SHORT GAME

Other golf stories in brief

McCormack wins in the west

THEY WERE both runners-up in Leinster Championships the previous week, but on Thursday last in Ballinrobe Anne McCormack and Eileen O'Brien were victorious in the Connacht Championships, winning the senior and junior crowns respectively.

Roscommon's McCormack was crowned the senior champion after a 3 and 2 victory over Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), while Clontarf's O'Brien, a 15-handicapper, completed a marvellous week as she accounted for local favourite Doris Jones.

On her way to the final McCormack had accounted for Sarah Faller (Galway) 1 up, Marie Sudway (Glasson) 6 and 5 and Lucy Simpson (Massereene) 1 up.

O'Brien, meanwhile, had been in fantastic form in the matchplay on her way to the title with impressive wins over Aine Lyons 9 and 7, Jenny Cagney 6 and 4 and Mary Gunning also 6 and 4.

• IT WAS worth the wait for Mary Walsh as she claimed victory in Pam Jackson's Lady Captain's Prize at Foxrock last week.

Walsh has been a member of the south Dublin club for 28 years and this year celebrates the honour of being president of the club.

Amazingly her win last week was her first major success.

Having filled virtually ever role at the club, she was a very popular winner of the Lady Captain's Prize.

Playing off 26 she won with rounds of 41 points and 37 points for a 36-hole total of 78 points, one better than Brid Doyle (35) - who had rounds of 39 and 38 - with Pauline Pratt (23) third on 76, while Marie Hayden (9) was the gross winner with 50 points.

MacNamara wins East matchplay

STACKSTOWN VETERAN David MacNamara, also known as "The Professor", has emerged as winner of the inaugural East of Ireland Matchplay at The European Club.

He battled through seven rounds over six months, making several changes in swing and equipment along the way, and won the final by 4 and 3 from Séamus Hughes of Courtown.

The inaugural matchplay proved a great success with players from 40 clubs taking part. It started back in October with contestants paying a once-off entrance fee of just € 60 which gave them a practice round and anything between one and seven tournament rounds with free practice rounds for each.

The second East of Ireland Matchplay, which is modelled on the legendary San Francisco City Championship and is open to men and women with handicaps up to 18, will commence in October.

• The annual UCD Women's Golf Society outing will take place in Milltown GC on Monday, July 7th, Details from Deirdre Devaney pipers@indigo.ie; or Mary P Cantrell marypcantrell@eircom.net.

Age no barrier to Vaughan

AGE IS no barrier to 94-year-old Mona Vaughan who last Sunday played in her 65th Lady Captain's prize, having joined Tipperary Golf Club in 1943.

Mona continues to walk the 18 holes but she recently invested in a motorised caddy-car to get around the course.

According to fellow club member Maurice Crotty: "Mona still enjoys wonderful health and would put those a quarter of her age to shame with her stamina and skill for the game."

Mona Vaughan, a retired Domestic Science is past captain and President of Tipperary GC and is now a treasured Honorary Life-member of the club.

 Lernihan in line-up to face Wales

DARA LERNIHAN (Castle), runner- up in the Irish Close Championship, has been named on the Irish Youths team to face Wales at Lisburn GC on Wednesday June 26th.

Joining him on the team are Andrew Hogan (Newlands), Garth McGee (Malone), Rory McNamara (Headfort), Séamus Power (West Waterford) and Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon).

Pádraig Hogan (Elm Park) is the non-playing captain.

In 2007 Ireland won the corresponding fixture by five matches to four at Ashburnham GC, Wales.

Meanwhile, the Irish Boys team to compete in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters Championship at Nizels Golf Country Club, Kent, on June 27th-28th, and the European Boys Team Championship at Bled Golf Country Club, Slovenia from July 8th-12th is: Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Paul Dunne (Greystones), Luke Lennox (Moyola Park), Richard O'Donovan (Lucan), Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park), Reeve Whitson (Mourne)

Played over 72 holes, with the top 36 and ties making the cut at the end of the second day, this event is recognised by the RA as one of only two independent Britain Ireland Boys qualifying events.

Killarney Golf and Fishing pro-am

THIS YEAR'S Killarney Golf Fishing Club Pro Am, which is being organised by the club and sponsored by Séamus Weldon, John Deere Dealers for Munster, will take place on July 22nd and 23rd over the Killeen and Lackabane courses.

"We are all looking forward to another two great days of golf on two of Killarney's three magnificent courses. Our members always enjoy playing Killarney and this competition offers everyone a splendid golf and social occasion," said Michael McCumiskey, Irish Region secretary of the PGA.

For Maurice O'Meara, general manager of Killarney, it will be the first pro-am he has organised at the club. "Last year I was lucky enough to compete in the competition and this year I will be experiencing the competition from a different perspective."

A limited number of places are available on the time sheet at a cost of €600 per team.

For further information visit www.killarney-golf.com or call the club directly on 064-31034.

Power aims for third youths title

SÉAMUS POWER from West Waterford will defend his Irish Youths Amateur Open Championship title at Lisburn GC on June 26th and 27th and if successful will become only the second player in the history of the event to win the title on three separate occasions, following John McHenry's wins in 1980, 1981 and 1985.

The field includes six Irish Internationals - Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Dara Lernihan (Castle), Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) and defending champion Power.

Included in the field is the reigning Irish Boys Close Champion, Gary McGrane from Royal Dublin, alongside entries from 28 overseas players from England, Scotland, Austria, Finland, Germany, USA and France.

Recently-crowned East of Ireland champion Eoin Arthurs, from Forrest Little, will be among the starters at the St Anne's Senior Scratch Cup on July 6th.

The 36-holes event is sponsored by Capel Developments Ltd, with a shot-gun start at 9am and 2.15pm. Entry cost is €40 with €1,700 on offer in prizes.

Details from Kate Carty at 01-833 6471 or e-mail:info@stanneslinksgolf.com