Coffey strikes a new hippy groove

THIS time last year, Tom Coffey was laid up in Cork Hospital after a hip replacement following a car accident.

Ironically enough, the operation took place on April Fool's Day - but the Dungarvan Golf Club member proved he was nobody's fool (and sent out a message of encouragement for anyone else facing such remedial measures) when he shot the lights out in the qualifying round of the club's Cuniger Cup competition on Sunday.

Coffey, playing off 17, fired a three over par 75 for a phenomenal 50 points to head the qualifiers for the matchplay stages. Coffey, who took up golf only in 1985 "in the autumn of my life", went from a 23 handicapper down to 11 within a year of taking up the game, but drifted back out to 17 after his accident.

"I don't know whether or not I gained some kind of inspiration from watching the Masters on television over the weekend," quipped Coffey, "but I had one of those days when everything went right. It was one of the easiest rounds of my life.

"I didn't struggle at all, and the hardest part was actually the final two holes when I knew I needed two pars to get 50," said Coffey, whose handicap was reduced to 13 for his performance.

CHAMPIONSHIP favourites Cork made amends for last year's final defeat when they reclaimed the All Ireland County Championship title at Donegal GC, Murvagh, beating Wicklow 4-1 in the final.

CASTLEREA'S vice captain Tommy Bruen, who underwent heart by pass surgery in January, returned to competitive fare in some style on Sunday last. Bruen, a 14 handicapper who is a Trojan worker for the Roscommon club, scored a hole in one at the 163 yard sixth.

THE Ulster Bank All Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship has attracted an entry of 230 clubs this year, an increase of 17 on last year's inaugural number. Title holders Portumna have been handed a first round home draw against Athlone, while last year's beaten finalists, City of Derry, must travel to Strabane for their opening encounter of the campaign.