Short game

A round-up of today's golf news

Barton battle on

BARTON CUP holders Tullamore and Mullingar will renew rivalry when the first round of the 2008 FBD-sponsored event gets under way later this month. Mullingar will be seeking revenge having lost out to the eventual winners in last year's quarter-finals. Cill Dara, who won in 2004 but lost in last year's final, meet Kilkea Castle in the first round, while Royal Dublin, the 2006 winners, meet Hollystown.

A record 138 clubs are in this year's draw. Preliminary round matches are due to be completed by March 30th.

This is the 103rd year of the event and four new clubs are making their debut: Tuskar Rock, Bellewstown, Palmerstown House and Roganstown.

Junior survey

JUNIOR GOLF IRELAND, in association with the University of Limerick, are undertaking the first national junior golf survey. Supported by the GUI and ILGU, a questionnaire was recently sent to the junior committees in every affiliated club.

The aim of this project is to obtain meaningful data on junior membership numbers, club policies and coaching to assess the practice of junior golf in Irish clubs. Deadline for receipt of questionnaires is March 31st.

Clubs who respond first will be entered in a draw to win a fourball at the PGA National at Palmerstown House.

This is phase one of a three-phase, post-graduate study by Irish international Niamh Kitching.

GAA challenge

CIARÁN WHELAN, All Star Dublin footballer, last week announced details of the Dublin GAA Club Challenge taking place at Hollystown Golf Club on Friday, April 18th. Sponsored by O'Neill's Irish International Sports Company, there will be €20,000 in prizes on offer, and the challenge is open to all Dublin GAA clubs.

O'Neill's International Sports Company is providing vouchers for Gaelic games sportswear and equipment, as well as perpetual cup and crystal ware worth €20,000. There are prizes for the top 20 teams in addition to a draw for O'Neill's vouchers worth €2,000 for sportswear and equipment. Entry forms are available from Hollystown GC. Entries close on March 31st.

Bray double

IT WAS a good day for Bray GC members at the final outing of the Leinster Alliance season, sponsored by AIB, last Sunday at Royal Dublin, as they won both the nett and gross category prizes. The revamped course proved a real test, but Dan Walsh, a nine handicapper from the county Wicklow club, brought in a great score of 38 points to comfortably win the nett prize by three points from Julien Betty (5) of Carrickmines and Greystones' Danny Hutton, playing off 8.

Making it a Bray double was Peter Kirby, playing off plus one, who had 32 points to win the gross, but only on the back nine from Gary Flynn (1) of Delgany, with James Dempsey (3) from Arklow third on 30 points.

Meanwhile, the popular Irish Times Shield - for teams of four from each club - will take place in Tulfarris on Sunday, June 22nd.

Con's rare bird

AN ALBATROSS two at the sixth hole from Con O'Donovan was the highlight of the BMW Hilary outing played at Baltray on Sunday. The four handicapper from Royal Dublin holed out with a five-wood on his way to a 76, good enough for sixth place, but still only two strokes behind winner Paul Flanagan (4). The St Anne's player - helped in no small way by an eagle two at the 16th hole - was around in 74 for a one-stroke win over scratch man Jim Mulready of The Castle, with Co Louth's Brian Ronan (2) the best of four 76s, the mark also achieved by Portmarnock's John Harnett (6), Paul Browne of Laytown and Bettystown and the albatross man O'Donovan. The professional prize went to John Murray of the Open GC, while Flanagan, alongside Clem Walshe of St Anne's and Andy Cooke of Hermitage won the team event.

The next outing is this Sunday at Royal Dublin. Contact Bill Thomson on 087 2446977.