Lenehan and Casey set for Colombia: Geoff Lenehan from Portmarnock GC and Brian Casey from Headfort have been selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland to compete in the South American Amateur Individual Championship from January 23rd-26th at The Rincon De Cajica Golf Club, Bogota, Colombia. The format will be 72 holes strokeplay.

The Irish team selected to compete in the 10 Nations Cup from February 6th-9th is: Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park), Richard O’Donovan (Lucan), Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park) and Reeve Whitson (Mourne).

The venue for the Championship is Kingswood GC, George, South Africa and the format will be 72 holes strokeplay with lowest three scores to count in each round. The Kingswood championship course is 18 holes over rolling fairways with undulating greens.

Barry off to good start at Newlands

It’s been a good start to 2013 for Newlands Marian Barry.

The 28 handicapper has had a win in one nine hole singles competition where she shot 19 points, a second placed finish – where she went even better in recording 21 points only to still fall shy of winner Genevieve Tracy by a point.

And as well as her good form as an individual she also added a fourball success alongside her playing partner Maria Wims (24) when they won with 17 points last Saturday.

Barry will be hoping that that kind of consistent form continues for the remainder of the year.

Ryan records top ten finish in Mexico Open

Chloe Ryan finished best of the Irish in 10th place in a top quality field at the 72 hole Mexican Women’s Amateur Open Strokeplay in Mexico City last week.

As the field faced a serious test over the 6,400 yard par 72 course, Ryan’s final round 76 included a lip-out for a hole-in-one on the 16th to end a fine week’s effort after opening rounds of 72, 81, 75.

Jean O’Driscoll saved her best for last with an incident packed 75 for 311 which included an eight on the ninth hole. “I really enjoyed it, played lovely and a nice way to finish a great tournament,” she said. Olivia Mahaffey disappointingly bogeyed two of her last three holes for an eventful 77 to finish on 312 (84, 73, 80, 75) while Ariana Coyle added an 86 to finish on 342 (87, 85, 84, 86).

Mexico’s Marijosse Navarro covered the inward nine in 33 to come from two back and win the championship on 288 from USA Curtis Cup star Emily Tubert. Navarro was the only player to match par which highlighted the difficulty of the challenge. Competitors received a surprise when seven times Major champion Lorena Ochoa presented the prizes.

O'Keefe hoping for tour win

Douglas-based professional, Peter O’Keeffe is going that extra mile with his pre-season training in the hope of winning a European challenge tour event in 2013.

O’Keeffe begins his season on the European Challenge Tour in March in Nairobi and having sampled life on the tour in 2008 and 2009, believes he is now more experienced, fitter and ready for a tough six months.

O’Keeffe, has hired a professional golf fitness coach to take him to the next level in terms of mental and physical fitness. Luke Dennehy of Dennehy’s Health and Fitness, in Cork, has worked with O’Keeffe transforming his physical training routine, while also working on the mental side of his game. “The training I do with Luke is so advanced, and it relates directly to my golf which is hugely important for me,” said O’Keeffe.

Local knowledge proved vital as Rosslare members claimed the top prizes at the Rosslare Alliance outing last week over their home course. Gary Collins, a plus two handicap, won the gross with a level par 36 points while Brendan Rossiter, off nine, won the nett with an excellent 39 points.

The team prize was won by Johnny Young, N Duke, J Sheehan and A McEvoy with 45 points. The next outing of the Rosslare Alliance will be on Monday, February 4th. Time sheet at 053-9132032.

Long wait over as Murphy has ace

Proof that if you wait long enough you will be rewarded was in evidence at County Sligo golf course recently.

Pat Murphy has been playing golf for over 42 years and never before in his long playing career has he had the distinction of having a hole in one.

However, he couldn’t have asked for a better start to his 2013 golfing season when he stood on the 13th hole at the Rosses Point course and watched as lo and behold his well-struck six iron shot took one bounce over the greenside bunker and disappeared into the hole. No better way to celebrate the start of another golfing season.

skeenan@irishtimes.com