A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Seven Irish golfers set for World University Games
SEVEN golfers are included in the Colleges and University Sports Association of Ireland (CUSAI) team of 26 athletes for the World University Games in Shenzhen, China, from August 12th to 23rd.
Stephen Walsh from the Baltinglass club, the recent winner of the South of Ireland Championship and a student at UCD, will be joined by Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Lucy Simpson (Massereene), Barry Anderson (Co Sligo), John Greene (Carlow) and Kelan McDonagh (Athlone).
The Irish athletes will be competing in six different sports, including archery, athletics, golf, swimming, taekwondo and weightlifting.
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TULLAMORE professional Donagh McArdle is pulling out all the stops for their pro-am, which will be staged over the midlands course on August 10th.
However, determined not to be deterred by last year’s disappointment when the event was cancelled, McArdle has worked diligently to get the tournament back on course and his efforts have been rewarded with the announcement that Tullamore Dew have agreed to sponsor this year’s event.
The event will have entries from all over the country, with 42 professionals and amateur teams competing. There are still amateur team places available and can be booked at 057-93 51757.
Matthews family hit form at Co Louth
IT has been a memorable time for the Matthews family at County Louth Golf Club with wins in two of the club’s major competitions recently.
Eimear Matthews, playing off a handicap of 26, won Sheila Nelson’s Lady Captain’s Prize by two shots from Thomasina Murphy (27), while Jennifer Gannon was the gross winner with 77.
The class winners on the day were Jackie Quinn, Mary Kealy and Zoe Berkery.
Not to be outdone the following week, Eimear’s daughter Jennifer won Una Kieran’s Lady President’s Prize. She was victorious last Tuesday, when playing off a handicap of 29 she, like her mother, also shot a score of 68. She won by a shot from Elizabeth Hall (27), with Deirdre Smith the gross winner on 72.
The class winners were Susan Kenny, Bláinid Hayes and Mary Bohill, while another of Eimear’s daughters, Niamh, picked up the nine-hole prize in the President’s Prize too.
Lahinch duo land holes in one
THERE were holes in one aplenty in Lahinch on Saturday in Richard Pyne’s Captain’s Prize, which was won by Adrian Kirby with 63 points, edging out Peter Fitzgerald and Niall O’Mahony on a countback in the event which was held over Friday and Saturday.
But there were also celebrations for two other players on the day who managed holes in one, as Michael Gibson aced the eighth hole, while there was another one at the 11th hole for John Wood.
THE team selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland to compete in the Home Internationals at Co Sligo Golf Club from August 10th-12th is: Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Paul Dunne (Greystones), Niall Gorey (Muskerry), Aaron Kearney (Castlerock), Eddie McCormack (Galway), Gary McDermott (Co Sligo), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Richard O’Donovan (Lucan), Kevin Phelan (Waterford Castle).
The team captain is Dr Kevin Flanagan.
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STACKSTOWN GC will hold the Pádraig Harrington-sponsored Senior Scratch Cup next Sunday, August 7th. There are still some places available on the time sheet. Contact Stackstown at 01- 4941993 or admin@stackstowngolfclub.ie
Citywest to face Glen of the Downs
THE finals of McGinley Trophy fourball matchplay competition, sponsored by Mercury Engineering, will be conclude at Powerscourt GC next Sunday.
The format is fourball matchplay and participants are the winners of their clubs fourball matchplay competition in the preceding year – 54 clubs from the greater Dublin area entered this year – the largest entry since the competition started.
Citywest GC, represented by Ciarán O’Connor and Mark O’Leary, will take on the Glen of the Downs pairing of Bobby Donnelly and Stephen Halpenny, while the second semi-final sees Aidan Murphy and Cathal Connolly from Newlands in opposition to Elm Park’s Denis J Hannigan and Richard O’Donnell. The final is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
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MALAHIDE and Hazel Grove will meet in the final of the Best Cup after Malahide had a 3-2 win over Beaverstown in the semi-final, while Hazel Grove defeated Elm Park 3-2.
Mortimer back to defend Irish PGA
THE PGA centenary championship winner, David Mortimer, will be back at Seapoint GC in Termonfeckin, Co Louth, this week to defend his title at the Irish PGA Championship, which starts on Thursday and runs until Saturday.
Des Smyth and Gary Murphy will compete with other top Irish professionals in the 101st Irish PGA Golf Championship at the links course designed by Smyth and top Irish amateur golfer Declan Branigan.
The Irish PGA Championship is a prestigious title to win. Smyth and Pádraig Harrington have won it six times, while legends Christy O’Connor and Harry Bradshaw won it 10 times.
Mortimer has admitted that to win the championship on its 100th staging was very special and he hopes he can hold on to his title for another year. “This is a great course for such an important event in the PGA calendar. It provides a great challenge for any golfer. If you play well you will be rewarded. But you will pay dearly for a lapse of concentration,” he said.
Seapoint are also looking forward to welcoming back the professionals this week. Club captain John Garvey said: “Our unique course will provide a tough but fair challenge for the professionals and it has ample locations for spectators to watch the action.”
Spouses snare Captains' Prizes
IS this an Irish record? It certainly is in Greystones, Co Wicklow GC. A husband and wife winning their respective captain’s prizes within weeks of each other.
Three weeks ago then 19-handicapper Sarah Hamill won Lady Captain Sheila Murphy’s Prize with a score of 37 and 36 Stableford points over two days. She now plays of 18.
Then last Saturday week recent new member Michiel Tijs won captain Stephen Cahill’s prize playing of 18.
He shot 65 and 67 over two days of stroke play. Michiel, who is a former Dutch national hockey player, now plays of 16. The couple married last year.
