Gillen continues to impressCurtis Cup squad member Martina Gillen has continued to prove why she has been named as one of Golf World's "Top-50 College Players to Watch" for the second consecutive season. Gillen had nine top-10 finishes during her sophomore campaign, including four first-place medals.
She also has back-to-back MAC Golfer-of-the-Year honours. The Irish international has continued where she left off last year with high finishes in two events so far this year. The Kent State University women's golf team recorded two top-10 finishes against some tough tournament fields at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic and the Texas A&M "Mo" Morial. At the Lady Puerto Rico Classic Gillen tied for fifth with rounds of 74, 73 and 72 for 219, being the top individual finisher for Kent State and in the Texas A&M Gillen shot a 161 aggregate in difficult conditions.
Brown in the groove
The good weather over the weekend brought golfers out in large numbers and pride of place on the scoring charts must go to Connemara schoolboy Rory Brown. The 16-year-old shot a magnificent 50 points off a 15 handicap in Sunday's singles competition at Connemara Golf Club. Brown took up the game only last summer and reduced his handicap from 24 to 15 in his first season. And Sunday's effort saw another five shots disappear from his handicap as the St Jarlath's, Tuam, fourth-year student scorched round the course in a one-over-par 73 to win by 10 points from Danny Feddis from Foxrock and John Roche (Connemara). Brown was out in 36 shots for 24 points and came back also in 36 for 26 points. Coached by Hugh O'Neill, Brown is now looking forward to the Connacht Youths on his home course next month and the Connacht Boys at Oughterard Golf Club in July.
O'Leary takes French title
Stephen O'Leary (Douglas) beat Alan Hanlon (Collinstown) in a play-off for the French Pitch and Putt Open at the Club de Grande Motte near Montpellier, France, on Sunday after the pair had tied at the end of regulation 36 holes. They then contested a sudden death play-off which O'Leary won at the fourth extra hole. The 19-year-old Corkman won the 2001 Irish National Junior Strokeplay Championship and the 2002 National Intermediate Strokeplay championship. The more experienced Hanlon (a member of the Ireland squad) has represented Westmeath many times in the Intercounty championship and was an Irish Matchplay semi-finalist in 2001.
Meanwhile, PPUI vice-president Billy Lynch will be non-playing captain and manager of the Ireland team that will contest the 2003 European Team championship at McDonagh in September. Lynch from Blanchardstown, first became involved in pitch and putt in the early 1990s when he joined Royal Meath. Elected chairman of Meath County Board in 1995, Meath Pitch and Putt boomed in 1996 under his astute leadership.
Ladies Scratch Cup in Cork
The annual Ford-sponsored Ladies Scratch Cup will take place at Cork Golf Club on Saturday, 5th April. The competition runs over 36 holes with a shotgun start at
9 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The handicap limit is nine and entries close on Friday with Tric Carey, honorary secretary (Ladies Branch, phone 087-6799182).
Most of the senior squads from Leinster and Munster are expected to play with local Irish International Claire Coughlan among the favourites. This will be the first Scratch Cup being hosted from the new Cork Golf Club clubhouse and some new interesting course features will be played.
Hayes moves on
Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland national coaching and development administrator Michael Hayes departs for pastures new this month. Hayes joins the Football Association of Ireland, where he will administer the National League.
Waterford native Hayes has been with PPUI since 1991 and has introduced many enhancements to the organisation. He achieved his coaching tutor qualification from the National Coaching and Training Centre in Limerick. He was instrumental in introducing the National Coaching Development Programme to the sport.
Hayes was also a leading member of the PPUI Strategic Planning Group that delivered Our Sport - Planning for the Future to the members in 2002. In the past, he produced many leaflets and pamphlets aimed at encouraging people to play the sport and helping administrators to operate more efficiently.
Hayes was a first-class senior player in his day. He served a brief term as the PPUI's honorary treasurer in the early 1980s and was also a volunteer administrator at club (St Otteran's), county (Waterford) and provincial (Munster) level.
