Another honour has been bestowed on Irish amateur golf with Claire Dowling's selection as captain of the Britain and Ireland team for the Espirito Santo Trophy - the women's world amateur team championship - in Santiago, Chile, on November 12th-15th, 1998. Dowling's appointment means Irish women will captain B and I teams at next year's two most important amateur tournaments. Ita Butler, who captained the team to victory in the Curtis Cup at Killarney last year, will again lead the team for next year's match on August 1st and 2nd at Minikahda, Minnesota.
A five-time Irish champion and four-time Curtis Cup player, Dowling (nee Hourihane) last played for Ireland in 1992, but has continued to make a significant contribution to golf since moving into management. She is currently captain of the Irish women's team and will also captain the country's junior team at next year's European championships. Also, she is a member of the Royal and Ancient's amateur status committee, so a busy year lies ahead.
Prior to this latest honour, Dowling was vice-captain of the Britain and Ireland team at this year's Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe in Sweden, and captained the side that beat a South African selection at Letham Grange earlier this season.
Meanwhile, Ireland finished in fourth position in the Simon Bolivar Cup at the Lagunita Country Club in Caracas, Venezuela. The two-man team of Walker Cup player Jody Fanagan and national champion Ken Kearney had an aggregate of 565, seven shots behind champions Japan.
Fanagan had rounds of 69-7073-67 for nine-under-par 279 (which gave him fifth place in the individual competition), while Kearney produced rounds of 73-7171-71 for 286. Japan won the team event by one stroke from Venezuela, with England in third position.
Next season's West of Ireland championship, sponsored by Ulster Bank, will again be played at Enniscrone Golf Club. The event is traditionally played at Co Sligo Golf Club, but was moved to Enniscrone this year due to the condition of the Rosses Point course. Jody Fanagan will defend his title over the Enniscrone links - where his sister Suzanne also won the Irish close championship this season - when the event is held on April 9th-13th.
The message that "golf is fun" is what the organisers of the Chiquita Callaway Challenge - which will take place at a number of driving ranges in the Dublin area over the coming months - are attempting to get across to players.
The fun challenge enables players to try out Callaway equipment at the various ranges, with the chance to win one of five Big Berthas - and, of course, to chew on bananas.
The venues and dates are: Open Golf Cen- tre (December 7th); Portmarnock DR (January 12th and 25th); Tyrrellstown DR (January 26th/ February 8th); Elm Green DR (February 9th and 22nd); Spawell (February 23rd/March 8th); Stepaside DR (March 9th and 22nd); Leopardstown DR (March 23rd/April 5th); Greystones (April 6th and 19th).
