A round-up of other golf news
Impressive Ireland prove too strong for Americans
IRELAND retained the Governor Hugh Carey Challenge Cup with an 8½-3½ win over the Metropolitan Golf Association of New York at The Links Portmarnock last week.
The home team coped best with the elements, including a severe gale on the first morning.
Tied at three matches each after the first day's play, Ireland took 5½ points from the second day singles.
In match one, Paul Cutler raced into a three-hole lead, but Joe Saldino fought back and managed to secure a half point for the visitors, while Rory McNamara accounted for Michael Reardon, the Irishman winning on the 18th.
Rathmore's Alan Dunbar won his match in a similar fashion to McNamara – ending it on the 18th with a one-hole win over Greg Rohlf, while Andrew Hogan ended his encounter with Robert Cronheim with a 2 and 1 win. Irish Boys Champion Paul Dunne also enjoyed a 2 and 1 win over Edward Gibstein, winning on the 17th with a par after Gibstein found trouble in a bunker.
The biggest win of the day went to Dara Lernihan, whose 6 and 5 win over Cameron Wilson.
** DAVID O'Reilly from Westmanstown, will defend his Kilkenny Scratch Cup title, sponsored by Smithwicks, which takes place on Saturday next at Kilkenny GC. Limited to handicaps of four or lower the cost, to include lunch, is €30. Contact 056-7765400 or email Kilkennygolfclub.com for details.
In-form Maguire ready to defend title
LEONA MAGUIRE will defend her Lancôme Irish Women's Close Championship title when competitors tee off at Fota Island Golf Resort on Saturday next.
Leona has made a remarkable start to the 2009 season, winning every event she has entered to date. In late March, she captured the inaugural Woodenbridge Scratch Cup, followed by the French Under-21 Championship at the start of April.
A week later, the Helen Holm Scottish open strokeplay championship title followed along with boosting Ulster to a fifth successive win in the Girls' Interprovincials. The month ended with an emphatic victory in the Irish schools championships when she partnered her twin-sister Lisa to victory for Loreto College, Cavan.
Lisa will be looking to stop her sister in her tracks and prevent a repeat of last year's performance which saw her finish runner-up. Lisa too has made a solid start to 2009, finishing third in Scotland.
Other players keen to capture the coveted crown will be previous champions Deirdre Smith from Co Louth and Karen Delaney from Carlow and internationals Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Gillian O'Leary (Cork), plus junior internationals Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Patrice Delaney (Birr) and Sarah Helly (Enniscrone).
Lucan host Ros GAA fund-raiser
THE annual Roscommon GAA Dublin Supporters Golf Classic takes place this Friday at Lucan Golf Club. The money raised will be used to finance the under-age development programme of the Roscommon GAA County Board, the programme which is building on the recent success of the county’s Minor All-Ireland winning team.
Last year’s classic provided €9,000 in the second year of this three-year sponsorship. For this year’s event, organisers have reduced the cost to €500 per team to include golf, meal and prizes.
Teams can be either all male, all female or mixed. To book contact Tom Maye 01-8746939, Joe Murray 087-9901260, Martin McDermott 087-2588599 email mcdmcd@eircom.net or Owen Travers owentravers@eircom.net
** TO have a hole in one once in your career is special, but to get a second well, what are the odds on that?
Well Hazel Grove member Aisling Neill, who plays off 11, has done it twice at her home club.
Representing her club in a recent Miele Ladies Fourball match, the former lady captain aced the 181- metre par three 6th hole, holing out with a five-iron, to go along with the hole in one she had at the second hole a few years back.
Brown set to captain R&A
THE Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has announced Colin Brown as captain for the year 2009 -2010.
The new captain will assume office following the traditional driving-in ceremony on Thursday, September 24th.
Brown joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in 1994. He served on the finance committee from 2000–2005 and is chairman of the membership committee and a member of the general committee. He is a past captain of Kilmacolm Golf Club and, in 2001, captained Prestwick Golf Club in their 150th anniversary year. He plays to a handicap of 7.
** GALWAY GC Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by John Mulholland Bookmaker, will be played on Saturday, June 20th, where Mark King of Athenry Golf Club will defend his title.
For details contact the Club at 091 522033 or email galwaygolf@eircom.net .
Roscommon prevail again
ROSCOMMON Ladies won their fourth Senior Cup Western District pennant in six years when they beat Ballinasloe in the district final at Ballinasloe on Saturday. The team of Ann McCormack, Mary Seymour, Ruth Lennon, Rosemary O’Brien and Julie O’Gara won the final 4½ to ½. Earlier in the semi-finals Roscommon had accounted for County Longford 4-1, while Ballinasloe edged out Athenry 3-2. In the Eastern District, County Louth defeated host club Laytown and Bettystown 4½ to ½ in Sunday’s final. In the semi-finals Co Louth defeated The Island 3½ to 1½, while Laytown and Bettystown defeated Woodbrook 3½ to 1½.
Five destined for St Andrews
FIVE of Ireland’s leading amateurs have made the cut for the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy which takes place at the home of golf from June 5th-7th.
Cian Curley (Newlands), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Séamus Power (West Waterford) and Simon Ward (Co Louth) all made the cut, which fell at plus 2.4.
Competitors will play one round over the New Course on Friday, June 5th and one over the Old Course on Saturday, June 6th. The 40 lowest scores over these 36 holes, and those tied for 40th place, will qualify for the final 36 holes to be played over the Old Course on Sunday, June 7th.
** IRISH Close champion and Walker Cup squad member Shane Lowry from Esker Hills will join East of Ireland champion Eoin Arthurs from Forrest Little in the field for the 3 Irish Open at Co Louth Golf starting on Thursday.
Selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland, both Lowry and Arthurs will compete as amateurs alongside players like Pádraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Kjeldsen, Graeme McDowell, Colin Montgomerie and Michael Campbell.
