A round up of today's other Golf stories in brief...
Galgorm hosts George Best event
THE inaugural George Best Golf Invitational takes place at Galgorm Castle GC in Ballymena on Sunday where many celebrities from the sporting world will participate to raise much needed funds for the George Best Foundation.
Some 3,000 spectators are expected at the event where 25 celebrities and their teams will play in a fourball Stableford competition that will be televised on Sky Sports.
Many of Best's possessions, such as his 1968 European Cup winners' medal, British Player of the Year Trophy from the same year and his famous Mini Cooper S, will be on show at Galgorm Castle.
For further details about the event contact Angela Stevenson at Peach PR on: 04890-427004
Tipperary venues for ILGU semis
THE semi-finals of the ILGU Southern District AA Championship take place next weekend at two Co Tipperary venues - Nenagh and Clonmel.
On Saturday the Junior Cup in Nenagh sees Killarney taking on home club Nenagh at 10am, with Ballybunion v East Cork at 11am. The Challenge Cup semi-finals has East Cork v Youghal at noon and Killarney v Monkstown at 1pm.
The following day in Clonmel the Intermediate Cup matches commence with Thurles v Douglas, followed by Muskerry v East Cork. Then it's the Minor Cup, with Dunmore taking on East Clare and Youghal v Lee Valley. The victors from these encounters will have a place in this year's finals, which will take place on Saturday, August 16th, at Mitchelstown Golf Club.
• THE 14th annual Mother and Son competition, sponsored by Hibernian Insurance, takes place at Malahide GC, on Friday, July 11th. Open to all GUI and ILGU members , booking forms are available on line at www.malahidegolfclub.ie.
All inquiries to Bill Farrell: 086-2562161
Meanwhile, some places are still available for the Lancome Ladies Foursomes at Malahide GC on Monday next. Contact the pro shop at 01-8660002.
Team to defend title picked
THE team selected by the Golfing Union of Ireland to defend the European Seniors Amateur Team Championship, which will be played at Shannon Golf Club from August 13th-15th, is: John Carroll (Bandon), Maurice Kelly (Killeen), Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock), Liam McNamara (Woodbrook), Arthur Pierse (Tipperary), Hugh Smyth (Mourne). The non-playing captain is Tommie Basquille.
Morrow, who captured the Irish Seniors Amateur Open Championship at Westport in May and the European Seniors Individual Championship at the Old Course in Vilamoura, Portugal in June, will return to the international fold following his last appearance for Ireland at the Home Internationals in 2000.
Morrow has played for Ireland on 39 occasions, with his first appearance coming in 1975.
He is joined on the team by Pierse, who won the British Seniors Amateur Championship at Nairn last year. The former Walker Cup player finished second to Morrow at the European Seniors Individual Championship in Portugal.
Kelly and McNamara finished third and fourth at Vilamoura to round off a fantastic week for Irish Seniors golf which saw the first four places go to Irish golfers.
Mourne's Smyth played a vital role in Ireland's win last year. One down on the 18th tee, Smyth won the 18th and went on to win his match on the third extra hole to give Ireland the title.
Carroll (Bandon) will make his Seniors international debut at Shannon. Ireland finished runners-up in 2006 and won the title in 2007 at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia.
Weekly team event at Carton
NEXT Monday will see the start of weekly open team competitions at Carton House.
The events, which will be played on either the O'Meara or the Montgomerie courses, will run on Mondays throughout July and August.
The format for each open day is teams of four with two scores to count. The cost of entry is €200 per team, which includes complimentary practice on the range, 18-holes of golf and prizes for the winners each day.
Time sheet available at 01-6511720 or email golfreservations@cartonhouse.com
Revenge for Roscommon
ROSCOMMON GC gained some revenge for last year's final defeat when they beat Galway GC 3½-1½ in the final of the Suzuki-sponsored Western District Irish Senior Cup at Co Longford GC last week.
In continuous rain, the golf was of a very high standard, with the top match going to the 19th before Sinéad Benedetti emerged the victor over Sarah Faller.
Roscommon now join The Island, Ennis, Royal Portrush and the winners from Midland District in the All-Ireland Finals on August 29th-30th at Galway Golf Club.
Runners-up Galway hope to win one of the three wild card places to make up the eight teams to contest the national quarter-finals.
Juniors set for annual festival
CHRIS SELFRIDGE from Moyola Park finished joint third at The Henry Cooper Junior Masters at the Nizels GC, Tonbridge in England.
Rounds of 72, 73, 74 and 72 left Selfridge on three-over-par 291 in an event that saw England's Jonathan Bell shoot 281 to win by three strokes from team-mate Adam Myers.
The other four Irish players to make the cut, Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Luke Lennox (Moyola Park), Reeve Whitson (Mourne) and Paul Dunne (Greystones) all finished in the top 20.
JUNIOR golfers from all parts of Ireland will converge on the links at Laytown and Bettystown for the annual junior festival on Tuesday, July 8th and Wednesday, July 9th.
This is the 46th running of the two-day event, with competitions for all ages from five-year-olds up to 21 years.
Tuesday sees competitions from boys and girls from the Pee Wee Trophy for the under-8s to the Becton Dickenson Trophy (boys u-14) and Monahan Cup (girls u-16). On Wednesday, the Joe Carr Trophy (boys u-15), Bettystown Trophy (boys u-19) and Drogheda Independent Trophy for girls under-21 take pride of place.
Places on the time sheets are available at 041-9827563.
• MICHAEL FOLEY from Faithlegg GC won the Leinster Veterans Championship at The Heath Golf Club last week with a 36-hole total of 155 after rounds of 77 and 78.
Foley edged out last year's champion, Gerry O'Keeffe from Waterford, by just one shot, with former Dublin GAA All-Ireland winner Bill Casey from Delvin Castle taking third place on 161.
