Compiled by SHAY KEENAN
Lurgan beat Lurgan to make history
THERE was a little history at the recent Ulster finals of the Girls’ under-19 inter-club matchplay at Knock Golf Club.
In the final the Lurgan A team of Niamh Ward, Katie Allen and Cara Murphy won the final – and in that final they beat the Lurgan B team, clinching victory on the 18th green for a 2-1 win.
In the semi-finals Lurgan A had beaten Royal Portrush, while Lurgan B defeated Bangor.
Lurgan A will now represent Ulster in the National Final at City of Derry Golf Club on Monday August 20th.
THE annual Entertainment and Golf trip to Spain organised by Killester Travel and featuring Joe Cuddy, Tommy Fleming, Rebecca Storm, Dickie Rock, Sil Fox and Cara O’Sullivan, will take place from September 27th for seven or 10 nights.
One week golf costs €1095 including tax or €1350 (10 night), discount for non-golfers. Contact Killester Travel 01-8336935 or www.killestertravel.com
Ireland start off with champions
IRELAND will open the Boys’ Home Internationals for the RA Trophy at Co Louth GC this morning with a clash against champions England.
Ireland, led by Irish Amateur Open winner, Gavin Moynihan from The Island, who was last week named on The European Junior Ryder Cup team to face the USA at Olympia Fields, in Chicago, Illinois, will be hoping to repeat their 2010 victory while Scotland take on Wales in their opener.
IRELAND: Robin Dawson (Faithlegg), Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo), John Ross Galbraith (Whitehead), Alex Gleeson (Castle), Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle), Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park), Paul McBride (The Island), Gavin Moynihan (The Island), Alec Myles (Newlands), William Russell (Clandeboye), James Sugrue (Mallow), Roy Archibald (non-playing captain).
ENGLAND: Jack Singh Brar (Bramshaw), Dan Brown (Bedale), Rob Burlison (Oxley Park), Joe Dean (Lindrick), Matt Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire), Bobby Keeble (Abridge), Patrick Kelly (Boston West), Nick Marsh (Huddersfield), Max Orrin (North Foreland), Toby Tree (Worthing); Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park).
SCOTLAND: Lawrence Allan (Alva), Anthony Blaney (Liberton), Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), Craig Howie (Peebles), Greig Marchbank (Dumfries County), Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Ewan Scott (St Andrews), Ryan Walsh (Kirkcaldy), Alan Waugh (Cowglen).
WALES: Jack Davidson (Llanwern), Zack Galliford (Club Borth Ynyslas), Evan Griffith (North Wales), Tim Harry (Vale Resort), Delon Hau (Vale Resort), Henry James (Kidderminster), Daniel King (Newport), Otto Mand (Greenmeadow), Gareth Roberts (North Wales), Ryan Thomas (Vale Resort), Greg Tickell (Hallamshire).
Tralee duo claim foursomes by five
THERE were runaway winners of the May Fitzgibbon under-19 national foursomes at Greystones last week.
Topping the tables with a great score of 39 points were the Tralee pairing of Avril Peevers and Aoife Crowley, who came home five points clear of their nearest challengers, who were Goldcoast’s Stella Quealy and Grace McGrath of East Cork.
Next best were the Castlewarden duo of Ruth Keating and Clodagh Walsh on 29 points with April Timothy and Róisín Timothy in fourth place on 27 points.
NIALL WORTH, a two-handicap from The Island GC, won the 36 holes Carlow Boys’ Scratch Cup sponsored by the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow. Worth, on a total of 155 finished one-shot clear of Darragh Coughlan (5) from Tipperary with Mateo Crowley (8) from Stackstown on 159. Adam Murphy from Carlow shot 162, while the best nett went to Cian Doyle (12) from Carlow on 140.
Dunbar leads strong home challenge at Carton House
RATHMORE’S Alan Dunbar, the British Amateur champion and runner-up at the St Andrews Links Trophy, will spearhead a 15-strong home challenge in the European Amateur Championship at Carton House starting tomorrow.
Brabazon Trophy runner-up Kevin Phelan, Irish Close and East of Ireland champion Chris Selfridge, and West of Ireland champion Harry Diamond are also in the field.
Also included are 2011 East of Ireland champion Richard O’Donovan, Reeve Whitson, Gary Hurley, Rory McNamara, Dermot McElroy, James Fox, Niall Gorey, Paul Dunne, Aaron Kearney, Jack Hume and Nicky Grant.
Austria’s Manuel Trappel will defend his title at the Montgomerie Course. Trappel triumphed last year in Sweden by virtue of a three-hole play-off after finishing tied with England’s Steven Brown after 72 holes.
THE concept of winning a car for a hole in one is not new, however Rathsallagh Golf Club is the first in Ireland to come up with not one but three Kia cars in addition to €15,000 worth of Newbridge silverware over the six days of its Open week from August 13th to 18th.
In addition each of the six days will see other substantial prizes offered for a hole in one on any of its other par-three holes.
Entry fee from €25 and entry restricted to 30 teams per day. Tee-time booking online at www.rathsallagh.com
Murray takes Dublin Boys title
ROSS MURRAY from Castle Golf Club, playing off a handicap of five, was the 20th anniversary winner of the Allianz-sponsored Grange GC Dublin Boys’ championship.
Open to players of 16 years and under, Murray topped an entry of 60 with two rounds of 75 in a competition endorsed annually by Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, who learned his golf at the Grange club.
In testing weather conditions, up- and-coming Murray stamped his class to win by two shots from Bray’s Andrew Fahy (5), who carded rounds of 74 and 78, while Isaac Butler (7) from Foxrock, with rounds of 74 and 79, was a shot further back in third place.
Rory McGrath (18) from the Grange shot 66 and 69 for a 135 total to win the best nett category from Sam Sweeney (10) from Seapoint on 139 (70, 69), while the best first round gross prize went to Charles Hendrick (5) Grange Castle with 74 and the leading second round gross prize was won by Eoin King (5) from Ashbourne with 75.
DONABATE and Newlands will contest the 2012 final of the Best Cup. In closely fought semi-finals where the away team took the honours in both matches, Donabate edged past Glencullen 3½-1½ while Newlands were 3-2 winners over Craddockstown.
The final (on a date to be arranged) will be played over two days home and away.
Irish women's team announced
THE Irish team for the Women’s home internationals – which will take place at Cork GC from September 4th to 6th has been announced.
It is Jessica Carty (Holywood), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Lucy Simpson (Massereene) and Deirdre Smith (Co Louth).
The non-travelling reserves in order are Amy Farrell (Moate), Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush), while the captain of the team will be Claire Coughlan Ryan from Cork Golf Club. Ireland will open against England with Scotland taking on Wales.
