The Short Game

Ireland's amateur golfers are being given the chance to mix with the world's leading golf stars, including Tiger Woods, at Mount Juliet. Compiled by Shay Keenan and Kevin McKenna

Chance to catch the Tiger

To mark the staging of the WGC-American Express Championship on September 19th to 22nd, Mount Juliet is inviting all golfers to participate in a two-man stableford competition each afternoon from Monday to Thursday inclusive throughout the month of August. Weekly winners qualify for a complimentary play-off on September 3rd - and the chance to win two season tickets and clubhouse access to the WGC-American Express championship. Entry fee is €95 per player and tee time booking enquiries can be made at 056 73064.

Clonoulty's Munster title

Former Tipperary hurler Declan Ryan and current Waterford player Paul Flynn went head-to-head recently at the Munster final of the FBD Golf Challenge, organised by the Dunhill GAA Club in Waterford. Clonoulty Rossmore GAA club, led by Ryan, took the title, defeating Ballygunner GAA club, led by Flynn, by two points.

Clonoulty Rossmore finished with a score of 84 points, ahead of Ballygunner with 82, and last year's winners Knockavilla Kickhams, Co Tipperary, in third with 81.

Clonoulty will compete with Claremorris of Mayo, winners of the Connacht final, and Ulster champions Crossmaglen Rangers of Co Armagh at the All-Ireland final which will take place at Faithlegg golf club, Co Waterford, over the weekend of August 31st and September 1st. They will be joined by the winners of the Leinster final, which will take place at Tulfarris Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, August 14th.

Hot stuff by O'Raw

It's not too often that low single-figure golfers win the captain's prize. But Dermott O'Raw had plenty to celebrate last week after winning Ray Crawford's prize at Clontarf. The five handicapper shot a one-under-par gross for a nett 63 that included only 25 putts. It was, by coincidence, the 14th anniversary of his mother Irene's death and also the first time he broke the par of 69 gross. To make it a double celebration O'Raw teamed up with former captain Jimmy McClean two days later, to win the PGA corporate day at Seapoint with a score of 42 points to win by one from Kevin Fingleton (The Heath) and Ray McGovern (Beech Park).

K Club's third win

Winners in 1994 and again in 1996, the K Club won their third McDonnell Cup on Friday when they took five points from the home leg of the final against Rush. Trailing 4.5 to 2.5 after the first leg the K Club won 8-6 overall. The winning team included three members, Martin Fitzgerald, Frank Ward and Tony Moran who have been on all three winning teams. The other members of the winning squad were Maurice O'Connor, Declan O'Reilly, Frank McCarthy, Jimmy Boucher, Séamus Tully, Brendan Barrett, Tony Kelly, Joe Higgins, John Clohessy, Tony Kerr and Brian Grassick.

Meanwhile, Boystown, Beaverstown, Balbriggan and Westmanstown have reached the semi-finals of the Best Cup - matches to be played on or before Monday, August 19th. The semi-final line-up sees Westmanstown take on Boystown, while Balbriggan will meet Beaverstown.

Follow the stars

The annual Lord Mayor's Cup, sponsored by AIB Bank, will take place at Clontarf golf club, starting with the qualifying round on Sunday and continuing through the week with the semi-finals and final on Saturday, August 17th. The brainchild of the former Lord Mayor, the late Jack Belton, a former captain of Clontarf, golfers of distinction have competed for the Cup since 1951. Players such as Philip Walton, Martin Sludds and David Kinsella, who won the Cup in 1964, have all graced the event - Walton first competed as a 12-year-old while the 1989 winner, Robbie Moore from Howth golf club, competed in the 1999 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey.

This prestigious event is open to golfers with a handicap from five to nine and the entry fee is €22 per player. Some places are still available on the time sheet from Arthur Cahill at 01 833 1892 or fax 01 833 1933.

Multi-talented

Mary Moriarty was a clear winner of the President's (Conor Sexton) Prize to the Ladies at Elm Park recently. Moriarty, off a 35 handicap, romped home with a net 64 that included three pars. Moriarty - also a keen tennis player with the club - only joined the golf side at Elm Park two years ago, and was more than happy to lose three shots off her handicap on the day. By coincidence, she was at school with the Mary Sexton, the president's wife, and they have been friends ever since. The runner-up was Phyl Kelleher, with a nett 70 while the gross winner was former Curtis Cup player and captain, and president elect of the ILGU Ita Butler with a 76.

Cahill omitted

John Cahill of Fermoy is a surprise omission from the Munster pitch and putt team for the Inter-County championships at Seapoint, Co Louth on August 31st and September 1st. Cahill didn't have the best of seasons in 2002 but still won the Cork Matchplay title and represented Ireland in Spain. However, making his debut is St Anne's Frank Dineen, a consistent performer, and he will be joined by Ray Murphy, John Walsh (Collins), Darren Collins (St Anne's) and Frank O'Donoghue (Templebreedy). The Cork women's team welcome back Chris O'Shaughnessy (St Anne's) after a two-year absence, while the other members of the team are: Linda Murphy (Collins), Lily Carroll (Lakewood), Vera McCarthy (Collins) and Siobhán Scannell (Collins).

Ballinascorney best

The women golfers of Ballinascorney did themselves proud recently at County Meath golf club at the ILGU Eastern Division Prizes event. Securing the best score of the day in the Silver Division was Mary Lucherini (18) with a nett score of 70, while in the bronze division third place was claimed by Mary McNamara (27), who plays in both Ballinascorney and Castlewarden. Fourth place went to another member, Patricia Lynch.

Both Lucherini and McNamara shaved a shot off their respective handicaps and now go forward to the All-Ireland final in Mullingar on August 26th.

Catherine Cusack of Stackstown, a 35 handicapper, claimed the Sybil Moore Trophy at the ILGU Eastern District Leinster Senior Golden Years Championship at Black Bush last week. She had a score of 40 points, one clear of Kathleen O'Malley (31) of the host club, while The Island's Kitty Crossan (37) won the Mary Nowlan Trophy for the over 70s with a score of 30 points.

On the double

A successful double for Monica O'Neill last week in Tralee. Having partnered Bea Collins and Kathleen Harty to a three-point victory in the three person Am-Am, the 24 handicapper then ended up with success number two of the week four days later in the Lady Captain's Prize.

O'Neill went home with Ita Boland's prize after she produced a superb score of 46 points for a three-point victory over her nearest challenger Catherine McEneany (26), with Angela Clifford (19) a further point back in third spot.

The gross prize was claimed by Cora O'Mahony (11) with 29 gross points, while Harty was also in the prizes again, this time for the first nine with an impressive 22 points.

Professional event

Forty-eight of the country's top professionals will compete in the annual pro-am at Tullamore golf club on Wednesday week, August 14th. Each professional will be drawn with a team of three amateurs who will play a team event, while the professionals will compete in an individual competition for a prize fund of €14,000.

The pro-am is being jointly sponsored by four local businesses, Tullamore Court Hotel, Bridge House Hotel, Condron Concrete and Tullamore Hardware/Heitons.