The Short Game ...

Maguires conquer worldThe Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, from Castle Hume Golf Club, who have been making a name for themselves at Irish events this year, swept through the field in the US Kids World Championship at the famous Pinehurst GC in North Carolina over the weekend.

In the girls under-11 event, Lisa topped the leaderboard with a three-round total of 16-under-par 200 to beat the highly fancied Julie Yang from Temple, Arizona, by five shots, with Leona sharing third place on 213 with Andrea Unson from the Phillipines. Lisa, who trailed Yang by two shots going into the final round after opening with two 68s, fired a brilliant 64 in the final round to Yang's 71 for a five-shot victory. Leona had rounds of 71 70 and 72 for 213.

Started in 2000 by Dan Van Horn, when 235 entered the first the Kids World Championship in Jekyll Island, Georgia, the event has grown so much that this year's event attracted 960 boys and girls from 47 US states and 33 countries ranging in age from four to 12 in 12 age groups.

Worthy Classic Sandwich

The O'Briens Sandwich Bars Classic in aid of the Christina Noble Children's Foundation will take place The K Club on Saturday, August 26th. The funds from this year's event will be used to build at least 15 "gers", or family houses, for underprivileged families on the outskirts of Ulan Bator in Mongolia. The team of four event will be held on the Smurfit Course - cost per team €3,500 plus VAT - home to the European Open and details are available from O'Briens on 01-4721400.

Ulster look strong

The Ulster team for the Senior Interprovincial championship at at Ballyliffin Golf Club on August 16th, 17th and 18th is: Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye), Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint), Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), Conor Doran (Banbridge), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge), Rory Leonard (Banbridge), Andrew McCormick (Scrabo), Rory McIlroy (Holywood), Gareth Shaw (Lurgan), Michael Sinclair (Knock). Reserve: Randal Evans (Moyola Park).

Special Ryder stamps

A set of special 48c postage stamps, to mark the build-up to the 36th Ryder Cup at The K Club next month, has been issued by An Post. Each of the four stamps in the set depicts the progress of a golf ball around the course in a competition round and incorporates the internationally recognised Irish shamrock, echoing the way some players mark their ball in competition.

In early September, An Post will also issue two special edition Ryder Cup stamps, with an innovative design feature which has never been seen in Ireland, has rarely been seen internationally and has never been used for a Ryder Cup stamp, making it a unique souvenir of the event.

Designed by Javelin, the stamps are available from main post offices nationwide, the GPO Dublin, by phone at 01-7057400 and online at www.irishstamps.ie.

Kilkenny trio best

There was good news for Kilkenny Golf Club last week when they retained their Leinster Cidona Interclub Challenge Trophy by beating a gallant Laytown and Bettystown team in the final at Forrest Little on Friday.

Twenty-four teams were competing for glory over three days of competition, and the Kilkenny team of Orla Dunphy (5), Sinead Slator (5) and Kathryn Teehan (8) proved too experienced for a young Laytown and Bettystown team, winning by two and a half matches to a half.

Encouragingly, however, for Laytown and Bettystown is that their three representatives, Susan Kelleher (33), Hannah Clark (27) and Aveen Rooney (31), are all under 15 years of age and are eligible for the next three years. Kilkenny, meanwhile, progress to the All-Ireland final - as Leinster representatives - to be held at Balbriggan Golf Club on Tuesday, August 29th.

Irish pairs off to Wales

Ireland's representatives in next week's World finals of the International Pairs at Celtic Manor in Wales are Tuam Golf Club's Danny McGrath and Ian Pierce with Ballykisteen's Paudie Ryan and James Keane. Both pairs have been practising hard and are hopeful of an Irish success in this the third final of the largest competition for club golfers in the world. The final, a fourball Stableford competition, is played over 36 holes at the 2010 venue for the Ryder Cup. Some 33 countries will be represented at the finals.

Glenmalure gesture

Want to join a golf club? If you are a not a member of a club you can go and play Glenmalure Golf Club, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, for only €10 on Monday, August 7th. All players will be entered into a draw for one year's membership of the club, valued at €1,000, valid from August 1st. To enter the draw players must register and submit a completed scorecard on the day.

Women double up

Nineteen handicapper Louise Griffin enjoyed a good week on two courses in her native Kerry over the last week. On Tuesday, she was a winner in the singles competition over her home course of Ballybunion when she fired 39 points to win on a countback from Nora Quaid (10), with Ann Marie Carroll (19) third on 37 points. The gross winner was Deirdre Dillane (16) with 22 points.

Then, at the club's exchange day in Dooks Golf Club, she teamed up with Judy McMahon and Breda Barrett to fire 68 points for win number two, beating the trio of Patricia Boyle, Ann Marie Carroll and Ashling Boyle, once again on a countback.

Meanwhile, it was also a good few days for Mary Bermingham of Rathsallagh, who claimed two podium finishes in the past week. On Thursday, she was third behind Val King in the weekly singles. Her 31 points was three shy of the winner. But on Sunday she linked up with Phil Murphy of Cill Dara to win the Ladies invitational event at the Co Wicklow club with 40 points in an event where King was third alongside Mary Higgins, with the Enniscorthy duo of Nicola King and Judy Greegan second with 37 points.

Popular Kingdom captain

An amazing turnout of 170 golfers reflected the popularity of the current Ring of Kerry captain, Robert Whyte. Those who know him well suspected he may have indulged in a "rent a crowd" project, but such dastardly thoughts were rapidly dispelled when one witnessed the genuineness of all who participated.

The golf on the day was magnificent. Donal O'Herlihy, off a three handicap, returned a great score of 40 points which included six birdies. Ian Morton, playing in his last event before moving to new pastures in Paris, was first out and registered 39 points which held the podium until O'Herlihy's score very late in the day. Johnny Brosnan claimed third place with 38 points, while Vera Shaw with 30 points took the women's prize from Sally Lane. Next up is the President's (Tommy McNicholas) prize on Saturday and Sunday.

Gleeson excels

Celbridge Elmhall's Bridget Gleeson saw her handicap cut in dramatic fashion last Friday when she lost three shots in one clean swoop. Competing in the weekly competition, the 26 handicapper won at a canter, firing a superb 47 points. She was nine points clear of her nearest challenger. That saw her handicap cut to 22.5, and she will now play off 23 at the Co Kildare club. Trailing in Gleeson's wake was Kathy Mooney (36), who despite an impressive 38 points had to settle for runners-up spot with Joy Riordan (33) back in third with 35 points.

St Anne's open mixed

St Anne's Golf Club will have new sponsors in Simply Mortgages for their Open Mixed Foursomes tournament which starts on August 13th with the qualifying round. Details are available at www.stanneslinksgolf.com or by calling (01) 8336741

Donabate Golf Club are holding intermediate, junior and minor Scratch Cups next Monday, August 7th. Places are still available on the timesheet by calling 01 - 843 6346.