The Short Game

Kilkenny Scratch Cup:The Kilkenny Scratch Cup, sponsored by Smithwicks, will take place on Sunday, May 13th. This is the 44th year of the 36-hole event and West Waterford's Mark Shanahan will be defending the title he won in such impressive style last year.

Shanahan can expect stiff opposition from a strong field that includes local members Eddie Power, a five-times winner, course record-holder Graham Nugent, Boys International Craig Martin and an in-form Paul O'Hara.

Among notable former winners are Padraig Harrington (1992) and, interestingly, Padraig's caddie Ronan Flood (1998). European Tour professional Damien McGrane is also a former winner (1991).

The Kilkenny course is again in splendid condition and will present a challenging test. Entries (fee €30 includes lunch) to Kilkenny Golf Club, Glendine, Kilkenny, tel 056 7765400, by Email to oanderson@kilkennygolfclub.com

Power triumphs in US

East Tennessee freshman Séamus Power (West Waterford) captured the individual championship, and helped ETSU men's golf team to their record 21st conference title and first Atlantic Sun Conference championship last week at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove.

Power, who enjoyed a hole-in-one during the second round, finished at three-under par 210 (73-67-70) for the tournament, two strokes better than North Florida's Michael O'Neal. Meanwhile, Power's ETSU team-mates also helped lift the Buccaneers to the win, as senior Rhys Davies (Bridgend, Wales) posted back-to-back 68s to finish tied for third, while junior Gareth Shaw from Lisburn finished tied for fifth place.

The Bucs ended the event with a team score of 16-over-par 868 (307-278-283) to finish 14 strokes better than second place UNF. With the victory, ETSU earns the A-Sun's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.

Meanwhile, Davies and Shaw have been selected to represent Europe in the 2007 Palmer Cup. The annual Ryder Cup-style competition between American collegiate golfers and their counterparts from Europe will be played June 7th-8th, at Caves Valley Golf Club.

Kelly arrives at Lakes

Séamus Kelly (Ardee) has been appointed to the role of general manager at Hollywood Lakes Golf Club in north Co Dublin. He makes the move from Kilcock Golf Club where he was secretary manager for seven years and has previous experience with Ardee and Seapoint Golf Clubs.

No stranger to golf management, Kelly has over 25 years experience, having held the position of honorary secretary at Ardee Golf Club before becoming secretary manager there in 1988. Following spells at Seapoint and Kilcock, Kelly now moves on to Hollywood Lakes.

Pub society event

Glenmalure GC in Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, will host an All-Ireland Pub Society Golf Challenge with a difference in October.

The challenge is based on a three-person team representing societies who have played at Glenmalure Golf Club between now and the end of September 2007 or who make a firm booking to play a society event in Glenmalure in 2008.

The event will take place at Glenmalure on Saturday, October 6th.

Glenmalure are offering a special rate of €35 per player to include green-fees and a meal for the year.

Details and bookings from B McSweeney at 01 4962028 / 087 2029263, email Beatrice.mcsweeney@eircom.net

Ballyliffin hosts classic

The Inishowen Cancer Support Group (CSSC) are holding a golf classic in the Ballyliffin Golf Club, Old Links on Saturday, April 28th, with over €3,000 in prizes. Contact +3537478100 for tee times. Donations & Tee Sponsors can be made payable to "CSSC Golf Classic" and sent to Ballyliffin Golf Club for the attention of Nichola.

Royal offer in Meath

Three of the finest golf courses in the Royal County - Knightsbrook, Rathcore and Co Meath (Trim) have combined to launch a Golf Passport which entitles holders to play all three Meath courses for €115. All three courses are located just off the N3 or N4 and are a short drive from Dublin.

"We are delighted to join forces to offer golfers the opportunity to play these three great championship courses at a substantial discount on the combined green fees.

"With the Passport to Golf in Meath you can play each of these three great courses on days of your choice, including weekends, subject to availability and with all three courses in peak condition there is no better time to take advantage of this fantastic offer," said Gavin Hunt, director of golf in Knightsbrook.

To avail of this offer, just contact any one of the three participating clubs and obtain your passport without delay.

The passport is valid for 12 months and the term and conditions can be read in full on Boynegolf.ie website.

Irish Open Pro-Am

The pro-am organisers at the Irish Open have announced the details of the four lucky clubs who have been drawn to play in the Irish Open Pro-Am on May 16th in Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.

Lining up alongside the European Tour's top players will be teams representing Charleville Golf Club, Co Cork (Munster), Mountbellew Golf Club, Co Galway (Connacht), Powerscourt Golf Club, Co Wicklow (Leinster) and Ringdufferin Golf & Country Club, Co Down (Ulster).

The clubs and their individual representatives were drawn from all the entries received from clubs throughout the country. Entry to the draw was a minimal €2 and all the monies raised will go to local charities.

