Corrstown are in the driving seat

Twenty five years ago The Island Golf Club won the McDonnell Cup, their first success in any competition and on their way they beat Forrest Little in the semi-final. They travelled a similar path this year when beating Forrest Little in the semi-final again. However, they will have their work cut out to beat the holders. After an exciting first leg, the home side, Corrstown, take a 5-2 lead into the second leg at The Island next week.

Fielding six of last year's successful side, Corrstown need four matches from the return leg at the Island next week to lift the Cup for the second time since the club was founded five years ago.

Castlecomer women vice-captain, Emer Foley is known as the John Daly of Castlecomer after her performance in winning the women captain's prize last week. Emer, who I am reliably informed, hits the ball further than many of the men in the club, plays off 13 and had a seven shot cushion after a magnificent second round of 65.

The first round on the Tuesday was played in heavy rain which made it a stiff test for the competitors and Betty Owens, Bridget Cunney and Josie Lawless led the field on 69, with Emer one shot behind and 21 players within four shots of each other.

Although the sun shone on the Sunday, for the second 18 holes, the previous week's heavy rain made underfoot conditions very wet. But that didn't stop Emer, who had four birdies in her round at the first, third, seventh and 16th.

Woodbrook will take their place in the All-Ireland finals of the Pierce Purcell Shield after their 3-2 win over Co Meath in the Leinster final at Ashbourne on Saturday last.

The progressive Oughterard Golf Club officially opened their new £1.2 million Clubhouse at the weekend. Oughterard, founded in 1974 have made huge strides in the last 24 years. Starting out as a nine holes course they increased to 18 holes in 1984.

Breda Skerritt, no relation to the famous Skerritt family of professionals, but equally adapt at swinging a golf club will remember her first win in the Women's Singles at Edenderry Golf Club.

Breda, who had been playing the game for just 18 months, lost seven shots off her handicap last week. On Thursday, Breda, playing off a 32 handicap, shot a magnificent 15 under par nett of 58. Her gross 90 reduced her handicap from 32 to 25 and to prove the singles score was no fluke, Breda had 21 points in the nine holes competition a few days later.

Edward Hogan spoiled what would have been a marvellous family double in the Intermediate Scratch Cup at St Helen's Bay on Saturday. Hogan won the main prize with a score of 80 from John Codd who had an 83. But John's son Mark, who plays off 18, won the nett prize with a 69 to make it a successful weekend for the Codd family.

Watch out for the girls from the west. Enniscrone's Marina Gilhawley became the club's first ever girls champion when she won the Leinster Girls Championship at Malahide last week. Marina, whose coach is local professional Charlie McGoldrick, beat another Connacht champion, Deirdre Judge, from Roscommon in the final. The previous week Deirdre had won the Munster Girls' title. So both the Leinster and Munster titles have gone west.

Edmondstown's bid for a second successive Metropolitan Cup victory came to an end when they were beaten by Forrest Little in the quarter finals of this years competition. Forrest Little now play Sutton in the semi-final while Hermitage, who beat Castle and Naas, 6-3 winners over Malahide, meet in the other semi-final. The final of the Provincial Towns Cup will be between Kilkenny and Ardee. The first leg is at Kilkenny on July 26th with the return at Ardee on August 9th.

In the Irish Mixed Foursomes (Leinster Section) Holders, Waterford will meet Woodenbridge in the quarter-finals. The full line up is Rush v Greenore; Sutton v Clontarf; Hazel Grove v Kilternan and Woodenbridge v Waterford.

Brother Mark Lynch, a teacher in the CBS Charleville, has been setting high standards on the golf course in recent weeks. The 12 handicapper started with a hole in one on June 15th when he holed his tee shot at the 155 yards second hole using a seven iron. Last week playing in a team event Mark eagled the 481 yards 17th hole and last Saturday on his way to 40 points in the Club Championship he again had an ace. He holed another seven iron at the par three, 162-yard ninth hole.

The 50 to 55-year-olds will have a chance to display their skills in the Forrest Little Seniors Open Tournament on July 31st. Four categories are catered for in this years Seniors and times are available at 8401763.