By SHAY KEENAN
Father and son event at St Anne's
THE qualifying round for the St Anne’s GC annual father and son foursomes matchplay competition, sponsored by Expert Revenue Services, will take place on Saturday, June 27th.
The format is 18-hole Stableford foursomes, with the top 32 pairs qualifying for the matchplay, which begins on Monday, June 29th, with the plate and final being played on Saturday, July 4th. Entry is €50 per pair. Entry forms and further information are available from the secretary manager of St Anne’s Golf Club phone: 01 833 6471 email: info@stanneslinksgolf.com
What a week for West Waterfords 10-handicapper Keelan Drohan, who claimed four victories in the space of five days at his home club. It started off with 42 points in the Al Eile Open qualifier last Wednesday, then he won the Junior Scratch Cup with a nett 73, while on Saturday he won the club singles with 37 points and on Sunday landed another club singles win when, now off nine, he shot a superb 64 to win by a stroke from Liam Grace (17).
Riordan qualifies for Irish PGA
FORMER Irish amateur international Marian Riordan defied treacherous conditions to make history and qualify for the Irish PGA Championship at the European Club recently.
The Greystones professional becomes the first woman to qualify for the championship where she will tee up alongside the likes of British Open champion Pádraig Harrington, who is chasing a third successive title.
Riordan fired a creditable six-over-par 77 in conditions that were far from conducive to par golf as the rain swept in from the sea over the Brittas Bay course, sending scores soaring.
Riordan’s score was just four shots behind joint leaders Séamus McMonagle and John Langan. It took her into joint fourth place.
Thirty-two players qualified for the championship, with a further qualifying test at the European Club on June 4th.
The championship will be staged at the European Club on July 8th to 11th.
Lernihan eyes Irish Amateur Close Championship
A NEW Irish champion will be crowned as 150 of Ireland’s leading golfers go in search of the Golfsure-sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Enniscrone Golf Club from June 6th-10th.
Included in the field are Walker Cup hopefuls Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) and last year’s runner-up, Dara Lernihan (Castle), who will all be looking to lay claim to the title which was won in 2008 by Paul O’Hanlon, who has since turned professional.
The cut fell at 1.4, and the lowest handicap in the field is held by Kearney on plus 3.4. New Irish Open champion Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), who captured the title in 2007, and Simon Ward (Co Louth), have opted to compete in the St Andrews Links Trophy which clashes with the Irish Close.
This will be the second time the Irish Amateur Close Championship will be staged at Enniscrone Golf Club – the first being in 1993 when Eddie Power (Tramore) captured the title.
The championship was first held in 1893 at Royal Portrush and has been played each year since, with the exception of the war years. Winners include Paul O’Hanlon (2008), Rory McIlroy (2005 and 2006), Brian McElhinney (2004), Graeme McDowell (2000), Peter Lawrie (1996), Pádraig Harrington (1995), Darren Clarke (1990) and Paul McGinley (1989).
District finals in Ladies Senior Cup
THE last two finalists in this year’s Ladies Senior Cup will become known over the next two weeks when two regions hold their district finals.
The Midland Region final is on this Friday and Saturday in Enniscorthy, with 14 clubs entered for this year’s event.
Defending champions Kilkenny have received a first-round bye and will face the winners of The Heath and The Curragh on Friday afternoon.
Last year’s runners-up Carlow face Callan in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Northern District qualifiers will be played at Belvoir Park Golf Club on May 25th and 26th.
The Southern section was also played the weekend before last when host club Bandon were crowned district champions – after wins over Tipperary, East Cork and defending champions Ennis in the semi-finals – after they beat Muskerry to lift the trophy for the first time, in what is their centenary year, thus joining County Louth and Roscommon as the other district winners.
The All-Ireland quarter finals – with the five district winners to be joined by the three best runners-up – will take place at Mount Wolseley, Co Carlow, on August 14th and 15th.
Five Irish set for Links Trophy
FIVE of Ireland’s leading amateurs have made the cut for the prestigious St Andrews Links Trophy which takes place at the home of golf from June 5th-7th.
Cian Curley (Newlands), Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Séamus Power (West Waterford) and Simon Ward (Co Louth) all made the cut which fell at plus 2.4. Competitors will play one round over the New Course on Friday, June 5th, and one round over the Old Course on Saturday, June 6th.
The 40 lowest scores plus ties qualify for the final 36 holes to be played over the Old Course on Sunday, June 7th.
Innovative offer to beat the blues
THREE of the country’s top parkland clubs, Carton House in Maynooth, Fota Island in Cork and Kilkenny’s Mount Juliet, have joined forces in an innovative attempt to beat the economic blues.
The clubs, which between them have played host to seven Irish Opens since 1993, have teamed up to allow their members play at each other’s courses free of charge on Mondays to Fridays throughout the year.
In addition, the initiative will enable members of each club to avail of a reduced green fee for their guests with a member and guest rate of € 60 from April to October and € 45 from November to March.
GOLFERS have the opportunity to play three rounds and stay in a top-class hotel in Louth or Meath for an all-in price of € 200.
Seven of the top hotels and four golf clubs in the North East have come together with Fáilte Ireland and the Louth and Meath County Councils to promote holidays for Irish and international golfers.
The one-stop-shop offers golfers a choice of four courses Dundalk, Greenore, Laytown and Bettystown and Seapoint.
They also have a choice of seven hotels that will organise two nights bed and breakfast and arrange your tee-times. Full details are available on www.playandstay.ie.
