GOLF:A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Laytown and Bettystown bridge gap
LAYTOWN AND BETTYSTOWN, bridged a 63-year gap when winning the FBD Barton Cup for only their second time by defeating Dunmurry Springs 6-4 in a closely-contested final.
Last winners in 1947, Laytown and Bettystown took a 3-2 lead into the second leg of the final, in which they enjoyed home advantage, but had to go to the 19th to avoid a sudden-death play-off, with the home pairing of Philip Duff and Brian Crinion securing the winning point.
THE Newlands Leinster Fourball Trophy team brought honours to their club in its centenary year when they captured the Leinster Fourball Trophy, sponsored by Seven Seas Active 55, at Waterford in the second leg.
Enjoying a 5-0 lead after the first leg at home, the Newlands pair of Richard O’Farrell and Jimmy Maher, playing in the third match, put the result beyond doubt when they won on the 18th to give them an overall 7-3 win.
Skerries hit form to defeat Nenagh
SKERRIES won the Jimmy Carroll Cup at Westmanstown GC for the second time in three years, having won also in 2008. The Skerries team brought in three excellent scores to beat the holders Nenagh by three points, 128 to 125.
Eight teams qualified for the final out of an entry of 186. The other teams were Tuam, who were third, Castleblayney, Killarney, Waterford, Ballymena and Dundalk.
The team was managed by former Longford GAA star Brendan Barden, who was on the winning 2008 team, and Noel McLoughlin.
THE final of the annual Dugsa Challenge Cup took place at Corrstown Golf Club last week where 22 teams competed having progressed from two qualifying rounds.
This was the 89th consecutive year that the foursomes format Challenge Cup competition was played.
Dublin Fire Brigade GS recorded their first win with a total of 222 strokes. Runners-up were Chapelizod GS, with Enterprise Ireland GS in third place and Rathcoole Masters GS placed fourth.
The best gross score over the three days of competition was posted by D O’Malley and G Mangan of Fruit Traders GS with a fine round of 76.
Bambrick gets better and better
AGE is no barrier to Tony Bambrick, who carded a fine 45 points off a 23 handicap to win the singles competition at Ballaghaderreen last week.
At 84 years of age he is to be be found on the course each day and helping out on Fridays and Saturdays with the up-and-coming juniors.
Playing regularly is the secret to decent golf, says Tony, as he apologised for not scoring on one of the holes.
A 21-year gap was bridged last week when Portumna won the Jack O’Sullivan Trophy. Ballinamore had taken a 3-2 into the second leg as they sought to win their first provincial pennant. But Portumna used home advantage to good effect to win the second leg 5-0 and secure a 7-3 overall victory.
The team was managed by Michael Carty, who played on the 1989 team, while John Harte can boast two winning medals, having also been on that team 21 years ago.
Jones wins Irish Senior Women's Open Champion
IRISH Senior International Helen Jones from Strabane was crowned Irish Senior Women’s Open champion following a six-shot victory over Canada’s Lynda Palahnuik at Laytown and Bettystown GC last weekend.
Jones led from wire to wire to capture her first Irish title. Her opening 74 saw her lead the field by three, and a 78 on day two saw her two ahead going into the final round.
Playing with Wales’ Vicki Thomas in the final pairing, she parred the first four holes to extend her lead as Palahnuik took up the challenge. Both turned in one-over, but another string of pars saw Jones take command and a birdie at the final hole confirmed her well-deserved victory.
Sheena McElroy from the Grange signed for an 80 to see her safely into third place, while Thomas had to settle for fourth after a disappointing 83. Pat Doran from Donabate closed with a 79 to finish fifth, while local favourite Phil O’Gorman slipped up with an 83 to tie with Mary Madden from Ballinasloe in joint sixth place.
The Ireland team of Jones, McElroy and O’Gorman won the team event from Wales, with Canada taking third place.
IRELAND(for the Seniors Home Internationals at Sheringham, England, Sep 28th-30th): Pat Doran (Donabate), Niamh Giblin (Dún Laoghaire), Helen Jones (Strabane), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Mairéad McNamara (Woodbrook) Phil O'Gorman (Laytown Bettystown).
All-Ireland Women's Fourball final
THE finals of the Miele All-Ireland Women’s Fourball Championships will be decided at Glasson this weekend when 32 women tee off with high hopes of claiming a national pennant for their club.
Western region winners the Heath, having defeated 2009 holders Portumna in their regional final, will face Milltown, victors over the K Club in the eastern finals. Milltown will be led by past International Deirdre Walsh and will be keen to continue their victorious run, having already dashed the hopes of Newlands, Kilcoole, Foxrock and Powerscourt.
Having dispatched Youghal in the southern finals, Thurles will take on first-time northern regional winners Rockmont, who convincingly defeated Larne in the regional final.
Hermitage (Leinster), Castle Hume (Ulster) and Newcastlewest (Munster) will join the defending Connacht champions Portumna at the Musgrave Crumlin Hospital Club Challenge All-Ireland final in the Algarve, Portugal, from the October 15th-18th.
The competition, in its 13th year, will have a new champion as none of these clubs has won the All-Ireland pennant and trophy.
The competition has raised €1.25 million and all funds raised go to the hospital. For the 2011 competition clubs can enter by emailing litia@eircom.net
Morris lands incredible win
RICHARD MORRIS will have happy memories after winning the Captain’s Prize (Liam McMenamin) at Knightsbrook GC, Trim, last week. Morris is a well-known referee in Meath GAA circles, but what makes his achievement so remarkable is that on the previous Monday Morris suffered a heart attack at London Airport. He was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery to have stents inserted.
He flew back to Dublin later in the week and played in the Captain’s prize on Saturday.
“The fact he completed the 18 holes was a miracle,” said McMenamin. “The fact he returned a score of 68 playing off 14 is incredible.”
