Record-setting Maybin wins NCAA play-off slot

AMATEUR SCENE/News Round-up: Irish international and former Northern Ireland champion Gareth Maybin will join a top-class field for the NCAA play-offs on the US collegiate circuit in the East Regional in New Haven, Connecticut, starting on Thursday.

Maybin has been handed an individual place in the field after his university failed to make the play-offs. The Ballyclare member, a student at South Alabama University, has recorded four tournament victories this season and has finished in the top 10 in eight of the 10 tournaments in which he competed.

Maybin, an all-Sun Belt Conference (SBC) selection for three consecutive years, finished first at the SBC Championships on April 19th-20th. And he became the US's all-time record holder for most individual honours (eight) when he passed Heath Slocum's record of seven this season. Maybin is ranked 40th by Golfstat, which administers the computer rating used by the NCAA Championship selection committees.

Maybin will begin play on Thursday at the Yale Golf Course. The top two individuals from non-advancing teams in the region will advance to the NCAA Championships held at Cascades Golf Course in Hot Springs, Virginia, from June 1st to 4th.

Also seeking a place in the June showdown will be Richard Kilpatrick from Banbridge. The Ulster youth is a member of the Toledo University side that will contest the NCAA West Regional at the Sunriver Resort's Crosswater Club course, also starting on Thursday. The 54-hole tournament features 27 schools, and the top 10 finishers receive a berth to the NCAA Championships.

Michael McGeady, from the North West club, was one of only three Irish players to make the cut at the Brabazon Trophy at the West Lancashire Golf Club over the weekend. McGeady finished 11th behind the winner, England's Matthew Richardson.

Richardson carded a closing 67, the best round of the day, for a nine-under-par total of 279, one ahead of Sam Osborne, who closed with 71, and two clear of fast-finishing Scot Graeme Brown.

Richardson looked out of the hunt after a third round 73 left him trailing Osborne and French champion Julien Millet by three strokes. But the 19-year-old from The Buckinghamshire club launched a swift fightback with four birdies in the opening seven holes to set up the victory.

McGeady was just two shots off the pace at the halfway mark after opening rounds of 72 and 68, but a 74 in the third round left him with a lot to make up and he closed with a 72 for 286. Clubmate Brian McElhinney finished on 289 after rounds of 72, 72, 75 and 75, while Johnny Foster came in on 291 after rounds of 71, 63 76 and 71.

Seán McTernan, of Co Sligo, missed the cut (145) by two shots after rounds of 74 and 73, the same mark as Warrenpoint's Barry Trainor, with Dunmurry's Darren Crowe a shot back on 148. Stephen Crowe of Dunmurry finished on 150, Mark Campbell of Stackstown was on 155 and Michael Sinclair of Knock was on 157.

Meanwhile, Deirdre Smith, winner of the Lancôme Irish Ladies Close Championship at The Island Golf Club on Saturday, is one of eight players named by the ILGU for the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews on June 19th-20th and the British Women's Open Amateur Championship at Gullane, Muirfield, on June 22nd-26th.

Smith will be joined by Curtis Cup player Claire Coughlan from Cork, beaten Close finalist Tara Delaney (Carlow), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Maura Morrin (Curragh), Gillian O'Leary (Cork) and Karen Delaney (Carlow) in both events. Coughlan, Tara Delaney and Gillen will make up the Irish side for the team event at St Andrews.

Gillen finished second last year, just two shots behind the winner, Karin Borjeskog of Sweden, with Mangan fourth.

This year the entry also includes US Curtis Cup team members Sarah Huarte and Annie Thurman. This year the event is over 36 holes, instead of 54, because the British Women's Amateur Championship is at Gullane the same week.

Maura Morrin will defend her MacGregor-sponsored Leinster Championship at Forrest Little Golf Club starting next Monday. Also in the field is Deirdre Walsh (Milltown), a semi-finalist in the Close, Maria Dunne (Skerries), Sinead Keane (Curragh) and Vicki Power (Brompton Park).

The Senior and Junior championships begin with qualifying rounds on Monday followed by the matchplay on Tuesday and Wednesday.