The Short Game

Student power proved decisive as the last of the 2003 championships was decided at Luttrellstown Castle over the weekend with victory in the Cassidy's Hotels-sponsored East of Ireland Mixed Championship going to UCD students Paul McDonald and Selena Smyth.

After rounds of 76 and 73 the pair took a three-shot advantage into the final round and a three-over par 75, despite three bogeys in the last six holes, was enough to give them a six-shot winning margin over the Dunmurry duo of Stephen Crowe and Jill McAuley, who shared the best of the day final round of 74 with The Island pairing of Ronan O'Connor and Rachael Cassidy. In third place was the holders Martin Kelly (Forrest Little) and Donabate's Pat Doran, who were in contention after opening with rounds of 77 and 76, but a final round of seven-over par 79 left them on 232.

Irish pair struggle

Irish representatives Tara Delaney (Carlow) and Brendan McCarroll (Ballyliffin) finished down the field when the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy was decided at the Castletown Links in the Isle of Man last week. Delaney finished on 249 for the 54-holes event after rounds of 86, 79 and 84, while McCarroll was two shots back on 251 after shooting 77, 86 and 88 for 251.

The event, made up of boy and girl champions from European countries, was won by Sweden's Ricard Karlberg who signed off with a best of the tournament round of 70 for 219 after opening with rounds of 75 and 74. The runner-up, six shots off the pace, was Spain's former British Boys' Open champion, Pablo Martin, who had a pair of 72s after being blown off course to an 81 in the first round. Magnus Larusson of Sweden was a shot back in third place after rounds of 78, 76 and 72.

Walker on form

Dundalk's Leslie Walker got the Links winter season off to a fine start when he shot an impressive one-over par 73 in the Bank of Ireland outing at Co Louth. Leslie managed the strong winds with halves of 36 and 37.

The gross prize went to Walker Cup player Noel Fox with a 74 as he prepares for the second Tour School qualifying round in Spain from October 30th to November 2nd. Jimmy Hegarty from the Spawell Driving Range was second on 75 with Jim Carvill filling third place on 76.

Douglas CS prevail

In the Cork Schools pitch and putt tournament at Rocklodge, Douglas Community School came out on top with 197 (best four scores out of five format) for the 18 holes. Aaron O'Callaghan was top scorer for Douglas on 47. Paddy Noonan shot 48, Cork Juvenile intercounty player Ian Bermingham 51 and Brian Collins 51. Michael Quinn was the non scorer on 55. Second on 210 came Coláiste an Chraoibhin (Fermoy). The Fermoy school boasted All-Ireland juvenile strokeplay champion Darren Quirke (who shot 51) and Damien Burke, who was runner-up in that championship (52). St Aloysius (Cork) won the girls' title on 323, while the special category winners were St Goban's (Bantry) on 209.

Cashel Community School captured the Munster Secondary Schools Tournament at Larkspur Park (Cashel) with a 36-hole (best three scores out of four) tally of 300, two ahead of near neighbours High School (Clonmel). Greg Ryan fired 99 for the winners. Declan O'Dwyer scored 100, James Hickey 101 and Michael Hickey 112. Munster junior matchplay champion Declan Rix (High School) carded a brilliant 93. Patrick O'Dwyer scored 102 for the Clonmel college, Shane Fagan 107 and this year's Munster strokeplay runner-up Derek Moore 108. Coláiste an Chraoibhin were third here on 314. Burke was again prominent on 97. Darren Quirke shot 111.

The Leinster Schools Tournament takes place at Seapoint, Co. Louth tomorrow.

Double aces for Sutton

Maura Sutton from Corrstown has certainly got the yardages right in recent weeks. Sutton, a 16-handicapper who is also a prominent member of Shandon Pitch and Putt club, had two aces in successive competitions. The first came at her home club when she holed out with a five-wood at the 155-metre 13th hole when partnering Lola Dixon and Deirdre Ridgeway. And two days later she repeated the feat at Hermitage when, in the company of Esther Walsh, Yvonne Carty (the Lady captain) and Catriona McWilliams, she aced the 121-metre sixth hole with a five iron.

Leacy hits birdie trail

Killarney's Kevin Leacy set a course record at Tralee GC on Sunday when he shot a four-under par 67 to win the Kerry Alliance outing. One over par after three, Leacy hit the birdie trail with three birdies in four holes from the sixth to reach the turn in two-under-par 36. After dropping a shot at the 10th, he had five birdies in a row from the 11th. Despite taking a double bogey six at the 17th he came home in 33 for 67. Leacy's 65, off a two handicap, gave him a three-shot cushion over Jeremy Wren (Killarney). The gross prize went to Doneraile's Adam Carey with 72.

Oireachtas bridge gap

The Oireachtas golfers bridged a nine-year gap when they won the annual Irish Nationwide Inter-Society outing. There was much joy last week in Citywest GCl when they were victorious again. "We felt this year we had to do something about trying to win this prestigious competition and so we put a lot of work into our preparation. It has fully paid off," said team captain Paul McGrath.

The Oireachtas team won with 163 points, a margin of five points ahead of runners-up and holders, the Army. The Press Radio Television team had one of their best finishes with 155 points, just three adrift of the Army with the Garda Society in fourth place with 151 points.

Results: Oireachtas: Paul McGrath and Brian Hayes 44 pts; Army: Cmdt Joe Waters and Cmdt Norman Farragher 41 pts; Press Radio TV: Paddy Higgins and Les Tynan 40 pts; Garda: Pat Mahon and Michael Walsh 41 pts. Visitors: Pat Millea 31 pts.

Clarke makes mark

Portumna GC's club professional Richard Clarke recently won the Irish Club maker of the year 2003/04 as set by the World Golf Club Makers Association. And as part of the honour he was in Austin Texas last week at the GCA headquarters where he was representing Ireland. He won the award for his repair and custom fitting skills. Clarke, part from running the pro shop, also looks after the coaching at the club. He also has a successful junior golf academy with over 70 juniors attending. He uses some of the most up to date and innovative coaching techniques and has one of the most advanced computerised teaching systems for swing analysis.