SHAY KEENANrounds up other golf news

Cunningham's good form continues at the Hermitage

SARAH Cunningham's excellent form continued when she won the Hermitage Ladies Scratch Cup, sponsored by Heatons and Sportsworld, on Sunday in Lucan for the first time. Playing some fantastic golf, especially in the afternoon, she had three shots to spare over the rest of the field.

Having opened with a 79, the three-handicapper and recent winner of the Vaughan Scratch Trophy in Lahinch fired a superb 71 in the afternoon – where she finished birdie-par-birdie – to finish with a two-round total of 150, clear of Aedin Murphy of Carlow, winner of this year's Cork Scratch Cup, with New Ross' Mary Dowling and joint-first-round leaders Ciara Butler, the 18-year-old from Newlands, and Limerick's Catherine Tucker next best on 155.

** THE Terenure College team of Tommy Keogh, David Czernick, Jimmy McGowan and Robert Shanley won the annual Union of Irish Schools' tournament at the Castle GC last week. Recording their first win in the competition, the Terenure quartet totalled 76 points to edge out neighbours Templeogue (73) and Glenstal (71).

** A total of 198 clubs, representing all 32 counties, have entered the JB Carr Tournament for 2009. This Scotch Foursomes competition for the over 60s is again sponsored by Newbridge Silverware. The winners from each province will meet in the All-Ireland finals at Woodenbridge GC in September.

Morrow bids to retain senior title

DEFENDING champion Adrian Morrow will be seeking back-to-back victories in the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by the Portuguese Tourist Board, at Bangor GC from Wednesday, May 27th to Friday, May 29th.

The Portmarnock man will be looking to add to his Irish and European Seniors’ Titles which he captured in 2008 in his first year on the Seniors’ circuit.

There are six countries represented in the draw, including players from the United States and Israel. John Baldwin from the US is included in the field, and the 2005 and 2006 champion will be looking for a record-equalling third win in this event.

The field of 150 will play 18 holes on each of the first two days, with the top 51 qualifying for the third and final round on day three. Four players in the over 60s category, three players in the over 65s category and two players in the over 70s category will also be included.

The handicap cut-off fell at 6.3, while there are five players over 70 included who are outside the handicap cut-off, to ensure the involvement of a minimum eight players in that category.

Junior summer camps at Carton

THE GUI National Academy’s Junior summer camps will take place during July.

Coaching will be provided by PGA professional Louise D’Arcy, and she will be assisted by Academy staff at Carton House. Fresh fruit and water will be given to each child every day and there will be a competition at the end of the week with great equipment to be given away.

The dates for the camps are: July 6th-10th; July 13th-17th; July 20th-24th with juniors aged 7-10 from 9.30am-12.30pm and 10 to 15-year-olds from 2pm-5pm each day.

The cost of the camps is € 125 per child. However, siblings will receive a discount. Two children from the same household (brothers and sisters) will cost € 225 and three children from the same household will cost € 300.

To register, call 01-5054040 with name of children, ages, emergency contact number and payment details.

McVeigh takes Welsh Open

DANIELLE McVeigh from Royal Co Down finished strongly to win the Welsh Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay championship in tough conditions at the demanding, par-75 Royal Porthcawl links in south Wales over the weekend.

McVeigh, who finished fifth in last week’s Scottish Strokeplay at Troon, started the final round two shots adrift of the leaders Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Rachel Jennings (Izaak Walton) and Tara Davies (Holyhead), but her closing, two-under-par 73 saw her clinch victory by one stroke with a total of 223.

Jennings took second place after a final round 76 with Davies third on 228.

Delgany to host Schools' Cup

DELGANY GC will play host to the inaugural Schools’ Cup for Boys and Girls in the Wicklow region on May 29th.

The Junior Schools’ programme, which is in its first year in Wicklow, was set up to encourage children from eight to 12 years of age to play golf.

This initiative was developed and promoted by Hilary Haydon and Company, Chartered Accountants, and has been implemented with the assistance of Junior Golf Ireland and Delgany Golf Club.

Gavin Kavanagh, the Delgany professional and chairman of the Irish PGA, and Gary Evans of Green 17 will provide a clinic on the day. Contact Delgany Golf Club on 01-2874536 or email: delganygolf@eircom.net.

** THE Friends of Dublin Hurling will hold their fourth annual Golf Classic at Castlewarden on Thursday, May 28th. The cost for a team of four is €400. To book a time call Michael at 087-2331983.

** LIMERICK Hurling’s annual Classic is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 14th, at Beech Park Golf Club, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

This event has been a tremendous success down the years. Contact director of golf Tom Cotter at 086-8380893 for details of this year’s event.

George Best event returns to Galgorm

THIS years George Best Invitational returns to Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena where amateurs will be afforded the opportunity to compete alongside leading Irish PGA professionals and celebrities from the sporting and entertainment world.

Following last year’s highly successful inaugural showpiece, this year’s event will take place on Thursday, August 27th. Due to anticipated demand there will also be a pre-qualifying tournament on Friday, July 31st, at the Ballymena venue, where the top two amateur teams will win a place at the Invitational.

A total of 20 fourball teams will take to the course at Galgorm Castle in a shotgun start to compete for a number of great prizes, including the chance to tee it up in the Portugal Open in October.

Details from Golf Event Management (Gem) on 079 2345 0900 or email info@golfgem.co.uk.

** GALWAY-born Allison Walshe finished joint-second in the Futures Tour’s Texas Hill Country Classic at the The Dominion Country Club.

Walshe, who shot 66 in the second round, carded a final round 71 for a six-under-par total of 210 to lose out by just one shot to Allison Hanna-Williams from Portland, Oregon, who fired a final round 69 for 209. Three rounds of 70 gave Jennifer Ackerson from Dallas a share of second place.