GOLF:A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Coulter's year contiunues to get better and better
TO be Lady Captain of a Golf club is memorable enough for anyone. But for the Lady Captain of County Sligo, the year 2011 just got a whole lot better last week.
June Coulter is the Lady Captain of the Rosses Point for this year and last Saturday she was competing in Lillian Boyles Lady Presidents Day. And despite the difficult scoring conditions, the 26 handicapper had the best score of the day to win the coveted prize with a net score of 71.
That proved to be just one shot better than Kathleen Barry (31) with Deirdre Connolly, playing off 16, next best on 74. The gross prize was claimed by Helen Clarke with a score of 89.
Meanwhile, at Clonmel Ollie Connellan held her Lady Captains Day and the best score of the day was recorded by a 13 year-old. Gemma McCarthy, playing off a handicap of 11, fired an impressive round of 41 points, but because of her age wasnt eligible to claim the top prize.
However, in a strange twist of fate the person to benefit from that fact was Shula McCarthy, Gemmas mother. The 18 handicapper didnt beat her daughters score, but her total of 40 points was deemed the winning score because Gemma couldn’t win the Lady Captains Prize.
In third place was Eleanor Devaney (6) also on 40 points, the same score as Antoinette Dougan (36), while Shauna OBrien (5) was the gross winner with 38 points.
Wright on hunt for Brabazon
ENGLAND international Darren Wright will attempt to become the first player in two decades to successfully defend the Brabazon Trophy when it is staged at Burnham Berrow Golf Club starting on Thursday.
Wright won at Royal Liverpool last year but no one has won two successive titles since 1991 when Gary Evans shared top spot with Mark Pullan at Hunstanton. This year’s field of 150 players contains the cream of amateur golf including a six-man GUI team of Barry Anderson (Co Sligo), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), John Greene (Carlow), Jeff Hopkins (Skerries) and Reeve Whitson (Mourne).
Maguire takes Strokeplay title
LEONA Maguire from Slieve Russell GC, won the Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay title at Elm Park, on Sunday.
Leading the field by five shots overnight, the teenager set the marker early with a birdie at the first, and never looked back. Further birdies at the short fifth and long eighth saw her turn two under the card to lead nearest challenger Stephanie Meadow from Royal Portrush by 10 shots entering the final nine holes.
Leona's twin sister Lisa saw her final round challenge fade after a double bogey at the short third.
Leona's only blemish of the weekend was a double bogey on the 15th after tree trouble, but she had plenty to spare and romped home eight shots ahead of the field.
Leona had been in great form over the weekend and had opened with a stunning 64 to take the advantage.
Meadow went on to sign for a best of the day 70 to finish in second place, while Lisa was next best of a quality field on 216, following a disappointing final round of 77, which had been played with her twin sister.
Ireland won the team event by a whopping 34 strokes from Spain, followed by Wales, Germany, England and Scotland.
Simpson sets sensational record
LUCY Simpson from Masserene, playing off a handicap of four, fired a sensational second round of seven-under-par 67 win the 36 hole Vaughan Scratch Trophy at Lahinch last week.
The new course record saw Simpson claim the trophy by a very impressive six-shot margin after rounds of 77 and 67 saw her win from Eileen Rose Power from Kilkenny, who carded rounds of 70 and 80 for 150.
Irish Close champion Karen Delaney from Carlow, with rounds of 78 and 77 finished third on 155, while Niamh Ward of Lurgan was fourth on 159.
In glorious weather conditions Simpson’s new course record beat the old standard by two strokes and which had previously been held by Marion Riordan of Tipperary.
Simpson was in sparkling from the very start of her round and turned in five under par 32 and then had a back nine of 35 on her way to setting the new course record on the day.
The event at Lahinch proved highly successful with 28 competing clubs, including one visitor from the United States.
Meanwhile, there was also another new course record set at Dublin City Golf Club recently during their Lady Captain’s Day when Esme Murphy, playing off a handicap of five, shot a gross 70 during the first day of competition.
Mount Juliet encourages Juniors
MOUNT Juliet, the original Jack Nicklaus signature course in Ireland which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has introduced a new programme aimed at encouraging Junior golfers.
In the case of members, a ‘Junior’ (Under 18 years of age) may play free of charge with a parent on tee times after 3.00pm, while for green fee visitors a ‘Junior’ may play free of charge as part of a twoball, threeball or fourball teeing off after 3.0Opm.
The initiative commences on June 27th and will run throughout the summer and into the autumn.
In addition, as part of the Mount Juliet commitment to Junior Golf, resident pro Seán Cotter will give a Junior Golf clinic every Saturday morning between 10am – 11am where he will brief each junior on course etiquette as well as giving a short lesson.
For more information contact Anthony Brady on 056 777 3083 or email abrady@mountjuliet.ie.
Duke is king of Connacht Seniors
CASTLE Dargan GC in Sligo played host to the Connacht Seniors Open and, after solid rounds of 73, 74 for 147, Killineys Nigel Duke finished one stroke clear of Killeens Maurice Kelly, who fired rounds of 76 and 72.
Duke began the second round in second place, one shot behind overnight leader and former winner, Corks Peter Cowley. Cowley still looked an odds-on winner with five to play only to run up a nine on the treacherous par-four 14th to see his chances evaporate.
Duke’s nearest challenger was playing partner Maurice Kelly who carefully plotted his way to a level-par 72, but it was to be Dukes day when he closed with a +1, 73. Spare a thought for Woodbrooks John Hughes who, an early starter, posted a best of the event two-under-par 70 to an opening 79 for third spot on 149. Hughes was leader in the Clubhouse for over five hours until Duke and Kelly both passed him in the penultimate threeball.
