The Short Game

Ladies' club finals: The final of the inaugural All-Ireland AA Insurance Ladies Championships gets under way at Headfort Golf Club tomorrow when 128 golfers will tee off with the hope of landing one of the six trophies on offer.

Two clubs hopeful of success are Craddockstown from the Eastern district and Courtown from the Midlands district. Craddockstown have earned a place in no fewer than three competitions: the Junior Cup, Intermediate Cup and the Senior Foursomes.

Courtown will face strong competition from the Western district when they meet Galway in the Junior Cup and Galway Bay in the Minor Cup.

Order of play: Wednesday: Senior Foursomes semi-finals - Craddockstown v Limerick (9.0); Ballinrobe v Carlow (9.30). Junior Foursomes semi-finals: Shandon Park v Ardfert (10.0); Strandhill v Rosslare (10.30); Challenge Cup semi-finals - Lucan v Castletroy (11.0); Oughterard v Boystown (11.45).

Thursday: Junior Cup semi-finals - Craddockstown v Killarney (9.0), Galway v Courtown (9.0 - 10th tee). Intermediate Cup semi-finals: Craddockstown v Ballybunion (9.40). 10th Tee - Mountbellew v Moate (9.40). Final Senior Foursomes 12.30. Final Junior Foursomes 12.30 (10th tee). Challenge Cup Final (1.0). Minor Cup semi-final - Malahide v East Cork (1.40); 10th Tee - Galway Bay v Courtown (1.40).

Friday: Junior Cup Final (9.30); Intermediate Cup Final (9.50). Minor Cup Final (10.40).

Mortimer scores

David Mortimer is enjoying golf life these days. On the heels of winning the PGA Irish Championship at Druids Heath, the Newlands assistant qualified at PQ1 last week at St Annes Old Course, and then returned home to win the annual Connemara Pro-Am tournament on Sunday.

Mortimer spent his amateur days at Connemara, and made it two-in-a-row of victories there as he retained the honours he won last year. The event was sponsored by Bark Island Development, and Mortimer shot rounds of 67 and 68 for a nine-under-par total and a two-shot margin over Geoff Loughrey.

The winning team was captained by Fortwilliam professional Peter Hanna, who had as his amateur partners Charlie Monaghan (Dundalk), Peader Flynn (Ballina) and Phillip Dillon (Co Louth). They totted up 178 points over the two rounds.

England look strong

Christine Quinn, the new Senior Ladies' British Open Amateur Strokeplay champion, will lead England in their bid for a fourth successive Seniors' Home Internationals crown at Hamilton Golf Club, starting today.

Quinn, the 2005 English Senior Ladies' champion, eased to a six-shot victory in the national championship at Dumfries & County, and will head into the annual four-cornered event in buoyant mood as England look to continue their dominance of the matches.

Quinn is one of five members of last year's triumphant English side who are back in the seven-strong team for this year's title defence.

That number includes Christine Stirling, Christine Watson, Carole Caldwell and Pat Wrightson, while Susan Pickles and last year's English Senior Matchplay champion, Geraldine Bray, complete an impressive line-up.

Scotland, runners-up last year at Radyr, can call on the vast experience of three-time Scottish Seniors champion Pam Williamson to lead their title challenge.

Mary McKenna, the eight-time Irish champion and the captain of the Britain and Ireland team for the 2007 Vagliano Trophy and 2008 Curtis Cup, is included in Ireland's squad.

Former Curtis Cup player Vicki Thomas, who has won both the Welsh Strokeplay title and the Irish Seniors' Open crown this season, will be hoping her individual success can rub off on her team-mates and help Wales make a strong challenge for honours.

IRELAND: Elaine Bradshaw, captain; Rhona Brennan, manager, Roma English (Larne), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine), Eileen MacMullen (Donegal), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe), Mary McKenna (Donabate), Sheena O'Brien Kenney (Grange).

East Alliance returns

The East of Ireland Alliance, at the European Club in Wicklow, resumes on Wednesday, October 11th, and every Wednesday to December 20th; and again from January through April.

The alliance has been part of winter training at various times for such as Padraig Harrington, Eamonn Darcy, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and others over the years.

This year, in recognising that many keen players are seeing their handicaps drift out to double-digits, thus eliminating them from most alliances, the maximum handicap has gone out to 12.

To accommodate this the prizes on offer will be in two classes - gross and nett - which will be decided weekly by determining the mid-handicap in the field. Places on the timesheet are available by phoning 0404 47415.

