The Short Game: Claire Coughlan, from Cork Golf Club, and Beaverstown's Martina Gillen will take the first step on the road to a career as professionals when they play in the first pre-qualifying school for the Ladies European Tour in Golf Club Le Font, Italy, starting today.
The Irish Curtis Cup players join 94 other hopefuls at this pre-qualifying school, and hope to make it into the school proper in Spain later in the month.
Coughlan, the former Irish champion, has achieved all the highest honours in the amateur game, and it is a natural progression for her and Gillen to try to make the transition to professional ranks.
Turner has good 'fall'
Niall Turner will finish the autumn season on the US collegiate circuit in 61st place in the rankings. In all during the "fall" he had four top-15 finishes. In the PGA West in Palm Springs he finished 15th with rounds of 67, 77 and 72, and followed that with an 11th place finish in Big Ten /Pac Ten tournament on the Pacific Dunes course in Bandon Dunes with rounds of 75, 76 and 74 in blustery, cold conditions.
Turner will end the year at the All American Golf Classic in the Country Club in El Paso, Texas, on November 21st and 22nd, an honour he earned from his All American standing from last season. Other Irish players in the top 100 were Johnny Caldwell at 81st and Garreth Shaw at 94th.
Munster GUI changes
Big changes are due to take place at the agm of the Munster branch of the GUI at Mallow on Thursday week. Bill Murphy, the chairman, and former honorary treasurer, has announced he is not only resigning the chair at the end of two terms but also retiring from the branch "for personal and private reasons". Seán McMahon (Adare Manor), who took over as honorary secretary in 1998 on the retirement of long-serving Dick Barry, is to take over the chair.
In his final report as honorary secretary, McMahon indicates how the branch has grown since he took over eight years ago, from 26,000 members in 83 clubs to 40,000 members in 90 clubs. He paid tribute to Bill Murphy for his important contribution to Irish golf over the past seven years
John McLoughney (Roscrea and Templemore), the outgoing honorary treasurer, takes over from McMahon. Liam Martin (Castletroy), who is responsible for youth golf and coaching, is also unopposed as honorary treasurer; Michael Cashman (Raffeen Creek) retains his position as honorary match and handicap secretary. Two long-serving members, Phil O'Sullivan (Monkstown) and Pat Murphy (West Waterford), are also retiring. There are 19 candidates for 17 positions on the Central Council.
Scannell sizzles
Denis Scannell posted a magnificent 38 points to capture captain's (John Barry) prize in the Bank of Ireland-supported Munster Press GS outing at Tralee GC. The Irish Examiner photographer eased into the round with an outward return of 18 points, but was flawless on the more challenging back nine. He finished a point ahead of Mark Woods, with Donal Hickey in third, and former All-Ireland winning Cork camogie ace Therese O'Callaghan also achieving a podium finish. Captain Barry and Mal Keaveney were category winners. Club president Ned O'Shea, a noted club footballer in his younger days, returned a brilliant 38 points to take the visitor's prize.
Buckley moving on
Niamh Buckley is leaving the Leinster Branch after almost three years in which she looked after the province's golfers. Buckley, a member of Hermitage GC, is moving to a position as a travel consultant with Trailfinders. Her position at the new Leinster Branch offices in Carton House will be advertised in the coming weeks.
Fogarty back on links
Former International and long-time member of the Royal Dublin golf club, Noel Fogarty, made a welcome return to the links at Dollymount last week. Fogarty, who celebrated his 81st birthday recently, has been out of golf for some eight years with numerous operations on an injured knee. A further operation, in which he had a hip replaced, has given the genial Portmarnock man a new lease on golf. After nine holes in Connemara in September, Fogarty made a winning return at Royal Dublin when he partnered his son Greg to victory in the 14-hole fourball - returning a fine 33 points.
Fogarty played 26 times for Ireland and won the East and South Championships in 1967, while more recently he was Seniors champion in 1980 and 81.
Jordan steps down
The 76th annual general meeting of the Southern District of the ILGU will take place on Saturday at Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow, at 1pm. This will mark the retirement of current chair of the district, Rena Jordan, who has served the district in a number of positions over the last 11 years. Rena, a member of Douglas Golf Club, has seen the district grow enormously during her years in office with 77 clubs now affiliated.
The agm, which may be attended by two delegates from each club, has nothing of innovative interest on the agenda. Apart from the election of the new members to the district committee, the remaining items are to do with reports and confirmations of various positions within the Southern District.
Clifford strikes first
Mark Clifford, a two-handicapper from Lucan, started the Leinster Alliance season in excellent form. On a excellently presented course at The European Club, Clifford returned a fine 36 points in testing conditions to win the nett award by two points from Dun Laoghaire's Peter van Dessel and Declan Kerrigan from Old Conna.
Brian Keenan from the Heath took the gross with a two-over-par 34 points from Seafield's Dara O'Neill and Pat Geraghty from Glen of the Downs. Jerome Counihan from Dun Laoghaire won the juniors' prize with 35 points off a two-handicap.
The next outing is at PGA National on December 3rd. Timesheet with Michael Neary at 01-2827297.
