SHORT GAME:IRELAND'S colleges and universities golfers hit the fairways of Sun City, South Africa for the 12th World University Championships today in the hope of emulating the success enjoyed by Irish players in recent years at this event.
The first round of the 72-hole championship takes place today with the men's competition taking place on the Gary Player Country Club, one of the longest courses in the world at 7,000 metres. The venue for the womens' event will be nearby Lost City Golf Club.
Last year, during the World University Games held in Bangkok, Royal County Down's Danielle McVeigh's individual gold medal-winning performance led the women's team to a silver medal, her team-mates on that occasion, Gillian O'Leary (DCU) and Niamh Kitching (UL), return to join the reigning champion at this event.
In the men's event all four provinces are represented in the team with NUI Maynooth students Brendan Walton and Kelan McDonagh joined by Kevin Stack (University College, Cork) and James Patterson (Queen's University, Belfast).
Ireland have enjoyed a large amount of success in University golf in recent times with Graeme McDowell (2000), Justin Kehoe (2002), Darren Crowe (2004) and Danielle McVeigh (2007) winning individual gold medals.
O'Donovan is up to scratch
IRISH Boys' International Richard O'Donovan (Lucan) won the Waterford Crystal Scratch Cup with a two-over-par 286 total over 72 holes at Waterford last weekend. Star Waterford hurler Paul Flynn, taking time out from his preparations for Sunday's All-Ireland final, led at the halfway stage on five under par, only to fall away with an 80 before recovering to finish joint-fifth.
• THE rescheduled Irish TimesShield will take place at Tulfarris GC on September 14th. Time sheet at 01-2827297.
Casey and Brennan have aces up their sleeves
HOLES in one are rare at the best of times, but what are the odds of two of them in the space of one round? Well that is exactly what happened at Royal Tara recently during a fourball. First to be celebrating was Martin Casey, a seven handicapper, who aced with his seven iron at the 150-metre fourth hole for what was his first hole-in-one in 30 years playing at the club. Amazingly, later in the round at the 155-metre 16th hole, one of his playing partners, Seán Brennan, playing off a handicap of 18, hit a five iron to also record his first hole-in-one. Hence the huge double celebrations in the clubhouse for what must surely rank as a unique round of golf.
• THIS year will see the staging of the inaugural Ashbourne Golf Club Senior Scratch Cup (Handicap 0-9) and Ashbourne Golf Club Junior Scratch Cup (Handicap 10-18). The events are 18-hole competitions and will be held on Friday, September 12th. The entry fee is € 20. Spaces can be reserved by contacting the club on (01) 8352005 or by logging on to the web site www.ashbournegolfclub.ie and selecting Online Bookings.
The women were showing the way at Ashbourne on Saturday in Gerry Lyons' President's Prize. Elsie Moran won overall off 31 with a nett score 58 to win by seven from Eileen Doolan (13) with Andy Kenny (12) third also on 65, while Tony McParland (5) was the gross winner with 72.
Corrstown enjoy a good day
IT was a good day for members of Corrstown Golf Club at Bryan Gleeson's President's Prize of the North Dublin Golf Club Captains' Association at Forrest Little, as three of them featured in the top seven. However, none of them were able to topple Hollywood Lakes 17 handicapper Robert Geogeghan who took home the top prize with 38 points.
It gave him a one-point wining margin over Jim Cowley (15) from Corrstown, with Brendan McClancy (9) of Portmarnock third with the best of four players on 35.
The other Corrstown players to feature were John Costigan (12) and Liam Kavanagh (11), while Leo Hickey of The Island was the Seniors winner.
Jim Brady (Deer Park) was the Veterans' victor while Malahide's Liam Peat claimed the plaudits for the Super Veterans. Next up for the Association is their Christmas outing in Malahide on Friday, December 12th.
Mount Temple out to retain Cup
THE inaugural Ryder Cup 2 matchplay challenge match between the United States' Pinehurst and Europe's Mount Temple GC was hotly contested at the midlands club near Athlone, Co Westmeath in September 2006.
The 14 players on each side played both singles and foursomes matchplay with Mount Temple claiming victory by 12 points to nine.
Inspired by the staging of the Ryder Cup at The K Club, Mount Temple proprietor Michael Dolan set the wheels in motion for this novel competition with Pinehurst captain Gary Magee earlier in 2006.
The success of the event has meant that the rematch will take place on September 16th to 18th in Pinehurst in North Carolina to coincide with this year's Ryder Cup encounter at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
It is the intention of Mount Temple, along with Europe, to bring the cups home again.
Royal Portrush take fourth title
ROYAL PORTRUSH confirmed their elite status in women's club golf by winning their fourth Suzuki-sponsored Irish Senior Cup title in just six years after defeating The Island in the final at Galway GC.
Lucy Simpson and Naoimh Quigg were in superb form to collect early points against Suzy Sheehan and Sarah Carty.
In the top match, Gemma Hegarty parred the 18th to take her match with the outstanding Rachel Cassidy, who had earlier beaten Lisa Maguire and Eavan Higgins, to tie holes. Meanwhile, Helen Jones and Angie Dwyer had a real battle in the fourth match and were called in when Maura Diamond closed out her battle with Gertie McMullen on the 15th green.
Earlier in the day, Portrush eased through their morning semi-final match against Kilkenny taking the first two matches and despite losing the middle match on the home green, secured the points when Maura Diamond won on the 13th.
In the second semi-final, The Island, who last won the Senior Cup in 1929, were surprise victors over a seasoned Douglas. Cassidy once again led from the front and after Sheehan beat Kate MacCann at the first extra hole, McMullen secured a berth in the final with a nail-biting victory on the home green.
