Coffey best in Leinster qualifying

Nobody could justly claim to have conquered the monstrous length or the tricky pin positions, but there were still some notable performances in yesterday's stroke-play qualifying stage of the Leinster Women's Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by MacGregor, at The K Club.

And, although she got a scare from international colleague Yvonne Cassidy, none bettered the accomplishment of Alison Coffey, a 25-year-old Belfast-based engineer. The Irish international produced rounds of 78, 75 for a seven-over-par 36-hole total of 153 to top the qualifying and, with the job completed, could finally relax.

"The course played quite long, as we'd expected," she explained, "and the greens were difficult simply because of the slopes and undulations. In the circumstances, positional play was very important." Coffey finished one shot clear of Cassidy, who produced the feat of the day with a second round 73 to add to her opening 81. Overall, though, there were no major casualties.

And there are some interesting clashes for the first round of matchplay today, most notably those which pit former British champion Lillian Behan, who finished on 155, against one of the up-and-coming players, Jenny Gannon, and current internationals Hazel Kavanagh, the holder, against Elaine Dowdall.

While Coffey led the qualifying, Beaverstown teenager Martina Gillen confirmed her potential by taking the nett prize with a score of 150.

Today's matchplay draw: First round - 9.00 (and 10 minute intervals): A Coffey (Warrenpoint) v K Overend (Carrickmines); P Doran (Donabate) v E Dickson (Royal Co Down); H Kavanagh (Grange) v E Dowdall(Wexford); V Hassett (Ennis) v B McCann (Downpatrick); L Behan (Curragh) v J Gannon (Co Louth); H Jones (Strabane) v M Gillen (Beaverstown); D McCarthy (Woodenbridge) v M Morrin (Naas); L Browne (Stackstown) v Y Cassidy (Dundalk).

Former hurling star Seamus Shinners produced a superb birdie-par finish to snatch the inaugural Midland Masters which was played over Tullamore, Glasson, Esker Hills and Mullingar last week.

Shinners, who has the distinction of playing inter-county hurling for Galway and Tipperary, is a 13-handicapper playing out of Ballinasloe . . . and he dug deep into his reserves to produce a final round of 41 points at Tullamore for a 142 total to pip Cahir Park's Ian Morrison by one point.

Dunfanaghy's PRO C B Hanlon describes the place as "one of those parts of heaven where it is not necessary to die beforehand in order to visit".

And visitors to the Donegal links will get the opportunity to enjoy its charm in a competitive environment when the three-day singles stableford tournament takes place there next week, from April 29th to May 1st. A time-sheet is in operation: 07436335/36488.

Royal Dublin, with a total of 326, won the Leinster Branch qualifying for the Fred Daly trophy at Howth last week, finishing nine shots clear of runners-up The Island.

The Epicurean World Master Chef Society (EWMCS) Golf Classic will take place at Adare Manor on Tuesday May 26th. The time-sheet is now open (061313367) and the cost of £400 per team includes BBQ and refreshment bar on course, a meal in Adare Manor and prizes. The Irish Master Chefs are using the event as a fund-raiser for the World Banqueting competition in Toronto in July.