Spanish prospectWhen the European Youths Championship is held at The Island Golf Club next July, Spain are sure to be among the favourites to lift the title if recent form is anything to go by.
Their top under-age player, Pablo Martin, confirmed his rating as the Seve Ballesteros of the next decade by scoring an astonishing victory in the Orange Bowl junior international golf championship at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, in Florida last week.
Ten shots behind long-time leader Randy Lowry, from Texas, starting the final round, the Madrid teenager shot a final round of seven-under-par 64 for a 72-hole total of eight-under-par 276.
Martin's run carried him through to a three-shot victory from the faltering Lowry who finished with a 77 for 279 total.
Martin won the British Boys Open Championship at Ganton in 2001, runner-up in 2003 and was a runaway winner of the European Young Masters in 2002.
Such is the strength of Spanish golf that Spain had four players in the top 13 of the championship. Carlos Del Moral, also from Madrid, finished joint fifth on 282. He too finished with one of the best rounds of the tournament, a 66.
Jorge Campillo (286), from Caceres, came joint ninth and Miguel Cabrera (289), from Maspalomas, finished 13th.
United States filled the first two places in the girl's championship.
Esther Choe from La Quinta, California, made almost all the running to win with a total of four-under-par 284. Choe won by one shot from Tiffany Chudy from Miramar, Florida. She closed with a 73 for 285.
Spain provided three of the top 12. Emma Cabrera, from Maspaolomas, a member of the European Vagliano team at Co Louth last year, tied for fourth on 290 after a good last round of 71; Adriana Zwanck, from Algete, was joint seventh with a 75 for 292 and Azahara Munoz, from Malaga, tied for 10th on 294 after shooting the best final round in the girls' section, a 68.
Title defenders
Darren Collins (St Anne's) will defend his Munster Men's Strokeplay title at Cunnigar in Dungarvan in May. Tralee's Teresa Broderick will travel to Cork and the ESB club on the South Douglas Road to try to retain her Ladies Strokeplay crown.
The provincial season opens at the beginning of April with the Examiner mixed team event at Ardnacrusha where neighbouring Parteen will start as defending champions.
A packed programme concludes with another mixed event - the Cork Crystal foursomes, at Hillview in September.
Teresa Broderick will defend again, alongside fellow Tralee player Jamie Wrenne.
Elsewhere Cork men and women and Waterford juveniles will seek to hang on to their Munster intercounty crowns at Lakeside in Templemore.
Ireland's successful European championship captain Chris Scannell and Lakewood's Lily Carroll are the holders of the Munster matchplay championships, down for decision at Scannell's home track, Collins. Lakewood hosts the PJBell Team Event, where Fermoy defend.
New Year aces
Niall Kearney has the honour of being the first player at the Royal Dublin to ace the re-constructed ninth hole. Redesigned by Hawtree and opened last May, Kearney, a two handicapper, finally found the perfect shot on December 23rd.
Dick Cotter got the new year off to a flying start at Delgany when he holed out his tee shot at the short 14th while Eoin Rodgers was another to hole-in-one when he aced the fourth at Bray.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
When the European Youths Championship is held at The Island Golf Club next July, Spain are sure to be among the favourites to lift the title if recent form is anything to go by. Their top under-age player, Pablo Martin, confirmed his rating as the Seve Ballesteros of the next decade by scoring an astonishing victory in the Orange Bowl junior international golf championship at Biltmore Golf Club, Coral Gables, in Florida last week.
Ten shots behind long-time leader Randy Lowry, from Texas, starting the final round, the Madrid teenager shot a final round of seven-under-par 64 for a 72-hole total of eight-under-par 276.
Martin's run carried him through to a three-shot victory from the faltering Lowry who finished with a 77 for 279 total.
Martin won the British Boys Open Championship at Ganton in 2001, runner-up in 2003 and was a runaway winner of the European Young Masters in 2002.
Such is the strength of Spanish golf that Spain had four players in the top 13 of the championship. Carlos Del Moral, also from Madrid, finished joint fifth on 282. He too finished with one of the best rounds of the tournament, a 66.
Jorge Campillo (286), from Caceres, came joint ninth and Miguel Cabrera (289), from Maspalomas, finished 13th.
United States filled the first two places in the girl's championship.
Esther Choe from La Quinta, California, made almost all the running to win with a total of four-under-par 284. Choe won by one shot from Tiffany Chudy from Miramar, Florida. She closed with a 73 for 285.
Spain provided three of the top 12. Emma Cabrera, from Maspaolomas, a member of the European Vagliano team at Co Louth last year, tied for fourth on 290 after a good last round of 71; Adriana Zwanck, from Algete, was joint seventh with a 75 for 292 and Azahara Munoz, from Malaga, tied for 10th on 294 after shooting the best final round in the girls' section, a 68.
Title defenders
Darren Collins (St Anne's) will defend his Munster Men's Strokeplay title at Cunnigar in Dungarvan in May. Tralee's Teresa Broderick will travel to Cork and the ESB club on the South Douglas Road to try to retain her Ladies Strokeplay crown.
The provincial season opens at the beginning of April with the Examiner mixed team event at Ardnacrusha where neighbouring Parteen will start as defending champions.
A packed programme concludes with another mixed event - the Cork Crystal foursomes, at Hillview in September.
Teresa Broderick will defend again, alongside fellow Tralee player Jamie Wrenne.
Elsewhere Cork men and women and Waterford juveniles will seek to hang on to their Munster intercounty crowns at Lakeside in Templemore.
Ireland's successful European championship captain Chris Scannell and Lakewood's Lily Carroll are the holders of the Munster matchplay championships, down for decision at Scannell's home track, Collins. Lakewood hosts the PJBell Team Event, where Fermoy defend.
New Year aces
Niall Kearney has the honour of being the first player at the Royal Dublin to ace the re-constructed ninth hole. Redesigned by Hawtree and opened last May, Kearney, a two handicapper, finally found the perfect shot on December 23rd.
Dick Cotter got the new year off to a flying start at Delgany when he holed out his tee shot at the short 14th while Eoin Rodgers was another to hole-in-one when he aced the fourth at Bray.
