Scholars of the game go to UCD

The extent of UCD's success in stemming the flow of Ireland's top young golfers' to the United States is attested by the awarding of scholarships for the 1997-98 academic year to Elaine Dowdall and Justine Kehoe, two of the sport's emerging talents. Rather than seeking golfing scholarships in the US, Dowdall - who won four out of five matches on her senior debut in the Home Internationals at Lahinch last month - and Kehoe opted to follow a route previously taken by former Irish amateur champion Peter Lawrie, who recently turned professional after obtaining a degree in UCD."Peter has set new standards that the next generation of college golfers will do well to emulate," said Dr David Sheahan, a former Walker Cup player, who is chairman of the Scholarships Awards Committee.However, the two recipients of the most recent golfing scholarships are considered exceptional talents: Dowdall, a plus one handicapper from Wexford, was a very impressive debutante in Lahinch and was a member of Milltown's winning Irish Senior Cup team, while Kehoe, from Birr, is an Irish Boys' international.UCD Golf Society, the graduates arm of the golf in the college, are involved in an intensive fundraising campaign in an effort to establish the Belfield campus as a centre to help develop the next generation of Irish golfing superstars.Sheahan said the awarding of scholarships was the first step in this aim. The next step will be the appointment of an official coach - to be confirmed shortly - and the third step is the provision of top-class practice facilities. The graduates have received strong support from Dr Tony O'Neill, Director of Sport at UCD, and Finbar Costello, chairman of UCD Sports Development Trust, in their plans to make the college an appetising alternative to pursuing a scholarship in the USA.The annual Jameson International Golf Challenge commences tomorrow at Portmarnock, Portmarnock Links and Druids Glen with 260 participants from 19 countries taking part. The event's popularity is reflected in the need this year to hold 13 qualifying competitions - in Australia, Denmark, Finland, Holland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Britain and the USA.