The Short Game

... compiled by Shay Keenan

Home run for Leinster five

The reward for Leinster's strong showing in winning the interprovincial championship for the third successive year is a place for five of the team at next month's Ladies Home Internationals at Frilford Heath in England. They are joined by Curtis Cup players Claire Coughlan and Irish champion Tricia Mangan from Munster and 18-year-old Danielle McVeigh, who will make her debut at senior level.

McVeigh, along with Tara Delaney, will head to college in the USA later this month but will return to try to capture the title, last won at Royal Porthcawl in 2004.

IRELAND: Claire Coughlan (Cork), Tara Delaney (Carlow), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Martina Gillen (Beaverstown), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Deirdre Smith (Co Louth). Reserves: Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), Marian Riordan (Tipperary), Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne).

IRELAND (team for British Open Strokeplay Championship, The Prince's GC, Kent, England, August 23rd-25th: Gillen, Mangan, Smith. Reserve: Morrin.

Martin's 65 sets up Kilkenny

Craig Martin was in sparkling form last week as he led Kilkenny GC to their first Leinster Club Youths title at Beech Park. The 16-year-old St Kieran's College student set a course record seven-under-par 65 as the team of Martin, Richie and David Walsh and Patrick McKee returned a total of 138 to beat Newlands by four shots.

Martin had nine birdies with a front nine of five-under-par 31 and a back nine of two-under-par 34. Playing to a two handicap on the day, Martin has now been cut to 0.8.

Kilkenny qualified for the All-Ireland finals at Kinsale Golf Club on August 21st.

What a month for Curran

July was a great month for John Curran at Dublin City GC. Playing off 10 in the monthly medal, he shot a net 66 to finish one shot behind winner Tony Brunton (14). Two weeks later, off a handicap of nine, Curran burned up the course in the Captain's (Michael Wyse) Prize with a three-over-par gross 107 for the 27-hole final.

In the morning, over 18 holes, Curran shot a one-over-par 70 (net 61) to lead by four strokes and he held his nerve in the afternoon nine-holes play-off, shooting seven pars and two bogeys to land the top prize.

Peadar Hogan (10) finished second with Stuart Kelly (14) a shot further back in third place.

Curran's morning score of 70, which included four birdies, set a course record for the revised layout at Dublin City GC.

Tipp duo clinch Bahrain spot

It's a long way to Tipperary but it's even further to Bahrain, where Tipperary GC professional Gerard Jones and captain Pat Kelly will be heading after winning the Irish qualifier for the Gulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge, supported by BMW.

The duo reserved their place in October's grand final at the Riffa GC complex after a seven-under par 65 at the Heritage course, edging out the Mount Juliet pairing of Seán Cotter and Pauiric O'Connor by a stroke.

Victory was all the sweeter for the pair who both admit to a certain amount of ring rust after being swamped by their respective commitments at the club who this year celebrate their centenary.

"I've only managed to play in two PGA events this year due to teaching commitments and a small family so I have had to squeeze in practice when and where I can while Pat's been busy with his captaincy so we're delighted to have won," said Jones.

Kelly, an 18-handicapper, was a regular contributor, including the highlight of his round - a nett eagle on the par-four fifth hole achieved with a drive and eight iron to seven feet.

Boys' Home Internationals side

Ireland team for the Boys' Home Internationals at Moray GC, Lossiemouth, Scotland, starting today: Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Colin Fairweather (Knock), Andrew Hogan (Newlands), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Brian Keenan (The Heath), Luke Lennox (Moyola Park), Gary McGrane (Royal Dublin), Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park), James Patterson (Royal Portrush), Liam Reilly (Galgorm Castle), David Ruddy (Thurles). Captain: Richard Cusack (Greystones).

Galway put titles on the line

Holders Galway will put two Connacht titles on the line at Enniscrone GC next weekend when they meet close rivals Co Sligo in both the Senior Cup and Barton Shield deciders.

Co Sligo booked their passage to the Senior Cup final with wins over Ballina, Athlone, and Tuam, while Galway overcame Gort, Loughrea, and Claremorris.

The Barton Shield final is on Saturday and the Senior Cup final on Sunday.

