There's an old adage that cricketers make good golfers . . . and this view is being borne out by Howth member Monica Cagney who recorded a hole-in-one in a fourball competition at the north Dublin course last week. What made Monica's ace a little more special than others is that she achieved the notable feat at the Par 4 ninth hole which measures 228 yards. So, of course, her achievement meant she also scored an albatross, that rarest of birds.

Indeed, it was a good week's work for the former hockey player as two days previously the 16handicapper had won the Junior Alliance competition at Skerries with 39 points.

The Cagney family are well known in Leinster hockey circles and Monica wielded the willow with considerable success for Clontarf before taking up golf in Howth.

Kevin Garvey rolled back the years to savour glory in the Winter League at Co Louth, almost six decades after he won the East of Ireland championship on the same links.

The 75-year-old won Class II of the league with a nett 65, off 16, to outstrip a field of 140 players.

Kevin won the `East' in 1942 and the runner-up on that occasion was a certain Joe B Carr, Ireland's most celebrated amateur golfer. So, it was somewhat ironic that Kevin's playing partner - and, indeed, runner-up in the winter league competition - last week was another Joe Carr (Co Louth), who had 67 off 12.