, in the six matches from 1986-1996, resulted in B&I winning four matches to the one of the US, with a halved match at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1994.

The LGU elite squad from which most of the team will be selected was announced last month.

However, players not in the initial squad will still be considered for selection if they perform well in the tournaments prior to the team being picked.