The Short Game

Cork ladies ones to beat: Suzuki again host the National Finals of the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Cup at Massereene GC, Antrim this Friday and Saturday. Cork look the side to beat with Curtis Cup star Claire Coughlan and Scottish International Anne Laing in their ranks.

They face Royal Co Down in Saturday's first semi-final and will be wary of the side that dethroned Ulster's Royal Portrush, champions for the past three years.

Top seeds The Curragh look the most likely to push Cork all the way with internationals Maura Morrin, Sinéad Keane and Marian Riordan in action. They line out in the second semi-final and await the outcome of Friday's play-off between Leinster champions Co Louth and Connacht champions Roscommon, who make a welcome return to the national finals.

Friday: play-off (1.0): Co Louth v Roscommon. Saturday: semi-finals: 8.0 - Cork v Royal Co Down Ladies; 8.40 - The Curragh v Co Louth or Roscommon. Final: 2.0.

Scots for Woodbrook

Seven Scots have entered the Irish senior women's open strokeplay golf championship at Woodbrook Golf Club, on September 11th and 12th.

They are: Pamela Williamson (Baberton), winner in 2002 and 2003, Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), Lynne Terry (Cruden Bay), Helen Faulds (Douglas Park), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) and Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle). Canada's Alison Murdoch will be bidding to complete a hat-trick of victories in the three-round championship.

Ryder Cup race ticket

To celebrate the first Ryder Cup Race Day, at the Curragh on Tuesday, September 19th, the Curragh has teamed up with the Ryder Cup to offer the "Thoroughbred Ticket", offering the opportunity to see the world's top golfers during the first practice day and enjoy a day's racing at the Curragh.

The ticket includes car parking at the Curragh, where a shuttle bus will run to and from the K Club, admission to Tuesday's Ryder Cup Practice Day, followed by an afternoon of first class racing. Tickets cost €50 each, available online at www.curragh.ie or by calling the racecourse on 045 441205.

Irish trio for World Cup

Irish champion Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Claire Coughlan (Cork) and Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) will represent Ireland at the Espirito Santo Women's Amateur World Cup at Stellenbosch from October 18th-20th.

Ireland's threesome were recently on the GB&I Curtis Cup team which went down 11½-6½ to a formidable USA side. Ireland's fourth representative at Bandon Dunes, Tara Delaney, was unavailable for selection due to college commitments in the USA.

This is the first year Ireland are sending a team as up to now Britain and Ireland sent a combined team of three from the four Home Unions. England, Scotland and Wales are also sending teams to this year's event. Ireland's team is captained by Lilian Starrett and national coach David Kearney will also travel with the squad to South Africa.

Banahan beats them all

"Tiger Tee" Tom Banahan won Captain Patrick Nunan's Prize at Glen of the Downs on Saturday's final day after a late run that started with a hole-in-one on the first hole.

Starting seven shots behind Brendan Geraghty and five behind Tim Ryan his net 68 on the final day for a two-round total of 140 edged Ryan into second place on 142, with Geraghty third also on 142.

Meanwhile, in Jimmy O'Donnell's captain's prize at Cruit Island last week brothers Charles, Declan and Brendan Gillespie finished first, second and third. Cruit Island is a nine-hole course on the north west coast of Donegal, with Owey Island in the background. Among its members are Daniel O'Donnell, Packie Bonner, Gay Byrne and Tony Boyle (full forward on Donegal's 1992 All Ireland team).

East Clare Am-Am

East Clare GC will hold an Am-Am Festival of Golf over Thursday and Friday. Sponsored by Texaco, events tee-off with a singles on Thursday with a Team of Four on Friday. All income will go towards a new championship putting green inside the 19th century stone garden wall that separates the clubhouse courtyard from the car parking area. Bookings: 061 921322 or 061 640044.

Arthurs and Whelan tops

The Forrest Little pairing of plus one handicapper Eoin Arthurs and Daniel Whelan (8) were in sparkling form last week when they won the Mercury Engineering Ltd-sponsored McGinley Trophy at Powerscourt GC. They beat Old Conna's David Byrne and Alan O'Brien 7 and 6 in the final. In the semi-finals Arthurs and Whelan saw off Grange pair Ricky Muldowney and Terry Doyle 5 and 4, while Byrne and O'Brien eased past Seán Dunne and Brian Rogers from The K Club on the last green.

Athlone Kentucky home

Glasson Hotel Golf and Country Club in Athlone will be the Ryder Cup base for the 430-strong official Kentucky State travelling party led by Governor and Mrs Ernie Fletcher. Kentucky's Valhalla Golf and Country Club, Louisville, will host the 37th Ryder Cup in 2008.

Since June 2005, Governor Fletcher's 16-strong Ryder Cup Advisory Committee has been working with the Kentucky Sports Authority on preparing for the 2008 edition.

Bourke's prize day

The Leinster Alliance President's (John Bourke) Prize, sponsored by AIB, will be played at Roganstown GC on Sunday, September 10th. Tee-times are from 11.30 to 2.30; time sheet with Michael Neary at (01) 2827297, Monday to Friday.

The annual Sutton Mixed Matchplay tournament, sponsored by Joe Duffy Motors, starts next Sunday with the qualifying round at Sutton GC. Places are still available; contact Conor Ruffell at (01) 8321730.

The North Dublin Golf Club Captains' Association are holding their President's (Jimmy McClean) Prize in Clontarf GC on Friday week, September 8th. The time sheet is available from 9am-3pm

Condron at a canter

Claire Condron from Lucan GC was a runaway winner of the ILGU Eastern District Ria Kenny Salver at nearby Hermitage GC yesterday week. The 19-handicapper fired an impressive 43 points to win by four from Christine Dunne of Laytown and Bettystown, while back in third was Powerscourt's Berni Fetherston (17) with 38 points. The gross winner was The Island's Miriam Gartland with 27 gross points.

The three class winners were Mary Lockhart (12, Greystones), Louise Condon (20, Elm Park) and Eilish Donnelly (34, Ballinascorney). 187 competitors competed and chairperson Máirín Byrne presented a cheque for €20,000 to Enable Ireland.

McCarthy wins easily

Three birdies went a long way to helping David McCarthy claim his first major success at Deer Park on Sunday when he shot 47 points to win the President's Prize. Playing off 18, birdies at the par three second, the par four 16th and the par five 18th, accompanied along the way by seven pars gave the long hitter his best ever score and an easy win. Not surprisingly, with a gross score of 79, his handicap was reduced from 17.6 to 14.6.

Williams blazes trail

Young Castle prospect Kate Williams is blazing a trail across the fairways this year. Having begun the season with a handicap of 36, she is now playing off 25, thanks primarily to losing eights shot yesterday week when she won the Lady Captain's to Juveniles with a fantastic nett score of 56.

Playing off 33 her gross score of 89 was her first time ever to break 90. Williams also won a Leinster football medal with Dublin in 2004, and the 15-year-old is also a member of the Leinster hockey squad.

Her performances on the golf course have seen her lose two shots when playing for Castle in a team competition in Rathfarnham when she recorded 42 points, then losing another by shooting 38 points in Courtown, but her amazing round in the Lady Captain's Prize to Juveniles last week had everyone talking. However, she hopes this is only the start as she looks to see her handicap reduced even further in the months ahead.