Golfing Union of Wales formed

The two associations who govern amateur golf in Wales are to merge to form the Golfing Union of Wales.

After six years of negotiations, the Welsh Golfing Union and the Welsh Ladies Golfing Union have agreed on an amalgamation by an overwhelming majority.

It is understood the new union will come into being on New Year's Day next year as a shadow authority and, for 12 months will run alongside the two present unions.

There will be an 18-strong executive council with elections taking place in five districts. A president will serve for two years and a chairman will be in place for two terms. It is understood the first chairman will be a woman.

O'Sullivan strikes twice

They say lightning never strikes twice, but in John O'Sullivan's case it most certainly has, metaphorically speaking, as he made a little bit of history at Bantry Bay GC in Co Cork last Sunday.

Playing in Graham Kedie's Captain's Prize, O'Sullivan, a 12-handicapper - won the top prize with a superb nett score of 99 for the 27 holes. It gave him a two-shot victory over John McInerney, while John Harrington was third with 102. Mark Kingston was the gross winner with 74.

Last Sunday's win was O'Sullivan's second major victory of the golfing season as only two months ago, on Sunday, June 4th, O'Sullivan won Pat Morrissey's President's Prize with a score of 61 points for the 27 holes.

It was a remarkable double and in a further twist to the tale, he finished in style on both occasions with birdies on the last play-off holes to secure his wins.

And it was a case of the officers keeping the cups amongst themselves when Lady President Eileen Twomey won Graham Kedie's Captain's Prize for Ladies.

Twomey scored 41 points last Thursday for a two-point win over Norma O'Keeffe and third-placed Helena Schuch. Twomey holds her own Lady President's Prize this coming Sunday.

Deasy in the prizes at Howth

The Lady Captain's and the Lady Vice-Captain's Prizes have been extremely good to Kay Deasy in Howth GC this year.

Back in June the nine-handicapper won her first Lady Captain's Prize - having competed in 36 of them - when she claimed Mary Beddy's prize with a 36-hole score of 71 points giving her victory over Elizabeth Mahon (31), who despite recording 74 points wasn't eligible for the top prize. Then in Louise Mahon's Vice-Captain's Prize, Deasy was the gross winner with a score of 25 points.

Victory in the Lady Vice-Captain's went to Mairéad Leahy (26) with 39 points, with Helen Toomey (33) having to settle for runners-up spot as despite shooting a highly impressive 44 points, she wasn't eligible for the top prize as three previous cards hadn't been returned. Third place went to Aveen Magner (25) with 38 points.

Castletroy Scratch Cup back

Castletroy GC are putting their once famous Scratch Cup back on the ladies' golf calendar. This year's competition will take place on Sunday, August 27th, after a lapse of nine years.

Many of Ireland's leading golfers have been previous winners, among them Mary McKenna, who won the inaugural event in 1973, Mary Gorry, Claire Hourihane, Ada O'Sullivan and Eavan Higgins, to name but a few.

Barbara Hackett, Castletroy, is the last winner and holder of the trophy. It is a 36-holes event, with two shot-gun starts and entries close on Friday, August 18th, with Phil Morrison at Castletroy GC.

July good to Miller again

Vera Miller was in sparkling form in winning the July medal for the second successive year at Glen of the Downs GC.

The 29-handicapper scorched round the testing Wicklow course in an 84 gross for a nett 55, the lowest net score recorded in the club medals. For her effort, Miller has been cut six shots.

Deer Park hunt for silverware

Deer Park go in search of some silverware today when they compete against Hollywood Lakes in the final of the McDonnell Cup. The first leg takes place at the Howth-based club this afternoon.

Daly's back-to-back victories

Headfort's Katie Daly has been showing good form of late as she secured back-to-back wins at the Co Meath club. First in a team competition, she joined forces with Evelyn McMahon (21) and Fiona Mulvey (20) to fire 85 points for victory. Then last Tuesday in the Gwen Brangan Trophy, the 17-handicapper, was victorious once again, this time with a score of 5-up. The other class winners were Dolores Butler (22) and Vanda Armstrong (35), both with scores of four up, while Pauline Walsh (5) was the gross winner.