Women's draw made The draw for the 2007 Suzuki All-Ireland Women's Senior Cup was held in Milltown GC last week. In a new departure, this year's championship sees the five district winners plus the three best losers (on handicap) contest four All-Ireland quarter-final ties at Milltown in September. Previously, only two district winners played a quarter-final match with the other three winners receiving byes into the semi-finals.
This year's semi-final pairings will be decided by an open draw after the quarter-final matches.
The championship gets underway on Saturday, May 12th, with the Southern Qualifiers at Killarney and the Eastern Qualifiers at Greystones. The Northern Qualifiers follow on May 28th at Moyola Park, while the Midland Qualifiers will be held in June at The Heath and the Western Qualifiers in July at Tuam.
Pablo on target again
Pablo Martin, the Spanish student who won on the European Tour as an amateur a few weeks ago, is back in the winners' circle on the American college golf circuit.
Martin, a student at Oklahoma State University, won the Big 12 Conference championship at Prairie Dunes Country Club, Hutchinson, Kansas, last week with rounds of 70, 73 and 68 for a one-over-par total of 211 over the par-70, 6611 yards course.
He won by three strokes from team-mate Ryan Posey, who shot 73, 73 and 68. Oklahoma State (866) also won the team title by 13 shots from Texas A&M (873), with Texas Tech (893) third and Texas (894) fourth of 12 teams.
Martin, a former British boys champion, will turn professional after the NCAA championships at the end of next month.
Meanwhile, Welshman Rhys Davies, in his final year at East Tennessee State University, tops GolfWeek's US college golf rankings this week for the second time in two months.
Walker Cup player Davies, from Bridgend, south Wales, has won 10 times in his four years on the American college circuit.
The next best placed British and Irish players in the latest rankings are Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Muskerry in Cork in 24th place; Séamus Power (East Tennessee State) from West Waterford in 45th place and Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) from Lisburn, in 46th spot.
Headfort offer
Headfort Golf Club in Kells are offering all societies the chance to take the stress of driving out of their big day out - with free coach transport to and from the 36-hole Co Meath venue.
The offer of a free bus to and from the club is available to all societies of 36 or more players between Monday and Thursday from June 2007 onwards.
Headfort will arrange for the group to be collected by luxury coach on the morning of their outing and then transported home safely and securely after their day out in Meath.
The Kells club have launched this attractive initiative as part of the celebrations to mark the official opening of their extended clubhouse. The newly expanded building, which features improved and extensive guest facilities and dining room, will open in June.
Further details on the free coach offer and tee times are available by phoning the Headfort Golf Club office on 046-9282001. More information on Headfort Golf Club is also available at www.headfortgolfclub.ie
Mount Temple cups
The annual Mount Temple Senior and Junior Scratch Cups, sponsored by FBD Insurance, will take place on Sunday, May 13th.
The 36-hole events have five gross and two nett prizes. The course will be set up in its traditional challenging form, with the Golf Academy available for all participating players who will be endeavouring to break the course record of 69, which was set by Mel Flanagan, Longford.
For further information and tee times please contact Michelle on 090/6481841.
Tramore to extend
One of the largest Golf Architect firms in Europe, Jeff Howes Golf Design have been given the final go ahead to proceed with the redevelopment of Tramore Golf Club's existing 18 holes.
The final decision to build a nine-hole extension, redesign the existing 18 holes and enhance the practice area facilities, was taken at a special general meeting, where an overwhelming majority of members voted to proceed with the course re-development.
It is anticipated the new fully modernised course will be open for play by 2009, while the development of the course will be phased to ensure that 18 holes always remain in play.
"Since it was originally constructed in 1939, very little has changed about Tramore Golf course, allowing it to mature into one of Ireland's great courses in less than half a century," said Frank Kelly of Tramore Golf Club.
"It is both timely and appropriate that we are now undertaking this massive redevelopment project and we look forward to 2009 and the opening of our new 27-hole complex, which will ensure Tramore remains on Ireland's must play list," he said.
O'Neill battles back
In the Hughes Cup qualifier played recently at Westport Golf Club, Colm O'Neill, who was playing off a 19-handicap, had a very interesting round. Walking off the par-five 10th hole his scorer asked him what score he had. Colm replied '10'. Scorer replied 'I know we are on the 10th, what score did you have?'. 'Ten'. Following this Jean Van De Velde moment, Colm went on to score a 75 nett and qualify for the matchplay rounds. When your name is on the Hughes Cup; it's on the Hughes Cup!
