THE SHORT GAME:THE eight finalists at the ILGU Senior Cup in Cork in August have finally been decided following all the regional qualifiers over the last number of weeks.

The five district winners were already known after Royal Portrush, Carlow, Laytown Bettystown, Lahinch and Claremorris all won their regional crowns.

However, they have now been joined by the three lowest aggregate handicap runners-up to make up the field of eight clubs who will compete in the national quarter-finals. The three to make it through to the finals in Cork are Slieve Russell, Douglas and Wexford.

And the quarter-final pairings have also announced with Carlow v Douglas starting proceedings on the Friday morning followed by Laytown Bettystown v Slieve Russell. Then it is Lahinch v Claremorris in the third quarter-final and then finally Royal Portrush v Wexford.

The semi-final pairings will see the winners of quarter-final 1 v quarter-final two and then quarter-final winner 3 against 4, with the final down for decision on the Saturday afternoon.

Those All-Ireland finals will take place at Cork GC on August 13th and 14th. Kilkenny won the title last year at Mount Wolseley beating Royal Portrush 3-2 in the final.

Greene claims Waterford Scratch Cup

SUPERB weather and course conditions prevailed for the 54th Waterford Golf Club Scratch Cup played over the weekend.

Over 50 clubs from across the country were represented for the 72-hole event. And in the end claiming the Waterford Crystal Scratch Cup Trophy was Carlow’s John Greene, who recorded a four round total of 280 following rounds of 70, 68, 71 and 71.

That gave him a four-shot winning margin over The Island’s Robert McCarthy who was next best on 284 after rounds of 72, 71, 71 and 70.

A disappointing final round of 77 for a total of 286 meant Castlecomer’s Michael Buggy finished third, after he had opened with impressive rounds of 72, 68, 69, while South County’s Shane McGlynn was fourth a further two shots back on 290 following rounds of 70, 68, 76 and 76.

This was the second year in which the Waterford competition was designated as a world ranking event.

Massereene duo set for the Bahamas

MASSEREENE’S David Hughes and Ben Scott have just secured the trip of a lifetime to the Bahamas in November after securing their place in the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championships supported by SkyCaddie at the recent Irish regional qualifier at The Heritage.

However, it was a close run thing as the duo from the Co Antrim club needed a Hughes birdie on the 18th hole to make sure of victory as he and Scott staged a late rally to push John Dwyer and Mark Smith, of Ashbourne, into second spot.

It rounded off a successful two days for 23-year-old Hughes who also qualified for the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship also at The Heritage.

Afterwards Scott revealed the secret of the pair’s success – he had actually caddied for Hughes in the Glenmuir event, and the pair took the chance to do their homework.

“We practised for a couple of days at The Heritage, said Scott. “Getting to caddy for David the day before the pro-am meant we could spot where the danger was going to be.

“When I qualified for this event, I didn’t think we’d be getting this far, but now we’re heading for the Bahamas which is amazing,” added a delighted Scott.

They will now compete for a €5,800 first prize at the Sandals Resort Emerald Bay, Bahamas, on November 23rd-28th.

Walker and Clinton claim ILGU gold and silver medals

PENNY WALKER from Rathfarnham fired a 70 nett, while Triona Clinton (Mount Temple) signed for a sensational 60 to win the 2009 Suzuki ILGU gold and silver medals recently at Portarlington and Portlaoise.

At Portarlington, in second place behind Walker was Patricia Flood (Kilkea Castle) who fired a 75 gross to set a course record with 71 nett on countback from Gillian Murphy (Edenmore).

Yvonne Managhan (Castle) captured the best gross with a fine 78.

At Portlaoise, home favourite Kitty Walsh was just one behind the leader Clinton in second place on countback from Audrey Flanagan (Cill Dara), Ursula Ellard (Craddockstown) and Rita Butterly (Westmanstown). Marie Louise Brennan (Rush) captured the best gross with an 84. The ILGU silver and bronze medals are presented annually in each club affiliated to the ILGU.

BILLY KINSELLA, the former professional at Woodbrook Golf Club, had a hole in one on the second hole in Woodbrook playing in the first round of the Cochrane Cup on Saturday.

Kinsella shot two rounds of net 70 (playing off a domestic handicap of seven) but was beaten in the end by one shot by Eamonn MacSweeney, who has recovered from illness to win the Captain’s Prize last year and the Cochrane Cup this year.

Doonbeg ranked 99th in world

DOONBEG in west Clare, is by far the "youngest" of nine Irish courses to feature in the first world rankings of golf courses to be carried out by Golf World.

The magazine has just published its first ranking of the world’s best golf courses or as they describe it “The Very Best Golf Courses on Earth.”

Doonbeg, which opened for play in 2002, made the list at number 99 and is one of nine Irish links clubs to be ranked.

The other Irish courses to be ranked were Lahinch (73), Baltray (68), European Club (43), Portmarnock (42), Ballybunion (37), Waterville (35), Royal Portrush (18) and Royal County Down (6).

Leinster Fourball Trophy sponsorship

DETAILS were announced recently of a new partnership between Seven Seas Active 55 and the Golfing Union of Ireland (Leinster Branch) through the sponsorship of the Leinster Fourball Trophy. Golfers from 105 golf clubs from both ends of the province, Waterford to Greenore, have entered this years competition and have already commenced their bid for the trophy.

Wexford, who have won the title two years in a row in 2007 and 2008, meet Enniscorthy in the third round having defeated St Helen’s Bay and Mountain View. The competition consists of five rounds of interclub matchplay over the summer months with the final legs taking place in August and September.

Fintan Buckley, chairman of the Leinster Branch said: “Seven Seas’ sponsorship of the Leinster Fourball Trophy is a welcome association to this event which has largely involved golfers in the 55+ age category to date.”