Short Game

A round-up of today's other Golf stories in brief...

Hyland best of trio in the Glen

AN equal best score of the day of 72 saw Ann Hyland land a very keenly contested Lady Captain's Prize at Glen of the Downs last week. Having fired an opening 77, Hyland - playing off a handicap of 31 - added a 72 on day two for a 36-hole total of 149, one of three such scores at the end of play.

But she managed to edge out Mary Flynn (17), who had rounds of 73 and 76, and Mary Roche (31), who had rounds of 73 and 76 to claim Olivia Byrne's prize.

Taking the gross prize was Irene Fenelon (12) with a score of 174, while Lesley Keppell (33) and Mary Power (21) took the individual day prizes after rounds of 72.

Vast experience in Fanagan's team

SENIORS CLOSE Champion Sheena O'Brien Kenney from the Grange will lead the Irish team at the Seniors' Home Internationals starting at Little Aston GC today.

In arguably the strongest side Ireland have assembled in years, captain Rhona Fanagan also has the vast experience of Mary McKenna (Donabate), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe) and Helen Jones (Strabane) to call on.

Also lining out will be Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Violet McBride (Belvoir Park) and Marilyn Henderson (West Rhine), which mirrors the side that secured fifth place at the recent Senior Women's European Team Championships at Wouwse Plantage GC in Netherlands.

England's Senior Champions, Janet Collingham and Susan Dye, lead their side in a bid for a sixth successive title.

Scotland, runners-up in last year's event at Royal Tara, also have quality in their side with Lorna Bennett and newly crowned Scottish Veterans' Champion Fiona de Vries among four players returning from last year's team.

Former Curtis Cup player Vicki Thomas, who has won both the Welsh Matchplay title and the Irish Seniors' Open crown this season, will be hoping her individual success can rub off on her team-mates and help Wales make a strong challenge for honours.

Co Louth win battle of the giants in foursomes

CO LOUTH won the battle of the giants when the AA Insurance All-Ireland finals were completed at Limerick GC over the weekend, defeating Douglas by 2-1 in the Senior Foursomes.

Kate MacCann, partnered with Deirdre O'Hanlon, got Douglas off to a dream start beating Jenny Gannon and Jane McCabe 2 and 1. However, Susan Mullaney and Karen Yates had a convincing 7 and 6 win against Karen O'Neill and Liz O'Donnell, and Deirdre Smith and Susan Kenny ensured a Baltray victory with a 5 and 3 win over Eavan Higgins and Claire Nash.

Enniscorthy won their third All-Ireland trophy in two years with a 3½-1½ win over Mountbellew in the Junior Cup final, while Athenry won the Challenge Cup 3½-1½ over Monkstown.

Locals Rathbane, a municipal course, won their first All-Ireland title 2½-½ over Mountbellew in the Junior Foursomes.

No joy for East Cork for the second year running as they lost out to Slade Valley in the Intermediate Championship.

Malahide, with a mother and daughter duo, won three matches in style to win the Minor Cup title. Ciara Smith got her team off to a great start, beating Carlow's Phyll Farrell 5 and 4, and Ciara's mother, Maire Falvey, followed with a 3 and 2 win over Mary Farrell. And the performance of the day was from Colette Moran who recorded a 6 and 4 win over Pat McArdle.

Tralee capture JB Carr trophy 

THE FINALS of the JB Carr Diamond Trophy at Woodenbridge Golf Club proved a third time lucky for Tralee when they beat Tullamore in the final.

Sponsored by Newbridge Silverware, the provincial winners were Co Sligo, Tullamore, Tralee and Strabane.

Tralee and Strabane were also in last year's finals.

Co Sligo took third place from Strabane.

The hugely popular competition, played as a scotch foursomes format for the over-60s, had over 200 clubs participating from all 32 counties.

Faithlegg were crowned All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Champions following their 2½-1½ victory over Galway in the final of the Miele Interclub Fourball Championships at Mount Juliet.

In the semi-finals, Galway defeated a Cushendall side by 3½-½, while Donabate lost out to Faithlegg by the same score.

A real family affair at Sutton

THE Sutton Mixed Matchplay final, delayed by the weather but completed on Sunday, was a family affair.

The Joe Duffy BMW-sponsored event saw Jacqui O'Beirne from Donabate and son David from Royal Dublin successfully defend their title when they beat Jacqui's husband, Sean (Royal Dublin), and her sister Gail Keane (Donabate) in the final, winning one up.

And taking great pleasure in the family success was former Lady President of Sutton Vera Dineen, Jacqui and Gail's mother.

The semi-finalists were Frank Grant and last year's LGU president Catherine Booth, both from Sutton, and the Royal Dublin - Hermitage pairing of Jack and Collette Dennis.

The best nett in qualifying went to Tom Monaghan from Corrstown and Marie Kavanagh from Balbriggan.

The gross prize was won by Jack and Claire Irwin from Malahide.

Ireland chase Home sweep

ARTHUR PIERSE from Tipperary has been forced to withdraw from the team to represent Ireland in the Seniors Home Internationals at Tenby Golf Club, Wales, starting today.

Pierse, who has a viral infection, was a member of the team that captured the European Seniors Championship at Shannon Golf Club in August.

He is replaced by Nigel Duke from Killiney, as Ireland go in search of a clean sweep of the Home International titles, having already won the Boys at Royal Co Down and and Senior events at Muirfield.

MICHAEL McGEADY took time out from the Challenge Tour to win the North Western Alliance outing to Letterkenny on Saturday.

McGeady shot a three-under-par 69 to win the nett by one shot from local Eamonn McGlinchey, with Rosapenna's Michael Bonner third on 71.

Cathal McGroarty from Portsalon edged out Charlie Coughlan and John Doran from Letterkenny after the trio finished on 72.

The best gross went to Kieran Cunnane, a plus one handicapper from Woodstock GC, who beat another Challenge Tour member, Brian McElhinney on a countback after they finished on one-over 73.