Daly beats hat-trick
Deirdre Daly, playing off 16, was celebrating the third hole-in-one of her golfing career in her home Westmanstown Golf Club recently.
Having aced the third and the sixth par threes previously, she added the 125-metre 16th par three to her conquests.
She has now set herself a target to add the remaining two par three holes - the ninth and the 12th to her repertoire.
This might appear to be an onerous task but Deirdre managed to beat her hat-trick by adding yet another hole-in-one to her achievements last week. This time, though, it was not in her home club, but on the 10th hole in Hermitage.
Adare launch festival
Munster rugby captain and Adare Golf Club member Paul O'Connell teamed up with six-year-old Craig Gleeson last week to launch the Adare Festival that will take place alongside this year's Irish Open Golf Championship at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort.
Just like the Adare Festival, both Paul and Craig will play a big part in the new look Irish Open week. Paul is one of the many star names who will be taking part in the Pro-Am on May 16th and Craig is currently staring in billboard advertising campaign that is promoting the event.
The Adare Festival will take place from May 14th-20th and will see the people and businesses of Adare come together to play host to players, media and golf fans who will descend on Adare Manor.
The festival committee have developed a programme of events that offers a mix of local tradition and European culture to all visitors. Highlights will include a charity performance by the Garda Band, a courtesy train to and from the golf course every 20 minutes, the renowned French Market in the village park, traditional music and dance in the local pubs and village hall and the Pen Glee Club male choir from Pennsylvania, USA.
Carton House classic
Féach, the association which supports the education, training and communication needs of the visually impaired and blind children, will hold their annual Golf Classic at Carton House, Maynooth, on Friday week, May 11th.
The event is a four-person team event with a shot-gun start at 1pm and two scores to count on the O'Meara course. The cost for four with eight for dinner is €2,000 or a table for 10, dinner only, €1,000. Further details from Christina Maxwell 01-2823028 or Patsy Ashe 01-2845495.
Riordan takes cup
Marion Riordan from Tipperary fired a record 69 in the second round to win the Vaughan Seniors Scratch Cup at Lahinch on Sunday. The 26-year-old teacher at St Dominic's School in Ballyfermot, had to call on all her experience to hold off the challenge of 12-year-old twins from Slieve Russell Lisa and Leona Maguire.
Riordan's record score helped her to win on the back 18 with a total of 150, from Lisa Maguire, with her twin sister Leona taking third place. The holder, International Eileen Rose Power from Kilkenny, finished joint third on three-over-par 151.
Riordon, who also won the Cork Scratch Cup two weeks ago, also plays out of the Curragh. In the final round she had two eagles and two birdies and a bogey six at the second hole where she missed the green.
Riordan targets a third success in as many weeks when she tees-up in next Sunday's Hermitage Scratch Cup where the field also includes the holder, Deirdre Smith from Co Louth, and the Maguire twins. Lillian Behan, a past winner in 1999 and 2000 and now playing out of Sutton, has also entered.
New course records
John McDermott and Jim Mulready wrote themselves into the record books at Stackstown and the Castle clubs last week when setting course records. McDermott shot a flawless 63 on Stackstown to beat the previous mark by five shots. The 23-year-old electrical engeering student at DIT shot nine birdies and nine pars - three birdies on the first nine and six on the way home. Meanwhile, playing in David Kinsella's Professional's prize at the Castle, one- handicapper Mulready fired a superb 66. Starting in the best possible fashion with a birdie at the par-five first hole, he also had birdies at the fifth, sixth, 11th and 17th holes, with his only blemish coming at the par-four second hole.
Not surprisingly, with a nett score of 65, Mulready also won Kinsella's prize. He had a two-shot winning margin over Frank Marconi (22), while Eamon Rohan (19) was third with a nett 67, while the gross winner was Dara Lernihan (scratch) with a 70.
Condren defends title
Alan Condren from Greystones will defend the Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Cup over the Co Meath venue on Sunday. The field is limited to 75 players of three handicap or less. Condren, however, can expect stiff opposition from Warrenpoint's plus three handicapper Jim Carvill and local man John McGinn.
Entry fee is €€35, including lunch and the usual shotgun starts at 9.15am and 2.15pm will apply. To reserve your place ring Helen at 041-9827170.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
