The Short Game

O'Connor honoured: Memories of Ryder Cups past were very much on the minds of those present when Christy O'Connor senior was presented with the Bord Bia Lifetime Achievement Award by Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, before a host of golfing glitterati in the first official event of last week's Ryder Cup at The K Club.

Hosted by Sky Sport golf commentator Bruce Critchley, the Bord Bia-organised event gathered representatives of current and former Ryder Cup team members, the O'Connor family, golf bodies and leading Irish figures in celebration of the man known as "Himself", who demonstrated the prowess of Irish golfers to the world over a 35-year career.

The many flowing tributes to O'Connor, who played in 10 Ryder Cups from 1955 to 1973, included a video message from Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Guests at the event included former Ryder Cup captains Tony Jacklin and Bernard Hunt; former Ryder Cup players, Christy O'Connor Jnr, Eddie Polland, Brian Barnes and Michael King.

Irish trio in action

The Irish trio of Séamus Power, Gareth Shaw and Cian McNamara, helped East Tennessee State University to eighth place in the Carpet Capital Collegiate at The Farm Golf Club in Georgia last week.

Leaving its best for last, the ETSU team posted a 281 final round with Wales star Rhys Davies from Bridgend shooting an impressive five-under-par 67 and a third-straight round in the 70s from Shaw from Lisburn.

Davies and Shaw both finished on 212 with Shaw shooting rounds of 70, 71 and 71 while Power came in with 76, 74 and 69. McNamara closed on 236 after rounds of 82, 74 and 80. Chris Kirk from Georgia, at 11-under-par, won the individual award by one shot from North Carolina's Darren Blair while the University of Alabama won the team event.

Victory for St Anne's

St Anne's collected their first pennant since the Pierce Purcell Shield double in the early 1990s when they won the O'Grady Cup Mixed Foursomes with an 8½ to 5½ win over Hollywood Lakes in the two-leg final.

St Anne's won the home leg 4½ to 2½ and in a close finish at Hollywood Lakes edged home 4-3.

Managed by Bernice Alexander and Michael Heney, the winning St Anne's team included: Charlie Fallon and Lorna O'Connor; David McNeice and Dymphna McCoy; Shay McGrath and Deirdre Carroll; Seán Murphy and Colette Walsh; Seán Finnegan and Marion Toole; Gerry McGrath and Mary Courtney; Joe Lynch and Margaret McGuirk, while Colm Magee, Doreen O'Donoghue, Tom O'Reilly, Rose Hogan, John Smyth, Margaret McCabe, Bernadette Duffy and Joan Nolan also played their part in lifting the trophy.

All weather facility

In the company of Special Olympics golfers from Cheeverstown and volunteers from Grange Golf Club, Lady Captain Phil Bollard officially opened the new all-weather putting and pitching green at Grange GC last week.

Grange Golf Club were one of the first Leinster clubs to participate in the Special Olympics Golf Club Link Programme, under which they provide facilities and volunteers to coach aspiring golfers from nearby Cheeverstown.

Led by golf club member Noel Griffin, Grange members volunteer their services for an hour a week to coach the athletes from Cheeverstown, who start by learning and practising golf skills from putting to driving, before advancing to playing on the full golf course.

For Grange, this programme is a very welcome opportunity to participate in community activities and their commitment to Special Olympics has been underlined by the provision of this new all-weather putting facility.

Marley lifts prize

Golf was of near Ryder Cup standard at the Captain's (John Smith) Prize of the AIB IT Society outing at Castleknock GC recently with two members, Gary Lee and Niall Callanan, both shooting albatrosses on the day.

Lee, playing off 16, holed out his second shot from 200 yards with a seven-wood on the par five 8th, while Callanan (a member of both Arklow and Hermitage GCs, playing off eight, holed out his second shot from 180 yards with a four-iron on the par-five 16th.

However, neither effort was good enough to catch the overall winner, Kevin Marley from Royal Dublin, who shot 37 points off a 10 handicap to win on a countback from four handicapper Peter O'Hagan (Charlesland).

IGDB fundraiser

IGDB is appealing to golf enthusiasts to mark the end of the summer by entering a team in the Kanturk Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind tournament which takes place on Thursday and Friday at Kanturk Golf Club.

This inaugural event, sponsored by main Skoda dealers, Eamonn Tarrent and Son, of Banteer, marks a significant milestone as IGDB celebrate their 30th anniversary this year. Cork golfers have always turned out in force to support this worthy cause and tee-off times are now available for teams interested in this enjoyable but competitive event.

Entry costs are €€150 per teams of three. For those interested in participating in this fun event for a very worthwhile cause, contact Eamonn Tarrent on 087 648 8458 or Breeda Clancy IGDB, on 086 819 3165

Stamp of approval

The country's first ever lenticular stamp was issued by An Post last week to celebrate The 2006 Ryder Cup being held in Ireland. The limited edition Ryder Cup stamps feature lenticular images, which appear to move when the stamp is tilted.