Doherty strikes first

Letterkenny's Mark Doherty was a narrow winner of the nett prize at the opening outing of the North Western Alliance on Saturday at St Patrick's Links at Carrigart. The 10 handicapper fired a 74 to win by one from Maurice McGettigan (14) of Strabane, with Rosapenna's Michael Bradley (4) third on 76. The gross winner was Enda McMenamin, the scratch golfer from Ballybofey and Stranorlar, with a 77, three ahead of DP Logue (4) of Letterkenny, with North West's Justin MacLochlainn (4) back in third after an 82. The next outing is on Saturday October 14th at North West Golf Club.

Raymond rules

Appearing in the winners' circle is becoming a bit of a habit for Delgany's Ruth Raymond. Over the last couple of Tuesdays at the Co Wicklow club, the 16 handicapper has not just been among the prizes, but she has made it back-to-back wins.

Her latest came when she won the hamper, but only after a close-run thing after she and Tempy Donnelly (31) tied on 70, with Raymond winning on a countback over the closing nine holes. Eleanor O'Keeffe was third on 71, with Avril Dowley (11) taking the gross prize.

The previous week, Delgany had held their Medal Finals for the Jack Regan Trophy and again Raymond had been the overall winner, with a nett 77, while the three class winners were Francis Mahon (14), Pat Collins (22) and Eleanor O'Keeffe.

Taylor defies odds

Malahide two handicapper Alison Taylor followed victory in the September medal competition last Tuesday week with victory in the Medal Final last Tuesday.

Although low handicappers are often up against it in relation to winning these kind of competitions, Taylor defied the odds with a nett 72, enough to make it two wins in succession. Claiming runners-up spot in Class One behind Taylor was Dara McMahon (18) with a 75. Meanwhile, Anne O'Neill (24) won Class Two with a score of 74, one better than Alma White, while a 79 was good enough for Joan Twamley (33) to take Class Three by a single shot from Deirdre Lennon (34).

Dramatic Ashbourne

There is winning, and then there is winning in dramatic style, and that is just what Ashbourne golf club did in claiming the recent North Leinster mixed team final against Skerries at Headfort.

With the scores in the final at two apiece, Kevin Shanahan and Olive Morgan were one down standing on the 17th tee, but managed to win the closing holes to win not only their match, but the tie itself. Charlie O'Neill and Helen Donoghoe were first out and were just pipped on the 17th, going down 2 and 1 in a close match.

Next up were Terry O'Connor and Dolores Beggan. Conceding six shots to the opposition, they had a great run from the 13th - winning the next four holes in a 4 and 2 victory. Richard Moran and Mary Bannon went down 4 and 3, while Tony Leonard and Pauline Dooley won their match early, with a 6 and 5 margin.

Then it didn't look good for Ashbourne in the deciding match when they went one down on the 16th, but then as they say it is never over until it's over and Ashbourne turned the match around to win the title 3-2 and spark incredible celebrations.

Connolly's Goal

Oughterard Golf Club in Co Galway will be the venue this Friday for the annual Galway Joe Connolly Goal Golf Classic.

The event, organised by star hurler Joe Connolly, will raise money for Goal's relief programmes in the developing world. Entry for a team of four costs €200. Tees and greens can also be sponsored.

Prizes for the competition have been kindly sponsored by Galway Crystal, Joe Connolly Properties, Matt Molloy Solicitors, Ardilaun Guesthouse and leading Galway companies.

Those interested in taking part can contact Ronan Scully, Goal, at 087 6189094 or Joe Connolly at 087 2511411 or Matt Molloy, Matt Molloy Solicitors at 091 567545 or Mike Guilfoyle at 087 2231960 for a tee time.

Brown best at Borris

Making it a month to remember down at Borris Golf Club in Co Carlow was 23 handicapper Nicolla Brown, who claimed two wins in a fortnight. Win number one came when she fired 37 points to win the singles event. She had only one point to spare over Kate Hennessy (12), while Bridie Galavan (24) was next best also on 36 points.

But then in the next singles competition, victory once again went the way of Brown. This time a score of 67 gave her a two-stroke victory over Mary Morrissey (24), with Joan Murphy (24) third with a 72.

Potgieter impresses

Taking route 66 to victory last week and being a runaway winner of the singles event at Ballyhaunis golf club in Co Mayo was Mariette Potgieter. The 29 handicapper fired an impressive 66 to win by six shots from Marian Coyne (27), while Margaret Dyer (27) was a further three strokes back in third. The gross winner was Anne Freeley (12) with a score of 85, but it was Potgieter who was the talk of the club with her easy win.