A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Headfort and Portsalon join forces in twinning initiative
HEADFORT Golf Club in Kells, Co Meath and Portsalon in Co Donegal are to join forces this Friday in a “twinning” of the two golf courses.
Members from Portsalon are travelling down to the Headfort club where the official announcement will be made following a mixed competition.
The twinning of the clubs – which are 140 miles and three hours journey apart – will have benefits for members of both clubs.
Headfort boast two wonderful courses – Headfort New, rated as the best parkland in Leinster and one of the top 10 in Ireland, and Headfort Old an all-time gem, while Portsalon – which is being continually developed under the guidance of Paul McGinley – is a stunning links course which is rated number 27 in the top 100 courses in Ireland by Golf Digest.
The link up between the clubs will allow members to enjoy the facilities of the other club free of charge should they visit, while members from both clubs can play their respective Open competitions at members’ rates.
Work on the deal between the clubs has been done over the past two years and Headfort marketing convenor John Griffin is delighted with the link-up.
“It is a fantastic new benefit for Headfort members and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a links experience in a beauty spot well known to many Headfort members,” he said.
British Open qualifier at Royal Dublin
THE closing date for entries for regional qualifying for this year’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes is Thursday, May 31st.
Ireland’s regional qualifying will take place at Royal Dublin, which held the Irish Amateur Open at the weekend, and is one of a host of clubs in Ireland and Britain which will stage regional qualifying.
The others are Berwick Upon Tweed (Goswick), Bruntsfield Links, Buckinghamshire, Clitheroe, Coventry, East Sussex National, Ferndown, Hankley Common, Lindrick, Mere, Moortown and The London Club.
The regional qualifying will be played on Monday, June 25th as all the qualifiers look for the chance to line up alongside reigning British Open champion Darren Clarke when the event takes place from July 15th to 22nd.
** THE North Dublin Golf Club Captain’s Association will hold their Captain’s Prize on Friday, May 25th. Tony Greany’s Prize will take place at Donabate Golf Club.
** US Kids Golf, the American Specialist in Junior Golf Equipment, is running an Irish Event at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links on May 21st from 11am. Entries to uskidsirelandcomp@gmail.com
Participants kids must be aged from eight to 12 years. McGuirks Golf are kindly sponsoring event at the Bernhard Langer-designed golf course.
Castle GC to host World event
CASTLE Golf Club will once again host the World International Transatlantic Men's Open Team event qualifier. It takes place next Monday, May 21st, and the timesheet is open at www.castlegc.ie
Entry for the event is € 10 each or € 20 per pair for Castle members and € 35 each for guests or visitors or € 70 per pair.
The Ryder Cup-style event has attracted entrants from both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. The winning pair from the Castle will qualify for a provincial final, with that successful pair moving on to represent their province at national level and then with the three other provincial winners to battle for the Irish Transatlantic team champion.
The winning Irish pair will travel to Las Vegas to represent Ireland along with the other 22 successful competitors throughout the United Kingdom in what can only be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity to play for your country on the World stage.
The Island ladies win East Leinster
IT was a very successful weekend for The Island GC. After Gavin Moynihan’s win in the Irish Amateur Strokeplay, the women’s team won the East Leinster Irish Senior Cup at Headfort and qualify for the All-Ireland finals at the Grange GC in August.
After victories over Ardee, neighbours Donabate and Laytown and Bettystown in the semi-final, The Island collected their second title in four year with a 4-1 win over Milltown in the final. Anna Courtney, Gertie McMullen and Ashleigh Wilton gained the necessary points with half matches coming from Susie Sheehan and Ashley Constantine.
All-Ireland champions Douglas came through in Munster with a 3½-1½ win over Muskerry. The winning points came from Karen O’Neill, Eavan Higgins and Kate McCann.
Portumna had a dramatic win over Roscommon in the Connacht section at Athlone. In the last two matches Roscommon were three up at the turn but Portumna turned it around with wins from Suzanne Corcoran, Anita Carey and Carmel Cunningham with Anne Cassidy and her mother Carmel McLoughlin making up the the team.
The Ulster finals will be completed at Shandon Park today.
Dowling claims Scratch Cup title
MARY DOWLING from New Ross GC won the very successful inaugural ILGU/Titleist Ladies Scratch Cup Circuit after finishing joint second in the final event at Hermitage GC.
Trailing Karen Delaney from Carlow and Deirdre Smith from County Louth after the penultimate event at Lahinch, Dowling fired an opening 69 to lead the field at Hermitage.
Paula Grant (Lisburn) carded a two-under-par 71 in the afternoon to win the event and finish third in the Order of Merit, while Smith held on to her second place after finishing in fourth position at the final event at Hermitage.
With four events from six to count, points were awarded to players with scores within three.
Dowling amassed 201 points for the Scratch Cup series to secure the coveted title, while Smith was next best on 192 and the Hermitage winner Grant finishing in third place on 190.
McCaw to be 25th LGU president
BRIGID McCAW will be the 25th president of the Ladies Golf Union since the position was instigated in 1908 and she will begin her two years in office in succession to Jill Edwards at the LGU’s agm in February, 2013.
A member and past Captain of Royal County Down Ladies’ Golf Club, she has been involved in golf administration for a number of years at both club and national level.
Mary Anderson from Woodbrook has been invited to become LGU honorary vice-president of the union in recognition of the work that she has done for womens’ golf and her continued support of the organisation.
