SHORT GAME

A round-up of today's other golf news in brief

New offers at Laois golf school

THE Natural Golf School at The Heritage Golf Spa Resort continues to reduce the cost of learning to play golf with the launch of its new six-week programmes. The golf school is offering a 50 per cent discount on two of its new classes aimed at both established and learner golfers.

For € 75, golfers can secure a place on the new “All Round Game Programme” commencing April 9th. This six-week programme runs from 7pm-8pm every Thursday evening and is designed for golfers looking to improve all areas of their game

For more details contact the Heritage at 057 8645300 or www.thenaturalgolfschool.ie

Irish team named to face Wales at Rosslare

THE Irish team to play Wales at Rosslare GC on April 7th and 8th is: Michael Durcan(Co Sligo), Andrew Kelly(Charleville), Matthew McKnight(Lisburn), Daniel Murphy(Portarlington), Ian O'Rourke(Cork), Graham Donohoe(Enniscorthy), Chris Selfridge(Moyola Park) and Stephen Barry(Navan).

The three players selected to compete in the Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath, Solihull, on April 15th and 16th are: Garth McGee(Malone), Paul Dunne(Greystones) and Reeve Whitson(Mourne).

The Irish Boys Under-16 team to compete in the second annual Development Quadrangular matches against The Netherlands, Scotland and Wales at Machynys Peninsula GCb, Wales from April 15th to 17th is: Keith Egan(Curragh), Keagan Cummings(Elm Park), John Ross Galbraith(Whitehead), Liam Hartnett(Milltown), Kiernan Lynch(Skibbereen), Dermot McElroy(Ballymena), Gavin Moynihan(Donabate), and Colm O'Sullivan(Fota Island). The Irish Boys team captain is Liam Martin.

The Fota Island Resort Golf Alliance was played on the Belvelly Golf Course on Friday and despite the windy conditions professional Peter O'Keefereturned a fantastic score of 68 gross to take the victory from Morgan O'Donovanwith David Keating(Kinsale) returning a very credible 73 to win the best nett. The next Alliance event is on April 10th. To book a tee time call 021 4883700.

Mulready makes mark at Co Louth

JIM MULREADYfrom the Castle was the winner of BMW-sponsored Hilary GS outing to Co Louth on Sunday.

Mulready's superior back nine was good enough to edge out Seamus Ward(5) from Laytown and Bettystown and Shane Gaffney(5) from Sutton after all three finished on 73.

Niall Lavinfrom Royal Dublin captured the gross with a 73 and the professionals prize was shared by Bobby Brownfrom Laytown and Bettystown, Gavin Lunnyfrom Naas and Robert Gilesfrom Greenore with 73s. The team prize was won by Tony Higgins(Sutton), Ryan Callan(Moyvalley) and Lloyd O'Rourke(Naas) with 63.

In the overall Pelz Gold medal – awarded to the best nett of the series – Ward leads Gary Cullenfrom Beaverstown by four shots.

Cullen is also joint leader with Robbie Gannonfrom Balbriggan in the Niall O'Briengross section.

The next outing of the society is at The European Club Sunday next.

Irish players to the fore at Portuguese Seniors event

Irish players filled seven of the top-10 places in the Portuguese Seniors Championship in Estoril last week but just missed out on the top spot.

The event was won by Italy's Frederico Langwith a 218 total after rounds of 72, 71 and 75 with Michael Cootefrom Castleisland second on 223 with rounds of 71 75 and 77.

Last year's winner David Lane, from England, finished third on 227 with European champion Adrian Morrow,from Portmarnock, fourth on 229. Nigel Duke, who shot a best of the day 73 in the final round was next on 230.

Seamus McParland, joint leader after two rounds, was a victim of the gale-force winds in the final round where he took nine at the par-four 12th to slip out of contention.

Other Irish finishers in the top-10 were Liam McNamara, Mervyn Eagerand Hugh Smyth,who all finished on 234.

Duke and McNamara finished second in the pairs event won by Lane and John Hindshaw.

The English pair shot a fine 64 in the foursomes after a 68 in the fourball to card a 133 total , one better than Duke and McNamara. McPartland and Smyth were third on 140 with Morrow and Coote fourth on 141.

NIAMH KITCHING(Claremorris) showed her class as she captured the Royal Co Down Scratch Salver by a margin of nine shots over the rest of the field after rounds of 73 and 78. Danielle McVeighwas her closest challenger with a level par round of 76 followed by an 84.

Charity classic at Fota Island

THE Fota Island Resort hosts the Surgeon Noonan Charity Golf Classic on Friday next. Each summer, fourth-year UCC medical students volunteer to work in hospitals for their medical elective. Last year students travelled to Ghana, Malawi, Tasmania, Zambia and Liberia, and raised almost € 150,000 for medicines and supplies, winning the Small Charity of the Year Award.

Monies raised through the Surgeon Noonan Charity Golf Classic at Fota Island will go directly towards the fund which is divided between affiliated hospitals in Africa. Contact Eamon Murrayon 087-2632 959.

Blackrock College won the Leinster final of the Irish Schools' Championship at Newbridge GC last week. Their team of Gerard MacNamara, Paul Dunneand Ross Mageetotalled 145 to win by one shot from Scoil Mhuire CS, Clane and St Michael's College, Dublin. St Patrick's, Navan, were a shot further back on 147 with St Peter's on 152.

O’Sullivan plays her part in US

Irish international Sinead O'Sullivanand former Welsh girls' champion Lucy Gould helped East Tennessee State win the team title in the Lady Seahawk Classic women's college tournament at the River Landing Country Club course at Wallace, North Carolina, last weekend. The win marks the Buccaneers' second team championship of the 2008-09 season and the fourth time the team has finished third or better in seven events this year.

O'Sullivan, from Galway, had rounds of 75, 79 and 76 for a total of 230 which earned her joint ninth position. Gould had rounds of 75, 74 and 76 for 225 to finish fifth in a field of 72 behind the French Canadian winner from Quebec, Danielle Millsfrom Elon University, North Carolina, who had scores of 72, 687 and 76 for level par 216.

Mills won by six shots from the leading East Tennessee State player, Latvian Laura Jansonewho scored 73, 77 and 72 for 222.

East Tennessee State on 903 won the team event from Elon University (909) and East Carolina State (916) in a field of 12 teams.

The Bucs will return to action this week at the John Kirk/Lady Panther Intercollegiate in Stockbridge, Georgia. The event will be the team’s final tune up before the all important Atlantic Sun Conference Championships which are scheduled to begin on April 13th.