The Short Game

Lowry's win acclaimed
SHANE LOWRY'S win in the West of Ireland was greeted with acclaim at The European Club last week as competitors in the East of Ireland Alliance followed events with great interest.

Lowry has been a regular competitor in the Alliance throughout the winter and, when the West overran by a day due to bad weather, the final happened on Alliance day at Brittas Bay.

The Alliance have been attracting such numbers this year that it will continue with a competition each Wednesday to the end of April. Meanwhile, the semi-final line-up for The European Club's inaugural East of Ireland Matchplay, which has been running since November, is known. Seamus Hughes (6, Courtown) will meet Liam Wall (9, Tipperary) and David McNamara (10, Stackstown) plays Dermot Ryan (9, Powerscourt).

Lennox second in world juniors
LUKE LENNOX from the Moyola Park GC finished second in the inaugural Ernie Els World Junior Invitational at The Links at Fancourt, South Africa, last week.

Lennox shot rounds of 75, 74, 76 and 73 for a six-over-par 298 total - four shots behind the winner, England's Chris Lloyd. Lloyd came from three shots back to shoot a final round 72 that included three dropped shots and four birdies, two of which came on the last two holes for a 294 total after rounds of 78, 73, 71 and 72.

Overnight leader Matthew Rottanburg of Killarney GC - in Johannesburg - had a nightmare start, making a double-bogey six on the opening hole from which he never really recovered.

Rottanburg eventually finished with a seven-over-par 80 in third place.

In the girls' competition, Southern Cape's Monique Smit wrapped up an easy victory, beating closest rival Bertine Strauss by a massive 11 shots over the four rounds.

Hogan uses his local knowledge
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE certainly proved helpful as scratch golfer Donal Hogan claimed victory over his Killeen clubmate Maurice Kelly at the Midland Senior Alliance on Sunday and with it success in Ger Hall's Captain's Prize, the final outing of their 2007/08 season.

The two Killeen members, along with Edenderry's Greg Carew, fired rounds of 71 to finish two clear of their nearest challengers. In the nett category, three handicapper Michael Power of Moate won with a 72, just edging out on a countback Quentin Carew (Edenderry), Bobby Rice (Ardee) and Rathdowney's Willie Claxton.

There was, however, consolation for Carew as he took the Golfer of the Year award, while the gross GOY was Mullingar's Des Morgan. The Alliance will resume next October.

Meanwhile, at the Munster Senior Alliance outing at Cork on Sunday there was also a home club winner as a 69 gave Peter Crowley (1) a three-shot winning margin over Youghal's Darren O'Sullivan (3) and Declan King (1) of Tramore. In the Order of Merit race, Fota Island's Ross O'Sullivan leads on 16 points, three ahead of Dave O'Donovan.

McWilliams paves the way
A FAST start of three birdies inside the opening six holes paved the way for Royal Portrush's Darren McWilliams to secure his third win of the season on the Emerald Pro Tour at South County last Friday. McWilliams finally signed for a one-under-par 71, having suffered bogeys on eight and nine, to win by one stroke from Stackstown brothers Michael and John McDermott, who were both on one-over-par 73.

Among the amateurs, Kilkee's Michael Grady (9) continued his recent good form as 39 points gave him victory. Fermoy's James Picard (3) was the gross winner with 32 points. Next up this Friday is a visit to Knightsbrook. Contact Ciarán Tighe on 086 0807280 or ciaran@allingolf.ie.

Plenty of merit in Cassidy's runner-up spot
RACHEL CASSIDY from The Island GC, and a student at Stirling University, finished second in the women's individual event as Stirling took the team honours at the  third Order of Merit event at Machrie GC last week.

Cassidy's two rounds of 84 in difficult conditions saw her finish four off leader Morag Macpherson of St Andrews University, who shot 80 and 84.

The Stirling University team of Cassidy, Steph Farrar and Holly Calvert on 336 took the honours from the St Andrews team of Nadia Green, Jennifer Linklater and Macpherson on 341.

Second title for Walshe
GALWAY-BORN Alison Walshe, a member of the US Curtis Cup team to play Britain and Ireland in St Andrews in May, chalked up her second individual title this year by winning the Dr Donnis Thompson Invitational in Kane'ohe, Oahu, Hawaii, last week - her fifth individual win as a Wildcat.

The University of Arizona student finished with a round of one-over-par 73 and a three-under 213 total for a five-shot win over Pernilla Lindberg, Oklahoma State.

The University of Arizona team, on 893, finished in second to Oklahoma State (888) in the final standings.

Arizona State was third on 897, followed by Hawaii on 928 and Wyoming on 950.

Willett's Spanish victory leaves him on top of the world
BRITAIN AND Ireland Walker Cup player Daniel Willett of England is currently the world's top amateur golfer following victory in the Spanish Amateur that elevated him to top spot in the R&A rankings after holding second place for 18 weeks.

Last year he won the South of England and English Amateur titles in successive weeks before making his Walker Cup debut, where he held the then world number one Colt Knost to a halved match in the final singles.

Following the Walker Cup, Willett cut short his scholarship in Alabama and returned home to play full-time amateur golf.

Gareth Shaw is best placed of the Irish in 30th, with Jonathan Caldwell 61st, Seamus Power 62nd and Shane Lowry 95th after last week's win in the West of Ireland.