SHORT GAME:THE Irish Seniors team made it a record four Home Internationals titles in a row when they beat England 7-2 on the final day at Woodhall Spa, while Scotland consigned Wales to the wooden spoon with a 7½-1½ beating.
The victory not only maintained Ireland’s place as the strongest senior side but saw them gain revenge for their defeat by England in last year’s European Seniors Team Championship final at Fairhaven.
A jubilant Irish captain Barry Doyle accepted the trophy again and said: “It was a fantastic performance. As usual we did a lot of sweating out there this afternoon but I feel the foundation was laid in the foursomes this morning. To take two-and-a-half points was superb but after nine holes this afternoon England came back well. But we responded and ran out convincing winners.”
A disappointed England captain Richard Palmer said: “It was a disappointing finish to the week but we let ourselves down in the foursomes. To take only half a point left us a lot to do against a team as strong as Ireland. But they played well and we congratulate them on another fine victory.”
Since its inception in 2002, Ireland have won six times.
Malahide win senior title at Interclub Championships
THE ILGU Interclub Championships in Ardee on Saturday saw Malahide, Curra West, Loughrea, Templemore and Woodenbridge claim national titles.
In the senior foursomes Malahide were 2-1 winners over Enniscorthy thanks to wins from Alison Taylor, Olive Shannon, Lily Owens and Rosemary Byrne, claiming the title on the 18th in the final match.
Loughrea and Mullingar contested the Intermediate Cup final in a tight encounter which went into extra time as Rose Mannion – in partnership with Helen Collier – won their match on the 20th hole to secure a 3-2 win for the Connacht Champions.
Extra holes were also required in the penultimate match to determine the winners of the Minor Cup. Roscrea and Templemore were tied 2-2, following a series of wins for both sides. Kathleen Collier overturned an overnight deficit of two holes and held her nerve at the first extra play-off hole to claim the trophy for Templemore.
In the Challenge Cup final East Cork took on Woodenbridge, only to be denied as the Wicklow club secured a 3-2 win when Ann Murphy won on the 19th hole. Curra West emerged as champions in the Junior Foursomes, defeating Craddockstown in the final on a 2½ to ½ scoreline.
On Friday, East Cork were the only team to claim a national title as they defeated Newlands 3-2 in a gripping final of the Junior Cup.
Ballyliffin launch a Winter Golf Pass
BALLYLIFFIN GC, Co Donegal, will launch a Winter Golf Pass in the coming weeks. The card will cost €100 and will entitle the cardholder to three rounds of golf at Ballyliffin from November 1st to March 31st 2012. As an added bonus the last round will be accompanied with a breakfast at the Linx Restaurant in Ballyliffin.
Meanwhile, members of local clubs are reminded they can avail of half-price green fees at Ballyliffin all year round.
Three Inishowen clubs – Ballyliffin, North West and Greencastle – have established a winter competition to be known as the Inishowen Golf Society. Limited to members of all Inishowen clubs – Ballyliffin, Greencastle, North West, Buncrana Redcastle – the membership fee is €20.
ALAN Condrenfrom Greystones won the Wicklow Senior Scratch Cup with two rounds of 66. Delgany's Marc Nolan (138) was second and Bray's Peter Kirby (140) was third.
Rathcoole take Dugsa title
THE final of the annual DUGSA (Dublin Union of Golfing Societies Association) Challenge Cup took place at Castlewarden GC recently where a total of 20 teams and 120 players had progressed to the final from two earlier qualifying rounds.
This was the 90th consecutive year that the foursomes format Challenge Cup competition was played.
Rathcoole Masters Golfing Society proved worthy winners of the Challenge Cup for the first time in their history with a total of 220½ shots.
Runners-up were Banba GS with a score of 223, while Eircom Engineers GS were in third place with a score of 227.5.
Loughrea stay in ‘Race to St Andrews’
LOUGHREA’S Cathal Madden (4) and Charlie Donellan (12) with a front nine of 23 points laid the foundation for a one-point victory over the youthful Slieve Russell pairing of Theo Coffey (1) and Darragh Doonan (4) in the Connacht/Ulster final of the Holmpatrick Cup “Race to St Andrews” at Farnham Estate on Sunday. They now progress to the All-Ireland Final in October.
THE Leinster Alliancewill commence its winter programme with an outing to Dún Laoghaire GC on Sunday, October 2nd.
The tee time is from 9am to 12.30pm and bookings are available from Michael Neary at 01-2827297 from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday.
Further outings for the season will see a trip to Arklow on Saturday, November 12th, while in 2012 Killeen Castle, Portmarnock Links and Royal Dublin are all on the schedule.
All single figure handicap golfers are welcome to participate in the Alliance for the season.
Moynihan best in Faldo Grand Final
GAVIN MOYNIHAN from The Island won the under-18 title at the 15th Faldo Series Grand Final at Lough Erne GC last week. Moynihan carded rounds 79, 75 and 75 for a two-shot winning margin over England's Jack Colegate (82, 74, 75).
Niall Foley, also from The Island, finished ninth in the under-16 behind Cameron Long of England.
The overall winner was England’s 20-year-old Gavin Samuels who carded eight birdies in a four-under-par 68 to finish on six-over 222 and five ahead of English duo Long and Adam Andrews. Overnight leader Jordan Smith, 18, who started five ahead and six ahead of Samuels, struggled to an 80 and finished fourth.
England’s Brogan Townend was crowned girls’ champion following an impressive final-round 71 for a total of 230. Natalia Heckova, 15, finished two shots behind to win the girls’ under-16 title and become the first champion from Slovakia with Ireland’s Victoria Bradshaw back in fifth place on 239 after rounds of 74 86 and 79.
Faldo Series Champions Samuels and Townend will be offered a start in a professional Tour event. They will also be invited by Faldo to the sixth Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March, as will Moynihan, Long and Heckova.
A field of 77 players competed on the Faldo Course at Lough Erne.
