A round-up of today's other golf news in brief ...

Connacht Seniors laurels for Reddan

- BARRY REDDAN from Co Louth held his nerve over the final 18 holes to hold off a charging Hugh Smyth from the Mourne club to win the Connacht Seniors at Claremorris last week.

Reddan lead the way with an opening 71 and added a second round 77 for a 148 total, while Smyth shot 75 and 74 to claim second place. Tony Goode from Lucan was third on 150 after rounds of 73 and 77 from Woodbrook’s Liam McNamara on 152.

- ALEX GLEESON, a member of the Co Sligo and The Castle clubs, shot a tremendous level par 72 over a testing Ballinasloe layout to capture his first of what is sure to be many provincial championships, the 2009 Golfstyle Connacht Under-15 Boys Open.

Runner-up on 74 was Clandeboye’s W Russell, with K Lynch of Skibbereen one stroke further back on 75.

- THE Loughnane Sisters/Mother and Daughter trophy takes place tomorrow in Birr on the new course. The competition is an 18-hole scotch foursomes Stableford and proceeds go towards the “Maintain Hope” project, which builds classrooms and rehabilitating orphans in Kenya. Entrance fee is € 20 per pair. For places on the timesheet phone 057 9120082.

Seafield first up for Leinster Boys U-13 series qualifier

- THE first of six qualifying rounds for the Leinster Boys Under-13 Series 2009, sponsored by Titleist Footjoy Ireland, takes place at Seafield Golf Club, Gorey, on Wednesday, July 1st. The timesheet will commence at 9am and places are still available. Contact the Leinster Branch office at 01-6016842 or enter online.

Entries also remain open for the five other venues, Mountain View on July 22nd, Portarlington on July 23rd, Elmgreen on August 5th and Dundalk Castle on August 6th.

The event is open to competitors residing in Leinster who are 13 years or under on January 1st, 2009.

In addition all competitors will participate in a short game challenge.

A player may compete at only one venue.

The top six gross scores at each venue will qualify for the series final at Carton House on Tuesday, August 18th.

There is no requirement to have an official club handicap or to be a member of a club. There will be an under-11 category at each venue for eligible players.

- THE annual UCD Women’s Golf Society outing will this year be held in Elm Park on Monday, July 6th.

Anyone looking for further details should contact the secretary, Deirdre Devaney, at pipers@indigo.ie or this year’s Captain, Mary P Cantrell at marypcantrell@eircom.net or call 01 2881780.

Faller beats Dowling for Midland title

GALWAY’S Sarah Faller beat leading qualifier and Ireland international Mary Dowling of New Ross on the penultimate green to win the Midland Senior Championships at Wexford Golf Club on Wednesday last.

Dowling had led the qualifiers after rounds of 78 and 76 for a 36-hole total of 154 to lead by three from Carlow’s Karen Delaney, while Faller was next best on 158.

But it was Faller who came through the matchplay, accounting for Mary Kavanagh from New Ross 4 and 3, Louise Mernagh from Woodenbridge in an exciting match at the 19th, Delaney 2 and 1, before defeating Dowling by a similar scoreline in the final.

Dowling beat Karen O’Neill from Douglas 2 and 1 in her semi-final.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Championship, Marion O’Mahony from Callan beat local favourite Theresa Kehoe to lift the junior title for the first time, winning on an impressive 5 and 4 scoreline.

Healy battles to take Galway prize

- THE Galway Senior Scratch Cup reached an exciting conclusion on Sunday when Aaron O’Callaghan from Douglas came from three shots back to tie with first-round leader Stephen Healy from Claremorris on 146. Healy won on the third tie hole. Thomas O’Connor from Athlone was third on 148.

THE St Anne’s Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by Capel Developments, will take place on Sunday, July 5th, with a shotgun start at 9am. Open to handicaps of four or under, the event is over 36 holes. Timesheet with Kate at 01-833 6471 or e-mail: info@stanneslinksgolf.com

Babs takes Hermitage captain's prize

IT has been a marvellous week for the Keating dynasty. Former Tipperary hurling star Michael “Babs” Keating ran away with Jim Flynn’s Captain’s Prize at Hermitage on Saturday.

He chalked up a brilliant 67 off a 12 handicap to hold off a charge from former captain Donal Sands, who carded a 71 off a handicap of 19.

Babs had a gross 79 and was one under par after the first nine but dropped shots at 10, 12, 17 and 18. One of Babs’ playing partners, Mark Kelly (14), won class 3 with a 74. In third place was Alan Hogan (9) on 72, Kevin O’Flaherty (5) also had 72 for fourth, with John Dunne (13) fifth as the best of the 73s. The gross prize was won by Pat McGilloway Jnr, playing off two, with a score of 76.

Keating’s son-in-law, jockey Johnny Murtagh, was sweeping up the jockeys’ riding honours at Royal Ascot last week with four winners at the meet, including setting a record on Yeats with four Gold Cups in a row.

McDonagh shows up well at Renfrew

IRELAND’S Kelan McDonagh, from Athlone, continued his excellent season with a strong performance at the Scottish Youths Open Championship at Renfrew Golf Club over the weekend.

The Connacht golfer carded rounds of 71, 75, 76 and 71 to leave himself on five over par, just five shots off the winning score of 288 returned by local Angus Cappi from Carnoustie.

The left-hander, coached by Karyn Dallas, led the field from the half way stage of the 72-hole tournament and retained his advantage throughout the final two rounds to claim the national championship by just one stroke.

Cappi carded rounds of 72, 71, 73 and 72 to edge out Scott Crichton, who shot 70, 76, 72 and 71.

Craig Martin from Kilkenny tied for 13th place on 294 after rounds of 73, 74, 71 and 76.

Meanwhile, McDonagh and Headfort’s Rory McNamara will lead the field at the inaugural staging of the Irish Youths Close Championship, which takes place at Athlone Golf Club, starting tomorrow .

David Reilly from Westmanstown, Ciarán McKenna from Mallow and Stephen Healy from Claremorris were winners of their respective Provincial Youths Close titles and will be looking for a good performance this week to seal the Joe Carr Merit Award.