Short Game

Golfing news by SHAY KEENAN

Kilfeather a real ace in Sligo

PROOF that you are never too old to record a hole in one came recently at Co Sligo Golf club. Playing the 13th hole, which measures 133 metres for the ladies, there was huge delight for Pat Kilfeatherwhen she saw her tee-shot bounce over the bunker and into the hole.

Pat, a regular at the Rosses Point club, is a mere 86 years young, and these days plays off a handicap of 30.

Over the years she has served the club very well and was was Lady Captain of County Sligo back in 1955 before becoming Lady President in 1994/95.

Last week’s cracking shot brought much joy to everyone at the club.

Robinson gets alliance season off to fine start

GLEN ROBINSONgot the winter season off to a fine start by winning the opening outing of the Rosslare Alliance at Rosslare last week.

The St Helen's Bay professional fired a two-under-par 38 points to win from Ciarán Carrollfrom Bray and Darren Walshfrom Wexford.

Tommy Lennonfrom Carlow won the nett with 39 points off a two handicap, with local Paud O'Briensecond on a countback from Co Meath's Fergus Careyafter they finished on 37 points.

The next outing of the Alliance is on Monday, November 9th. Time sheet with Johnny Youngat 053-9132032.

- THE future of the Noel FarrellyNaas Junior Scratch Cup is secured for the next five years after friends of the late Noel Farrelly agreed to sponsor the 36-hole event.

This year's event was won by Ross McCormack, with a total of 145, from Alan Lowryof Esker Hills, a brother of Irish Open champion Shane.

The nett went to another local, Gus Fitzpatrick, with 140, by two shots from Paddy Kavanaghand Alan Whyte.

- The new clubhouse at Newbridge Golf Club will be officially opened on Friday, October 30th, by Richard Bruton TD.

Opened in 1995. there are now 300 members. The course and its facilities improve year on year, with 15 USGA sand greens now in place, and the remaining three due to be upgraded next year.

There’s no match for Donnelly

THE singles matchplay final at Malahide GC last week had an unique pairing when Leo Connolly, aged 16, handicap five and already a winner of the Boys singles, met Seán Donnelly, aged 84 and playing to a respectable handicap of 17.

However, three down and five to play, the odds were not looking good for veteran Donnelly.

But Seán is no stranger to such situations or pressure, having won his first captain’s prize in 1949, when he beat his father in what was then a matchplay final, and followed with two more successes.

Calling on a vast experience of Barton Shield, Senior Cup, Junior Cup and Barton Cup matches also helped as Donnelly parred the last seven holes to force a play-off with young Connolly.

This dogged performance was no fluke either, as Donnelly’s performance in the 2006 captain’s prize showed, where he joined an elite group of golfers within the club shooting less than his age – a sparkling 79 when he was just 81 years young.

So it was down the 19th where Donnelly chipped dead for a winning par, and so at the graceful age of 84 he became quite probably the oldest man to win a club matchplay final, at least in Ireland.

What’s he planning for next year?

Portsalon men best in North Links

THE inaugural Great North Links Challenge proved a great success over three of the great links courses at Ballyliffin, Portstewart and Royal Portrush.

Some 78 teams took part with overall victory going to the team from Portsalon.

Johnny Shields, Hugh Coll, Paul McGinleyand Patrick Crerardtotalled 311 points to win by three from Ballyliffin trio Charlie Duffy, John Grantand John McKeeverwith John McDermottfrom the North West.

In third place on 305 points were Conor Swailfrom Roganstown, Martin Healyfrom Ardglass and Alan Creightonand Alan Whytefrom Naas.

The overall individual winner was John McCaughanfrom Ballybofey and Stranorlar with 105 points, by one from Castleblayney's Joe Quinnwith Brian Lockartfrom Portstewart third. Donal Mulhollandfrom Castlerock won the gross with 97 points.

- THE 2009/10 Links Golf Society season tees-off on December 3rd with the Lioncourt Capital-sponsored outing to Co Louth. Other outings are planned for The Links, Portmarnock, on January 14th, sponsored by Right Price Tiles and Waterford Crystal.

Esso, sponsors since 1970, will host the President’s, Des Smyth, prize at Royal Dublin on February 25th.

Baltinglass pair go three-in-a-row

IT’S hard enough to win one matchplay title, but to win it three times in a row, well that takes some doing.

The more you win the more people want to take the title off you. Yet the three-in-a-row is what has just been achieved in Baltinglass Golf Club in Co Wicklow. The club's fourball final was played recently and it witnessed a remarkable achievement with John Doran jnr(3) and Michael Murphy(16) winning their third title in succession.

Amazingly, they remain undefeated in 17 matches as a partnership, not having lost since May 2007.

In this year's decider they defeated Murphy's Sunday playing partners John O'Connell(9) and Raymond Danne(7) on the 18th in a tense, banter-ridden showdown held in great sportsmanship.

Already the winners are looking forward to making it an unprecedented four-in-a-row in 2010. That would be a fine achievement.

Russian students get R&A grants

THE R&A has awarded foundation scholarships to 10 students at the University of Sport in Moscow. They have received €550 to assist them to play competitive golf while completing their studies.

A state-of-the-art putting aid, the Sam PuttLab, has also been presented to the golf faculty at the university to help the students develop.

Included in the 10 is Nikita Ponomarev, a two-handicap 16-year-old who recently played in the R&A’s team at the Mayor’s Cup before going on to win a Faldo Series Russia event.

The scholarships are part of a wider programme for the development of golf in Russia which was formed after a visit to the country by the chair of the R&A’s golf development committee, Keith Hodgkinson.

Some €23,000 of equipment and assistance has been awarded to Russian golf initiatives in 2009 as a direct result of Hodgkinson’s recommendations.