TheShortGame

McIlroy to defend West: In keeping with the trend, Co Sligo GC at Rosses Point will offer a new challenge for the West of Ireland Championship, which starts with the qualifying rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

The course, in tremendous shape, has seen some excellent alterations over the winter, with new championship tees on holes six, eight, and 11 adding some 93 metres to the course, while new bunkers have been installed on holes six, seven, and 15, which will make the tee-shots far more challenging.

The 2005 West of Ireland Championship was dominated by the precocious talent that is Rory McIlroy. At 15 years old, McIlroy became the youngest winner of the West, beating the record set by the legendary Cecil Ewing when he won the title in 1930 as a 17-year-old.

With new sponsors in the Radisson SAS Hotel, Ballincar, Co Sligo, McIlroy will be among the favourites in a field that is possibly the strongest in the last 10 years, even without the annual visit from the Swedish National squad, who because of the later date of this year's championship were unable to fit it into their itinerary.

The title of lowest handicap entrant for this year goes to David Horsey (Styal, England) at plus 4.4, closely followed by defending champion McIlroy (Holywood) at plus 4.1. The handicap cut for the championship fell at 0.8, a drop of 0.1 from last year.

One of the older, if not the oldest entrant this year, is Michael J Malone (Belvoir Park). Malone first competed in the West in 1966, and 24 years ago was beaten in the final by Arthur Pierce in 1982. Malone, interestingly, does hold a provincial title, as he won the Connacht Seniors Open Championship at Loughrea Golf Club in 2004.

Power flawless in Munster

Irish international Séamus Power turned in a magnificent, bogey-free round of 65 to win the Munster Youths Open Championship at Thurles Golf Club on Sunday. The West Waterford man was a shot behind Niall Kearney going into the final round, but an outstanding front nine that got him to five-under-par saw him claim the outright lead. Power, who is bound for East Tennessee University in August, never looked like faltering over the home stretch and finished in true champion style with a birdie on the 18th.

Local man David Ruddy did the home club proud finishing runner-up after a final round of 71. Chris Cannon from East Sussex finished in third place.

Kirby on rules fast-track

After taking up golf only four years ago, Orla Kirby, a 35-year-old dentist from Limerick, finds herself in the rarefied atmosphere of international rules officialdom.

When the Irish Ladies Golfing Union were looking for candidates to participate in their rules seminar in Killarney last year, Kirby, who is handicap secretary at Adare Manor Golf Club, volunteered.

In September she went to Little Island Golf Club in Co Cork to take the first stage exams which she passed with flying colours. After preliminary tests in Cork GC, Kirby and 13 other qualifying entrants went to the Hermitage Golf Club for further examinations. Once again she came top of the class, and her success meant she was on her way to St Andrews.

In early February, Kirby began four days of intensive tests in Scotland. She was one of 63 entrants representing 42 golfing associations from around the world. However, unfazed by the task ahead she achieved 95 per cent in the exam, one of the highest marks ever recorded. She is now a fully qualified international rules official and already has five official assignments in the Southern Region this year.

Kerr best in the gales

An exceptionally high-class field of student golfers ran into brutal conditions for the annual R&A Foundation Bursars' Day over the Old Course at St Andrews.

A solid round of 74 in winds gusting to more than 35mph gave Mark Kerr, of the University of Edinburgh, a two-shot victory over Graham Turner, University of Stirling. Co Louth's Simon Ward (University of Ulster) was best of the Irish, sharing fourth place with a score of 77. Brendan Walton (UCD/The Island) and Alex McCloy (University of Ulster) shot 79, while Dara Lernihan (UCD) 85 and Brian O'Connor (UCD) 86 were others to benefit from the R&A Foundation.

Slater still slamming it

Englishman Paul Slater extended his world record for the longest drive by a staggering 164 yards at NMSI Wroughton on Saturday. The old airfield, near Swindon, England, provided a perfect venue for the London Golf Show and Long Drivers of Europe promotion, which gathered eight of Europe's biggest hitters together in an attempt to extend Slater's existing 720-yard world record.

