Other Golf news in brief
Abernethy best at Royal Dublin
COLUM ABERNETHY from Dún Laoghaire won Des Smyth’s president’s prize at the Links Golfing Society outing to Royal Dublin last week.
Abernethy, also a winner at the previous outing to the Portmarnock links, shot a nett 70 off a two-handicap to win by two from Slade Valley’s Terry Lilly in the Esso-sponsored event. Pat O’Brien from Laytown and Bettystown, with a 73 off two, took third place from Eamonn Darcy from Druids Glen, who was the best of those on 75.
The gross went to Portmarnock’s plus two handicapper James Fox with a level par 72.
CONOR O’Rourke, Naas, and Derek Downie, Sutton, took the nett and gross honours at the Hilary Golf Society outing to Laytown and Bettystown after both finished on four-under-par 66. O’Rourke came home in 33 while Downie went one better with 32.
Andre claims Spanish crown
IN AN all-French final Lucie Andre, the number three seed, beat Rosanna Crepiat, in the final of the Spanish women’s open amateur championship at Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, last week.
France provided three of the four semi-finalists. In the Portuguese womens open amateur championship at the start of February, Crepiat won the strokeplay championship with a 54-hole total of 217. Andrew was second with 218.
Danielle McVeigh, Ireland’s only qualifier for the matchplay, went out in the first round to England’s Charlie Douglass at the 19th.
Meanwhile, in the men’s final the British Amateur Champion from 2008, Reinier Saxton from the Netherlands, added the Spanish title to his CV with a 2 and 1 victory over England’s Sam Hutsby in the final at the Real Club de Golf in Seville
Shane Lowry, who has now moved up to eighth in the world rankings, went out in the second round to Pontus Widegren of Sweden at the 20th.
Entries for Hermitage Ladies Scratch Cup open
HEATONS and Sports World will sponsor the 2009 Hermitage Ladies Scratch Cup which will be held on Sunday, May 3rd, at the Hermitage Golf Club in Lucan, Co Dublin.
Last year’s event attracted over 90 entrants, including junior internationals Lisa and Leona Maguire. Leona has won the last two scratch cup tournaments at Hermitage and was the youngest ever winner in 2007, at 13.
Players with handicaps of 12 and under are eligible and the 66 lowest will qualify to compete. This event also counts for the ILGU Order of Merit points. This year saw the course being upgraded under new course superintendent Mark Harrington.
Entry forms are available from Hermitage Golf Club at www.hermitagegolf.ie. Closing date for entries is April 26th.
CASTLEKNOCK Golf Club, Dublin, have announced they will be continuing their sponsorship deal with local European Tour player Peter Lawrie. This will be the third consecutive year Lawrie has represented Castleknock GC on the European Tour.
McGovern and Reilly fourth in Bahrain
HEADFORT professional Brendan McGovern and his partner Francis Reilly had to settle for a share of fourth place at the 2008 Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge in Bahrain last week. McGovern and 15-handicapper Reilly finished five over par, although they did record the lowest score on the second day of play – and indeed the tournament – two-under-par 70.
“We had a disappointing first round and were lying second to last on seven over par,” said club captain Reilly. “However, Brendan managed two birdies (in round two), one on the notoriously difficult 15th and I think we both found the course a bit less daunting second time around.”
Bush Hill Park pro Lee Fickling, a former European Tour player, and club captain Martin Dench won the event by three shots. Sharing second place at four-over-par 148 were Marriott St Pierre duo Craig Dun and captain Eric Brown and Pitreavie professional Paul Brooks and partner Ewan Cameron. The 2009 tournament will again be hosted by The Royal Golf Club, from October 26th-31st .
ASPIRING PGA Europro Tour hopefuls will have the chance to compete at two of Britain’s finest courses over the coming season. The tour has added former British Open venue Prince’s and Burhill Golf Club to their 2009 schedule.
