Shay Keenan Amateur Scene
While Galway hurling is on a roll at the moment, despite the defeat by Cork, their golfers are finding life at the top a little more difficult.
After losing out at Rosslare during the week, where three of their teams - Senior Cup, Barton Shield and Junior Cup sides - were beaten in the respective All-Ireland finals, their JB Carr team were hoping for a change of luck when they took on Stackstown GC in the final at Woodenbridge on Sunday.
However, yet again it was not to be as the Dublin side claimed their first success in the competition. Three of the matches were decided on the final green, and the eventual outcome was known on the 19th.
For a long time it looked like a Galway success, but in a close finish it was left to Jim Kavanagh and Seán O'Dwyer of Stackstown to edge out former Galway footballer, and twice winner of the JB Carr Trophy, Bosco McDermott and Mick Dowd, on the first tie hole.
Again excellently organised by the Woodenbridge club, the Carr family were represented by John and Mary, and to mark the great affinity with the legendary JB and the 10th running of the competition, John was made an honorary life member of Woodenbridge GC.
Meanwhile, the Ardglass pairing of professional Philip Farrell and his club amateur partner, Justin Sharvin, failed to capitalise on a promising opening round in Europe's biggest pro-am, the Lombard Trophy.
Playing the Ocean course at Vale do Lobo in the Algarve on Friday and Saturday, the Co Down duo fired rounds of 69 and 73, finishing tied 10th of the 16 clubs taking part from Britain and Ireland.
Derbyshire's Paul Wesselingh and his club amateur from Kedleston Park, Chris Nye, romped away with the title and the £10,000 prize for the professional, with a 129 total. They were challenged all the way by their Scottish playing partners, pro Sam Cairns and amateur Steve McGoldrick from Westerwood, near Glasgow.
Canadian Alison Murdoch retained the Irish senior women's open amateur strokeplay championship at Woodbrook Golf Club last week. The overnight leader on 75, Murdock fired an 81 in the final round but her aggregate of 156 was still good enough to see her keep the title.
Murdock won by a shot from the surprise packet of the championship, Germany-based Marilyn Henderson, who had a best-of-the-day 77 to add to her first-day 80.
Murdock (55), comes from Victoria, British Columbia. She has dominated Canadian senior golf over the last three years, winning the Canadian title in 2002, 2004 and again this year, when she won the 36-hole event by five shots.
Henderson, born in Tyrone, has spent most of her life in Scotland before moving to Germany. She pipped former Curtis Cup player and many times Wales champion Vicki Thomas and Scotland's Noreen Fenton for third place. Thomas had rounds of 79 and 80, while Fenton scored 75 and 84.
Twice former winner Pamela Williamson from Scotland finished joint fifth on 161 (80-81), while Helen Faulds shared the 162 mark with Ireland's Mary McKenna.
Henderson's excellent finish earned her a place on the Irish Seniors team for the Home Internationals at Radyr, Cardiff, from October 4th-6th, where she will be joined by Roma English, Mary Gorry, Valerie Hassett, Eileen MacMullen, Mary Madden and Pauline Walsh. Mary McKenna (Donabate) and Rhona Fanagan (Miltown) were unavailable for selection.
The top six in the Irish Order of Merit following the Irish Seniors Open championship were selected automatically. Team captain Elaine Bradshaw opted for the experienced Mary Gorry of Baltinglass as her wild-card pick.
Henderson is also one of seven Irish players in this week's British Seniors Amateur Open at Newport GC staring today. Also in the field are Jane Allen (Royal Portrush), Catherine Carty (Tullamore), Roma English (Larne), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Mary McKenna and Denise Parker (Woodhall Spa).
The Connacht Shield final will be competed for over two legs, on Saturday, September 24th, and Saturday, October 1st. It sees Swinford take on Co Sligo in a David versus Goliath match with Swinford at home in the first leg.
Interestingly, Co Sligo are hoping to emulate the feat of Athenry in 2004 and capture three Provincial Interclub pennants in one season, having won the Connacht Seniors and the Jack O'Sullivan Trophy in the last month.
Castle Golf Club beat Mullingar by three holes in an exciting final to the Menolly Homes/ILGU Interclub Fourball at the K Club on Sunday.
Castle got off to a fine start by taking the top two matches, with Sinead Heraty and Martha Jones winning two up against Lucy Tormey and Bernie Kelly before Lorraine Crighton and Niamh Leonard collected their second point with a 3 and 2 win over Fiona Burke and Lily Gilleran.
However, Mullingar squared the match at 2-2 when first Eilish McCormack and Una Stevens beat Yvonne Managhan and Anna Vella one up, and then Patience Collier and Ann Marie Fagan beat Sally Lenehan and Mary Bourke, also one up, to tie the match.
But on a countback of holes up Castle edged home by three holes.
