McDowell and Campbell set up historic double

Stackstown Golf Club honoured Mark Campbell's superb achievements on the golf course during the week with a quiet celebration on Sunday night. The 18-year-old was feted for his outstanding golf when, teamed with Rathmore's Graeme McDowell, he played his part in winning the Nations Cup at the Royal Golf Club de Belgique in Belgium by a sizeable seven-shot margin.

It is the third time in the history of the event that Ireland have won the trophy. Balmoral's Peter Martin and the then Nenagh Youth international Paul Byrne were successful in 1996 while Eddie Power and Michael Curran prevailed in 1984. The Nations Cup also serves as a 36-hole qualifying competition for the Belgian Youths' Championship, deciding the 32 qualifiers for matchplay.

McDowell's excellent two-under-par total of 142 (71, 71) and Campbell's 147 (75, 72) ensured victory in the Nations Cup but also precipitated a second success. Campbell brushed aside all before him in the matchplay format, winning all four matches and the title: in doing so he became the first Irish winner.

"I am told that I am the first Irishman to win the title so that in itself was very pleasing. Obviously the priority was the Nations Cup. Graeme produced some superb golf and that really set up the opportunity to win.

"I suppose we owe our places on the two-man team for Belgium to the fact that neither of us was available for the European Youths' Championship, as Graeme was doing A levels and I was studying for the Leaving Certificate. The selectors might have taken that into consideration."

Campbell's triumph was a reward for time spent practising in recent weeks. "Because of the Leaving Cert my golf has been somewhat curtailed. Instead I have spent most of my free time with my coach Martin Hynes and as a result, felt that I was striking the ball well.

"The season is now coming to a close but I'll play in one or two Scratch Cups and then get ready for the National Coaching and some hard work this winter. Longterm targets would including playing in all the men's events next season and trying to get on some teams."

In the interim Campbell will occupy himself with his studies, having successfully managed to win a place at University College Dublin, where he will study psychology.

City of Derry prodigy David Jones inspired the Britain and Ireland Boys' team to success over the Continent of Europe and the capture of the Jacques Leglise Trophy in Italy last week.

Jones, who captained the side, amassed three points from a possible four. "I should have won the singles on the first afternoon after being four up after six holes but he came back at me and I lost on the home green," he admitted. "Still, I was delighted by the performances on a personal and team level. They are a very talented bunch of players."

Joining Jones on the team were two other Irish golfers, Birr's Justin Kehoe and Robin Symes of Shandon Park, but it was the Derry golfer that once again captured the Irish headlines with some exceptional golf.

He attributes his exceptional form in the latter half of the season to a consistent diet of tournament golf uninterrupted by studies. He won the Connacht, Leinster and Irish Boys' titles - he didn't play in Munster - and also finish runner-up at the Irish Youths' Championship.

He finished a two-year B-Tec course in Sports Science, which he describes as "similar to the A levels but instead has a continual assessment throughout the course rather than formal exams. It is better suited to pursuing a golfing career".

He has decided to turn down, for the present at least, the offer of golf scholarships to Toledo and East Tennessee State Universities respectively is in order to concentrate on golf for a year. His immediate plans will take him to sunnier climes.

"I am hoping to spend three to four months at La Carra golf resort in southern Spain over the winter, not in one block but maybe four to six weeks before Christmas, return home for a fortnight and then go back for the same duration. It's an opportunity to practise in warm weather.

"When I return I hope to be perfectly prepared for an assault on senior golf, playing in the Brabazon, St Andrews and the British Amateur, especially as it is at Royal County Down next year. My last commitment this season before Spain will be to play in the Home Internationals, to which I am really looking forward."

Jones must also make one further important decision in the coming weeks . . . choosing a coach. "I have worked with Howard Bennett at the National Squad sessions but I need to see someone on a regular basis. I used to go to Don Patterson, but haven't had contact other than by letter since the back end of last year. I know he has retired, but maybe I could work with him."

Meanwhile, Irish international Bryan Omelia also ventured to Italy, as part of the Britain and Ireland team that competed against the Continent of Europe for the St Andrews Trophy. Unfortunately for the Newlands golfer it was to prove a disappointing two days with Britain and Ireland losing for the first time in 16 years in the biennial match.

On the final day Omelia managed to win the foursomes but was beaten by Germany's Michael Thannhauser on the final green in the singles.