Short Game

Four members of the Irish Youths squads of recent years have performed with distinction in the first half of the 1999/00 US College season. Tim Rice, Alan Murray, Ricky Elliott and David Jones have been to the forefront of the University of Toledo's success. Toledo defeated 14 teams to win the Adams Cup with Murray taking first place in the individual while Rice finished second, Elliott in seventh place and Jones tied 64th.

Murray had rounds of 77, 71 and 72 over the Newport and Point Judith Country Clubs. Rice finished two shots back at 222 after 73, 75 and 74 and Elliott on 225 with 77, 72 and 76. Toledo's total of 903 left them 11 shots ahead of Michigan State.

Rice and Elliott also played well in Toledo's seventh-place finish in the Baylor Invitational at Waco. Rice was the side's s top finisher - tied seventh - with 214 (68, 71, 75) while Elliott was 16th on 217.

The Open Seniors competition at Arklow last week turned into a day of celebration for Neville Atkinson after he holed out his tee shot at the ninth. Known as the Warren Loch, Neville used a three-iron at the par three 169 yards hole into the wind. However, it was not enough to take him into the winner's enclosure with victory going to Jim Conroy, a 16-handicap from Courtown, who had 39 points. The 50s-plus category went to Eddie Wallace from the host club, the 60s-plus to Dermot O'Carroll of Slade Valley and the over-70s to Jim Brennan from Wicklow. The gross was won by George Evens who had 27 points.

The re-arranged Christmas outing of the Christy O'Connor Jnr Oyster Golf Society was won by Luke Tighe at Connemara. The 16-handicapper from Tuam scored 40 points in testing conditions to win by two from Tom Keady of Galway Bay, with Roy Ramberg (Galway Bay) taking third place on a tie from Gerry Cooney (Gort) and Michael Murray (Galway Bay). The gross was won by Hugh O'Neill, the Connemara scratch player, who had a one-under-par 37 points.

Clontarf Golf Club lost a very valued member with the sudden death of Danny Allen last Friday. A winner of the coveted Lord Mayor's Cup in 1963, Danny also had the distinction of playing in the first Uden Cup final with St Anne's in 1954 and was on the winning Clontarf side 43 years later in 1997.

A brother of former Dublin GAA player Norman, Danny will be sadly missed by his many friends on and off the golf course.

The last of the Christmas hampers was fought out with the usual intensity at West Waterford when three players finished on 33 points for the 14 holes. Victory went to 10-handicap John O'Connell with Justin Spratt second and Tom Feerick relegated to third.

Not so unlucky was Mick Fearon at Donabate. Michael won the first nine in class one with 29 1/2 and repeated the feat when winning the second nine with 301/2 . Derry Murphy was also in top form at Youghal last week. Derry, who plays off 17, won the midweek competition with 24 points and was the winner again on Sunday with 22 points over nine holes.

Meanwhile at Portarlington, brothers Tom and Raymond Shiels both figured in the prizes. Tom was second in class one to John McCusker while Raymond went one better by winning class two with 21 points.

Christy O'Connor Jnr, who designed the course, has been installed as president of Mount Wolseley GC.