This innovative design feature has never before been seen on an Irish stamp, has never been used in a Ryder Cup stamp and is rarely seen at all internationally.

There are two versions of the 75c stamp - one which features a golfer taking a drive off the tee and one of a classic bunker escape. Only 600,000 of the stamps sets have been produced and are available, in sheetlets of two, from the Philatelic Shop, GPO, main post offices around the country, by calling (01) 705 7400 or by visiting www.irishstamps.ie

This is the third set of stamps to be issued by An Post to commemorate the 2006 Ryder Cup. The first was issued last year to pay tribute to the contribution of Irish golfers to the competition. In July this year, another set was issued to mark the build-up to the event. The four stamps in this set depict the progress of a golf ball around the course in a competition round.

McDonnell champion

Redmond McDonnell (21) from Limerick, is the Doonbeg Men's Club Champion for 2006. Playing off a three handicap, this all round sportsman shot rounds of 77 and 74 to win the title with a seven-over-par aggregate of 151.

McDonnell, who is also a member of both Castletroy and Kilkee, is a fine all-round sportsman and has won an All-Ireland Rugby Under-20s medal playing with Galwegians. He has also enjoyed great success at golf, representing Castletroy in the Barton Shield All-Ireland Finals.

Educated at Crescent Comprehensive in Limerick he went on to UCG where he graduated in commerce.

His father, Johnny, who is well known in Limerick sports circles, is also a member of Doonbeg where he plays off five, as also are his mother Patricia (18) and brother Rory (9).

Markey's ace

Una Markey may well have been celebrating a hole in one at the third hole at Carlow Golf Club, but sadly for the 14-handicapper it left her just a little short in terms of winning the Kathleen Kehoe Memorial Trophy last week.

However, the ace at the 107-metre short hole on the Deer Park course was good enough for her to finish in third spot in the popular v par event, with a score of 4up.

The winner was Jackie Morgan of New Ross, who recorded a fine score of 6up, to win by one from Leigh Bolger (21) of the host club, while another New Ross member, Mary Dowling (2), was the gross winner with a score of one down. The Kathleen Kehoe Memorial is an annual open singles event at Carlow that attracts a huge entry each year. Places are usually booked well in advance and the event always produces good scoring.

Meanwhile, at Foxrock there were eagles all the way, as Ann Sulzmann (24) eagled the 406-metre par-five, fourth hole in last Tuesday's turkey competition. But it wasn't enough to help her win - that honour went to Coral Ruddle (36) with 39 points, one better than Helen Humphries (25) and Patricia Byrne (23), with Mary Inglis (12) the gross winner.

Versatile O'Sullivan

Proving your worth in different formats of golf isn't easy - just ask some of the Americans after their weekend Ryder Cup drubbing - but in Bray recently Bernie O'Sullivan proved handy enough.

First in the weekend fourball event, she teamed up with Kay Fahy to win with a score of 36 points. Then two days later, last Tuesday, the 33-handicapper showed her singles pedigree, claiming second place in her class - and indeed second overall - in the monthly medal.

And she only lost out on winning the September medal itself because Noreen Grant had one of those days that we all dream of, shooting a superb nett 64, off a handicap of 36.

The other class winners on the day were Margaret Corcoran (13), who won Class 1 with a nett 71, while a 73 gave Rosemary Gantly (21) victory in Class 2, with Hilda Fusco the gross winner.

Nolan in form

Nolaig Nolan is nearing the time of the year when she will take over from Patricia Kearney as captain of Sutton Golf Club. But this year's Lady Vice-Captain showed her golfing prowess last week in the hamper competition, which almost earned the top prize only to lose out on a countback to Deirdre McCarthy (17) after the two shot 37 points. The other winners on the day were Mary Harte (20) and Alison Newman (32), while Susan Dickson was the gross winner.

Taylor wins medal

It's very rare and indeed difficult for the low handicappers to win monthly medals, but last Tuesday at Malahide, Alison Taylor was determined that a lack of shots wasn't going to deter her.

Playing off two, Taylor fired a highly impressive nett 70 over the red and yellow course to win, but only on a countback from Eileen McCann (19), while Bunny O'Farrell (26) was the bronze medal winner with a score of 74. The class three winner was Orlan McMahon (31) with a nett 82.

Delaney takes title

Carlow's Tara Delaney, playing her collegiate golf in Kent State University, recorded her third career tournament championship, claiming the title at the recent Lady Northern Invitational in Michigan, finishing with a one-under-par 215, which also helped the Golden Flashes to a fifth place, out of 12, team finish.

Delaney was the lone golfer under par in the event, winning by four strokes from Kelley Belcher from Indiana and Brianna Broderick of Michigan. Delaney had previously won the Northwestern Invitational and the MAC Championship last spring. Delaney posted a one over 73 in the final round, after shooting an even par 72 and a two under 70 in the opening rounds.

It marked the second straight year a KSU golfer has won this tournament, with Becky Wood claiming the individual crown last season.

Tara's sister, Karen, fired rounds of 77, 79 and 81 for 21 over par and a tie for 42nd place.