Short Game

A round-up of today's golf news in brief

Collins cruises on home course

A superb round of flawless golf from host club member Gary Collins saw him win the penultimate Rosslare Alliance outing last Monday.

On a testing course, Collins, who is one of the Rosslare Fred Daly All-Ireland winning team for the past two years, played some excellent golf which included five birdies and no dropped shots as he recorded 41 points to win the gross prize by three points from St Helens Bays Glen Robinson.

In the nett category Peter Jones of Coollattin edged out Liam McNamara of Rosslare on a countback after both shot 38 points. The final outing for the Alliance is on March 22nd and places on the timesheet are available at 053-9132032.

Woodbrook back on ILGU calender

THE Woodbrook Ladies Scratch Cup, last played in 1993, when former international Kate McCann won the title, is back on the ILGU calendar.

This year’s event, which is confined to the top 60 players with a handicap of 12 or less, takes place at Woodbrook GC over 36 holes on Sunday, April 11th.

The event carries Order of Merit points in the girls, women and senior rankings. Entry forms are available on the ILGU website or www.woodbrook.ie.

MALAHIDE GC is the venue for this year’s Best Cup draw which will take place on Wednesday, March 24th, at 7.30pm.

Weather permitting, a nine-hole competition for those attending – there is no timesheet so just turn up anytime from 3pm and go and play. Entry in pro shop – no charge.

Hollystown are the defending champions of a competition that started life in 1961 as the Inter-Club Rabbit’s Cup so this year is the 50th playing of the event.

The format is five fourball matches home and away, on the same day, for players with handicaps 19 plus.

Entry Fee is € 50 and payable to Paddy Conlon. Details at 087-2141918 or e-mail: bestcup@eircom.net

Kerrigan success on Hilary outing

THE third outing in the Hilary Golfing Society series took place in Seapoint last Sunday. A course measuring 6,500 metres combined with a stiff breeze made scoring conditions tough.

Shane Kerrigan a six handicapper from Beaverstown returned a level par 72 to beat Scott Williams – off four – from the Castle on the back nine. Third prize went to Conor O’Rourke (1) from Naas who finished birdie,birdie, eagle for 73.

Ian Brennan from Greenore (+1) collected the gross prize with 72.

Gary Cullen from Beaverstown was the professional winner with a fine 67, finishing in style with birdies on each of the last four holes.

Cullen was joined by Barry Morris from Donabate and Con O’Donovan from Royal Dublin in capturing the team prize with a 10-under-par total 62.

There are a limited number of times available for next Sunday outing to Royal Dublin. Email alanlevey60@gmail.com.

Cutler, Dunbar and Dunne in Britain and Ireland squad

THREE Irish players – Paul Cutler from Portstewart, Alan Dunbar from Rathmore, and Paul Dunne from Greystones – have been named in the Britain and Ireland squad for this year’s St Andrews Trophy Match, which will be played at Golf Club Castelconturbia, Italy, on August 27th and 28th.

The squad contains 18 players from whom the nucleus of the nine-man team to face the Continent of Europe will be drawn.

It is anticipated this 18-man squad will also form the basis for selection of the BI team to contest the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland, next year.

Four 2009 Walker Cup team members – Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Haines, Stiggy Hodgson and Chris Paisley – add valuable experience to the squad, while talented young players, like 2009 Scottish Amateur Champion David Law, and Dunne, who captained BI to victory over the Continent of Europe in the 2009 Jacques Leglise Trophy Match, add considerable depth.

This year, Nigel Edwards will be taking charge of his first BI team after being named as captain for both the St Andrews Trophy against the Continent of Europe, and the 2011 Walker Cup against the USA.

“We’ve selected a very strong initial squad for this year’s match. Every one of the 18 players is more than capable of excelling at the highest levels of the amateur game,” said Edwards, a playing member of victorious St Andrews Trophy teams in 2002, ’04 and ’06.

Irish tour launched for top amateurs

A new amateur golf tour for those with a handicap better than nine is set to tee off at Fota Island on Sunday, March 21st.

The TopGolfer Tour, as it is been called, has been created especially for Ireland’s top amateur club golfers and will incorporate 30 scratch cups, countrywide.

TopGolfer is represented by former European number one Ronan Rafferty. “I’m really excited to be a TopGolfer ambassador,” said the ex-Ryder Cup star. “If you’ve managed to get your handicap down to nine or better, then you’ve earned the right to compete on the TopGolfer Tour. This is a unique way to meet and compete with top golfers across Ireland and feed your competitive spirit.”

The tour will run from March until September with events spread throughout the four provinces. Venues include Enniscrone and Westport in the north west, Galgorm Castle in the north, Lee Valley and Fota Island in the south, Faithlegg, Rosslare and Mount Wolseley in the south east, Glasson and Dunmurry Springs in the midlands, and St Margaret’s, Bray and Castle in the east.

The winner of each event will be invited to compete in the TopGolfer Tour Championship, a three-day finale at the end of October.

Further details are on www.topgolfer.ie or phone (01) 2764141 or email office@topgolfer.ie

Mallon makes use of local knowledge

LOCAL knowledge proved beneficial on Saturday as Connor Mallon, from Narin Portnoo, won the latest North Western Golfing Alliance outing around his own course. The scratch golfer shot a round of 68 to win the nett category by three strokes from Letterkennys Danny McLaughlin (16) with Mark Patton (12) of Strabane third on 72.

Team Irelands Michael McGeady won the gross with a score of 73, one better than David McGough (4) from North West, with host club golfer Finian O’Doherty next best on 78.

The next outing of the Alliance is on Saturday March 13 at Rosapenna (Sandy Hills).

Meanwhile, the Boyne Links Alliance outing to Roganstown on Thursday was won by Geoff Loughrey with a score of 67, five clear of Bobby Brady from Headfort, while Michael McGrane (4) took the Amateur prize.

Their next outing is to Killeen Castle on Thursday and entries can be made on 041 9828793.