A round-up of today's other golf news in brief
St Margaret's offer
St Margaret's golf club have introduced a "try and see" approach in an effort to attract more women members. A major issue in clubs in recent times has been the entrance fee, and to offset this problem, St Margaret's are offering full membership whereby the new member will pay only the annual subscription of €1,200 in the first year. The joining fee of €9,000 plus VAT will not become payable unless the member wishes to continue with the membership. The offer is limited to the first 50 applications. Also on offer is a five-day (Monday-Friday) membership for women with a fee of €610 and a joining fee of €4,500 after the first year. For more information phone 01-8640400.
Irish duo in Europe side
Rory McIlroy (Holywood) and Brian McElhinney (North West) have been selected on the European team to play Asia-Pacific in the biennial amateur international match for the Michael Bonallack Trophy at Auckland GC, New Zealand from April 26th-28th.
EUROPE: Nigel Edwards (Wales), Oliver Fisher (England), Zac Gould (Wales), Julien Guerreir (France), Joos Luiten (Netherlands), Brian McElhinney (Ireland), Rory McIlroy (Ireland), Pedro Oriol (Spain), Richie Ramsay (Scotland), Lloyd Saltman (Scotland), Marius Thorp (Norway), Gary Wolstenholme (England). Non-playing captain: Gonzaga Escauriaza (Spain).
ASIA-PACIFIC: Andrew Dodt (Australia), Josh Geary (New Zealand), Anujit Hirunratanakom (Thailand), Yuko Ho (Japan), Mu Hu (China), Yuta Ikeda (Japan), Sung Hoon Kang (Korea), Kyung Tae Kim (Korea),Won Jon Lee (Australia), Ben Leong (Malaysia), Michael Purser (New Zealand), Ajeetesti Sandhu (India).
Solheim Cup bid
The Leaderboard Group have announced their intention to bring the 2011 Solheim Cup to England for the first time. Leaderboard intends to register their official bid with the Ladies' European Tour (LET) for the Oxfordshire GC to host the prestigious matchplay event involving the cream of Europe and America. All bids must be received by the LET by May and a host venue will be chosen in January 2007.
O'Briain wins in US
A level-par final round of 72 was enough to give Royal Dublin student Neil O'Briain the honours at the Birkdale Classic at Huntersville, North Carolina, last week.
O'Briain, a student at Wofford College, shot rounds of 70, 71 and 72 for a three-under-par 213 total and a two-shot win over Ray Sheedy.
Dubliner Maria Dunne finished joint 10th in the North/South Women's Collegiate tournament at Jacksonville Beach GC, Florida, last week. Over a par-72 course measuring 5,835 yards, Dunne, a Bethune-Cookman College student, had rounds of 77 and 81 for 158 to finish nine shots behind the winner, Stephanie Hicks (Longwood) (76-73).
Bright note for Sparks
BBC sports presenter Mark Bright led his Charlton team to the inaugural London Golf Show Premiership Masters title at the Oxfordshire GC last week. Bright, the former Addicks, Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday striker, captained the fourball to success by four points in the Stableford event which was raising money for the children's medical charity, Sparks. He was joined in triumph by three Charlton fans who had won their places on the team via national and regional press competitions or made a donation to Sparks.
Cameras were trained on the likes of Wigan Athletic midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who won the longest-drive competition; former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who led the Scouse fourball to second place, four points adrift of the Addicks; Lee Dixon, whose Arsenal team trailed in mid-table, and former Irish international Johnny Giles, who took the prize for nearest the pin.
Golf show challenge
We'll all be glued to our television screens this coming week to see how the professionals get on at the famous 17th hole during the Players Championship at Sawgrass. Without doubt it is one of the most recognisable par threes in world golf. But have you ever wondered how you might fare at the hole yourself? Well, on Easter weekend the National Events Centre at Punchestown will host the Irish Golf Show, and they have recreated the famous 135-yard par-three island hole. And if you to follow the likes of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Azinger or Fred Couples and have the first hole in one at the hole, then you will win a trip to the Caribbean.
The Irish Golf Show takes place from April 15th to April 17th. There will be in excess of 5,500sq metres of exhibitions space, while over 10 acres of outdoor area will be transformed into a golfing mecca covering every facet of the game.
Features include indoor putting greens, a chipping green, a 450-yard driving range and a trick-shot experts demo zone, while for the younger golfers there will be plenty of interactive golf products, from putting greens to miniature driving bays, to interactive computer golf games.
For further information or stand bookings, check out www.irishgolfshow.ie or call Claire Treacy, event manager on 045 883831. Admission times are from 10am to 7pm and prices are: adults €€12; students and OAPs €7 and children under-12 are free.
Cully's patience pays
They say you have to get used to losing before you can win. Well, the first week of March has brought a good time for Portarlington's Breda Cully. In the 12-hole competition, she finished runner-up to Francis Daly (32), but last Tuesday in the first full 18-hole midweek competition, the 36 handicapper claimed victory with a score of 40 points, two better than Sharon Culliton (23), while Anne Delaney (20) was third with 36 points.
Cagney in star role
What a few days Jenny Cagney of Lahinch has just enjoyed. Although Lahinch can boast two courses, it didn't stop this 15 handicapper from featuring in the prizes on three occasions in the space of four days, and there were two wins within that good run. First over the Castle Course in the v-par event, she won with a score of 1up; the next day she fired 36 points over the Old Course, but lost out to Ennis's Anna Glynn (12) by two points. Two days later she was back winning in the March medal with a nett score of 70 over the Castle Course.
Officers hit form
A few of the country's officers were showing their prowess on the course recently. Arklow's Lady Vice-Captain Mairead McGuinness teamed up with Pauline Darcy and Pat Nolan to win the 18-hole rumble with 74 points. Lady Captain Ann Mernagh partnered Marie O'Brien to second spot behind Rose Demol and Ethel Kelly in the Australian spoons event at Woodenbridge, while Aideen O'Leary, the Vice-Captain at Ballybunion, was fourth behind winner Eleanor O'Sullivan at the Three Mermaids Prize. At Seapoint, Lady Captain Marie Wiseman (24) won the v-par singles competition on Sunday with a score of all square.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