Delaney finishes third

Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State University) finished third in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women's college tournament over the Ohio State University's Scarlet course at Dublin, Ohio, on Sunday.

Delaney had scores of 76, 73 and 74 for a total of eight-over-par 224. Tara's older sister Karen, had scores of 83, 85 and 83 for 251 and a share of 60th place in a field of 87.

Spaniard Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) scored her second win within a few weeks, scoring 72, 70 and 73 for one-under-par 215. Team-mate Christel Boeljon was runner-up on 218 with 71, 71 and 76.

Purdue won the team title by 20 shots with a total of 891. Michigan State (911) were runners-up, with Kent State (933) third and Ohio State (935) fourth of the 14 competing teams.

Pembroke poised

Pembroke Hockey Club will defend their team title at the 58th annual golf outing of the Leinster Ladies Hockey Union at Stackstown on 13th May, 11-1pm. Enrol for the last hockey trophy of the season by e-mailing Denise McCarthy at dinnymac@eircom.net. Entry fee is €35, all LLHU members with CONGU handicaps welcome.

McGinns in form

IT was a good week for the McGinn family in Sutton Golf Club recently. Twelve-year-old Lauren McGinn is highly thought of at the north Dublin club and performed admirably in the April medal competition. She recorded a nett 70, off a handicap of 36, good enough for runners-up spot in class three behind Pat Toomey (29) who fired the best score of the day, a 67.

And winning in Class One and completing a memorable family day was Lauren's grandmother, Pauline - mother of Sonya, the former Irish number one badminton who represented Ireland in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 - who fired a nett 68 off 19 to beat Mary Harte (20) by four shots. Winner of Class Two was Kathleen Harbison (23) with a 69, ahead of Nora Bowen (27).

Ward eases to win

Just missing out on the magical 50 points mark last week at Hollystown Golf Club was Kay Ward. However, the 29-handicapper was still an easy winner of Carmel Brennan's Lady Vice-Captain's Prize. With 48 points she was a runaway winner, having eight points to spare over her nearest challenger Ethnea Keogh (20), with Mai McCabe (22) third with 38 points.

Dundalk top officials

Competition between golf clubs is competitive at the best of times, but when it involves club officials it probably moves up a notch or two. Played in a friendly manner last Monday at County Louth Golf Club, the Irish Association of Golf Club Secretaries held their latest Secretary/Captain/Professional/Green Keeper outing and proudly heading home content having got one over their fellow clubs were Dundalk.

However, it was a close run thing, as thanks to a back nine of 48 points they only won on a countback from Galway GC.

On the victorious Dundalk team were secretary manager Terry Sloane, captain Gerry Murray, Leslie Walker (PGA) and course superintendent Paddy Holohan, while on the Galway team were Pádraig Fahy, John Whirskey, Don Wallace and Billy Connell.

Taking third were Mount Juliet represented by Seán O'Neill, Terry Sullivan, Seán Cotter and Aidan O'Hara, who had 90 points.

Murphy makes mark

It may well have been in different formats of the game, but it made no difference to Rosslare's Liz Murphy last week as she enjoyed back-to-back victories a the Co Wexford club. First in the fourball competition she teamed up with Carmel Quinlivan (28) and they won, albeit on the back nine, with a score of 38 points.

Then on Tuesday last in the 3Ts singles event, the 20-handicapper came into her own. With a score of 42 points, she was four points ahead of second-placed Breege Byrne (33), with Ann McHugh (16) third on 37 points, while Murphy's winning fourball partner Quinlivan continued her good form in shooting 35 points to take fourth spot.

The gross winner was Mary Kelleher (12) with 22 points.

Carroll lands ace

A hole in one, while always fortunate, always goes a long way to improving your scorecard. And it certainly did so for Mary Carroll at Thurles last Tuesday. On her way to victory in the singles competition, the 30-handicapper aced the par three 115-yard fifth hole on her way to a winning score of nett 62, which gave her a two-shot win over Siobhán A Maher (20), while Margaret Gleeson (35) was back in third with a 65.

O'Riordan in control

Proving a runaway winner of the weekly singles competition recently at Edmondstown Golf Club in Rathfarnham was Carol O'Riordan, who left the rest of the field trailing in her wake.

Playing off 31 she fired a superb 44 points with her nearest challenger being Carmel Burke Daly (23) with 39 points. The class winners on the day were Dot McKenna, Judith Byrne Murray and Máirín Kelly.

Nurses' annual event

The Irish Lady Nurses hold their annual outing at Abbeyleix GC on Friday, May 11th. This very popular event will have over 150 nurses from around Ireland in an 18-hole Stableford competition.

The midlands venue will provide a stern test for this year's competitors where the entry fee, to include dinner, is €50. For place on the time sheet contact Ita Ryan at 057-8731509 or 086-3731248.