Short game

By SHAY KEENAN

Countdown to Donegal Links Classic

THE DONEGAL Links Classic is scheduled for three days running on May 30th, 31st and June 1st. Played over three of Donegal's finest and top quality links courses – Ballyliffin, Rosapenna and Portsalon – the classic is one of the longest running team events in the country and is well worth a visit for anyone interested.

Teams of four compete for daily team and individual prizes with the overall winners presented their prizes on Wednesday, June 1st, at a complimentary reception in Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal.

Entry for this popular event is only € 100 per person for visitors and € 80 for members. Adding to the attraction of this year’s event is the sponsorship of TaylorMade. Entry forms are available from Ballyliffin GC by telephoning 074-9376119.

Meanwhile, entries are now being taken for the Easter Junior Golf Camp at Ballyliffin GC. The two-day course will run on Tuesday, April 26th and Wednesday, April 27th. It is suitable for children from (8-12) and (12-16years).

The course will include professional tuition in all aspects of the game. The fee is € 50 per child including light lunch and gift hat. This camp is open to all. For more information contact the club on 074-9376119.

Behan finishes with two birdies to win Hilary outing

A STUNNING finish which yielded two birdies over the closing two holes saw Paul Behan from St Anne’s win the RaboDirect-sponsored Hilary outing at Co Louth on Sunday.

Playing off a handicap of four, Behan’s score of 70 – aided by that birdie-birdie finish – was good enough to push Royal Dublin’s David Foley, playing off five, into the runner’s up spot on a countback. Taking third spot with a fine score of 71 was Terry Lilly (6) from Slade Valley.

Meanwhile, Eoin Arthurs from Forrest Little continues to impress and his 71 gave him his second gross prize of the 2011 Hilary season.

Local knowledge helped in the team competition as it was won on a score of 59 points, with the host club’s Tom Fox and Fergus Caine combining with Martin Kelly from Forrest Little.

The best professional score was achieved by Kilkenny’s Gary Murphy – a five-under-par 67 which included two eagles.

Murphy’s score could have been even a few shots better as he three-putted three times. But the quality of his ball striking should give him some renewed confidence as he headed straight to the Dublin airport after his round for a long flight to his next event – the Kenya Open.

The next outing is in Portmarnock GC on Friday, April 8th – details on www.hilarygolf.ie

Robinson in leader's role

CLAIRE ROBINSON (Knock), Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) and Roma English (Larne) will captain the Irish women’s, girls’ and senior international teams respectively for the 2011 season.

Robinson, a past Curtis Cup player, will once again lead the Irish team for both the European Team Championships to be played at Murhof Golf Club, Austria, in July and the Home International matches which will take place at Hillside in England in September.

Dr Christine Crockett from Royal Co Down Ladies will accompany Robinson and her team at the Home International side in her role as team manager.

Hospice fundraiser at Powerscourt

POWERSCOURT GC will be the venue for a charity outing to help raise funds to build a hospice in Co Wicklow. Organised by Bernard Gibbons, golf manager at Powerscourt, and Martin Duggan the event is a team of four on Sunday, April 10th with shot-gun starts at 9am and 2pm. The cost of a team of four is just €300, which includes lunch/dinner. For places on the time sheet contact Martin Duggan at 087-2348006 or maryandmartinduggan@gmail,com.

NIALL TURNER (Team Ireland golf) made a very solid start in his first tournament on the Asian PGA Tour. Turner finished 12th at six-under-par after rounds of 71, 71, 71 and 69 for a total of 282 in the Sail Open in Delhi GC, India.

The event was won by Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand on 16 under with rounds of 68, 67, 69, with Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh one shot back.

The Tour continues on April 6th with the Panasonic Open in Delhi.

Testimonial for McGoldrick

TO mark the retirement of Enniscrone GC professional Charlie McGoldrick, the club, with the support from the Irish Branch of The Professional Golfers Association, is hosting a testimonial golf event at the club. Originally planned for April 1st and 2nd, the event has been extended to four days from March 30th to April 2nd due to the large entry.

Over 600 amateur and professional golfers from Ireland and abroad have entered. “The high level of entry is directly attributable to the esteem in which Charlie is held by golfers of all levels,” said Enniscrone captain Paul O’Dea.

Charlie is synonymous with all that is good in golf and is a great ambassador for Enniscrone and golf in general. He is noted as a professional teacher, has coached at all levels and was club professional for 21 years.

Charlie was also a coach to the 2009 British and Irish Walker Cup team. At Enniscrone he was also involved in the development of the new Championship Dunes Course and the extension of the links to a 27-holes layout. In recognition of his contribution to the club and golf in general Enniscrone has awarded him honorary life membership.

Owens lands Alliance Captain's Prize

THE Leinster Ladies Alliance celebrated 60 years this season and though the year started in snow it ended in glorious sunshine at Woodbrook for Clodagh Hopkin’s Captain’s Day last Friday. The winner was Lilly Owens (5) with 72, while former Curtis Cup player and captain Ita Butler put in a powerful round to produce the best gross of the day with a 79.

Runner-up was Patricia Magee (7) with a 73, with Niamh Giblin (5) taking third place with a 75.

The winner of the singles matchplay this year was a very in-form Ariana Coyle Diez, who also won the Schools Leinster Championship playing for Teresians School.

Current senior internationals Sheena McIlroy from the Grange and Pat Doran from Donabate emerged victorious in the foursomes final played at The K Club.

The Woodbrook Ladies 36-Hole Scratch Cup takes place on Sunday, April 10th. Entries close on Friday, April 1st.