Short Game

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Gregan takes the Hilary honours at Portmarnock

Forrest Little’s Ray Gregan made the best of the tough conditions to take the honours in the second outing of the RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on Sunday.

A strong easterly breeze made for very testing conditions and no player managed to match the par of 71.

Gregan won on the break of a tie from Royal Dublin veteran John Hutchinson.

Gregan bagged two birdies on his homeward nine and despite a double bogey six on the tough par-four 16th, his steady play was enough to hold off the field.

Hutchinson, a former Leinster interprovincial player, carded birdies at the par-five fifth and the short 11th hole but was left to rue a bogey at his penultimate hole where he fell foul of one of the links’ challenging greenside bunkers.

Alan Dowling had the best gross score on the day by a good margin – the Hermitage man birdied two of the last four holes to card a fantastic score in the conditions - two over par 73.

The next event is in Seapoint Golf Club on Sunday, March 3rd – details on www.hilarygolf.ie

Course records tumble in Intervarsity at Strandhill

Course records were shattered in both the men’s and women’s categories in the second event in the Intervarsity Series at Strandhill GC.

UCC’s Ian O’Rourke smashed the men’s course record with a dazzling eight-under-par 62 to coast to victory. O’Rourke’s score was five shots clear of NUIM’s Kieran Lynch, who came home in 32 .

Alan Lowry (NUIM) and Mark Morrissey (IT Sligo) also broke par in perfect conditions, shooting 68 and 69 respectively.

In the women’s event, Ulster’s Paula Grant carded a two-under 70, also a course record, to cruise to a five-shot victory over Amy Farrell (DCU) and Sinéad Sexton (NUIM).

Both events were played with full competition play conditions from the championship tees on a well prepared Strandhill links.

Wind can't hold back Bermingham

Arklow GC proved a stern test for the Leinster Alliance players on Saturday in their first outing of 2013, with a strong southerly wind making the course extra long.

The best nett was carded by Bernard Bermingham(4) from Carton House with a superb 35 points.

Hot on his heels was Tim Fogarty (8) from Black Bush, with the best of the 34s from local Alan Daly (2) and Kingsley Lewis (3) from Skerries with 33.

The gross was an impressive 34 points from scratch-man Kevin Condren from Greystones, with Michael Furlong (2) from Arklow on 33 and Rowan Lester from Hermitage with 32.

The final outing of the winter season will be held at Powerscourt on Sunday, March 3rd. The time-sheet is with Michael Neary at 01-2827297, Monday-Friday, 9.30 to 5pm.

Patton's Rosapenna campaign ends in triumph

Rosapenna Golf Club’s Sandy Hills course was the venue on Saturday for the latest of the North Western Golfing Alliance outings and a fine score of 38 points from Cathal Patton of Strabane secured him victory.

The five-handicapper was one clear of the host club’s Séamus Herraghty (13), with Maurice McGettigan of Strabane in third place on 36 points.

In the gross category, Keelan Quigg of City of Derry won with 71, three clear of Brian McElhinney (Foyle GA), with Seán Quigg of City of Derry third on 75. Next up for the Alliance is a visit to Dunfanaghy on Saturday, March 2nd.

May 5th date for Hermitage Scratch Ladies

The ever popular Hermitage Ladies Scratch Cup will be held on Sunday, May 5th this year and will be sponsored by Dermot Kelly Limited, main Ford dealers in Kilcock, Co Kildare.

The 72 lowest entrants will qualify to compete. The ILGU High Performance Committee has included the event in their 2013 Scratch Cup Circuit. No doubt the HP and National training squads will be competing in this important competition. Entry Forms are available on the ILGU and Hermitage Golf Club websites.

Donadea Trophy for Knockanally

The Donadea Trophy, an inter-club Mixed Seniors Scotch Foursomes sponsored by Chrysler at Agnelli Motor Village, will be held at Knockanally Golf Club on July 2nd.

Each team will consist of four pairs, with all scores to count for the overall team prize.

The coast per team is €160 to include a practice round. The winners will receive a pennant, medals for all team members and the Donadea Perpetual Trophy.

Age: 50 years or over on January 1st, 2013 with handicap limit: men - 24; women - 36.

Contact: tournament organiser: Dominic Holmes at 087-948 3501.