And with the wind behind the participants, they did not disappoint. First, Londoner Adam Stacey grabbed a world record when his fourth effort travelled 744 yards.

But Slater was not prepared to give up his record without a fight. His first effort added three yards to his previous best, at 723 yards. But his third stunned the crowd by rolling on to a staggering 884 yards.

Hilary, Links close series

Experience proved the order of the day as the Links and Hilary Societies brought their winter series to a close at Portmarnock Links and Sutton Golf Clubs last week.

Former international Niall Goulding from Portmarnock was a runaway winner of the 54 holes overall in the Links GS with an eight-under-par total, while the 36 holes overall went to Laytown and Bettystown veteran Jimmy Clynch at one-under-par. Eamon Brady, the gross winner of the final outing with a 72, won the professional prize at six-under-par.

Declan Moran from The Island also showed good winter form in taking the gold medal at the BMW Hilary GS. The silver medal went to Peter O'Hagan, while the Seniors title went to long-time member Turlough Boylan from Naas.

Ennis Classic at Doonbeg

The annual Ennis Chamber Golf Classic takes place at Doonbeg Golf Club on Thursday and Friday, April 27th and 28th, becoming the first golf classic to be held at Doonbeg.

Tee-times are from late morning to mid afternoon on both days. Teams of four cost €€700; with individual players at €€175 each welcome. Alternatively, corporate sponsorship of tees and greens can be availed of at €€200 each. Brochures and booking cards are available from Margaret Neylon, Ennis Chamber, 54 O'Connell Street, Ennis, 065 684 2988.

Young Snelling shines

Killarney's Holli Snelling (9) secured fourth place in both the individual and the team event last Thursday and Friday at the St Leonard's Under-16 Open Strokeplay Championship at Strathtyrum Golf Club in St Andrews.

The 15-year-old Irish girl was part of a three-person Irish team competing, and she performed admirably in the competition. Rounds of 77 and 76 for a total of 153 saw the Killarney golfer claim fourth place in the 36 hole event.

She was just four shots off the winner of the prestigious competition, which was won by 14-year-old Scottish girl Carly Booth, who plays off +1 and had been runner-up for the past two years. Booth won with a score of 149, while she also helped Scotland to the team event.

Also competing for Ireland at the event were Ciara Sharkey of Enniscorthy and Sarah Louise Winter (Carnalea). Winter (11) had rounds of 85 and 90 for a two-round total of 175, while Sharkey, who plays off 8, had rounds of 93 and 83 for a total of 176.

Other Irish competitors at the event were Stephanie Meadows (Royal Portrush), who shot 78 and 79, and Seapoint's Carla Reynolds, who carded 91 and 86.

Christy Jr's charity pro-am

Forty-six teams will compete in this year's Christy O'Connor Junior Charity Pro-Am at Roganstown Golf & Country Club, Swords, Co Dublin, on Tuesday, May 9th. Sponsored by McInerney Homes, the event will raise funds for Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, and the CABAS Unit for children with autism at the Scoil Eoin Complex, Greendale Road, Raheny. The much-loved sports commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh will be guest speaker at the prizegiving dinner. For further information contact Noel McComish of Tee To Green Golf Management (087 2583107/teetogreen@eircom.net).

Stay loyal to Hollystown

A novel idea has been put into operation by Hollystown Golf Club. In an effort to reward loyal club patrons, they have created a Loyalty Reward Card scheme for guests. With the card, golfers will receive a free round of golf for every five rounds they play. Further information on the deal is available on (01) 8207444 or by emailing info@hollystown.com

Ladies Close deadline

Entries for the Lancôme Irish Ladies Close Championship close on Monday, April 24. This year's event will take place at The European Club, with a handicap limit of 12. Entry fee is €30 and entries should be forwarded to the ILGU offices.