Irish duo's Walker goalColm Moriarty from Athlone and Birr's Justin Kehoe moved a step closer to Walker Cup recognition when enjoying another good outing in the Tasmanian Open Amateur Championship in Hobart, Australia, over the weekend.
Moriarty, winner of the NSW medal and matchplay titles in previous weeks, finished fourth in Tasmania. Moriarty shot rounds of 73, 72, 69 and 70 for a total of 284 to finish three shots off the winner, Nick Flanagan of NSW. Flanagan's total of 281 left him one clear of Bronson La Cassie on 282 and Peter Cooke on 283. Kehoe finished in 13th place after rounds of 73, 72, 72, and 71.
McKenna finishes fourth
Eight times Irish champion Mary McKenna finished fourth in the Spanish Women's Seniors open championship at Campo de Golf del Mediterraneo at Castellon last week. McKenna had rounds of 78 and 80 for a 36-hole total of 158, eight strokes behind the winner, Sweden's Maj-Britt Heden (75, 75). Vicky Pertierra (Spain) was runner-up to Heden, beaten by one stroke after rounds of 76 and 75.
Earlier in the week McKenna teamed up with Valerie Hassett to finish joint eighth in the Spanish Women's Seniors Open Foursomes championship at the same venue. McKenna and Hassett had rounds of 79 and 86 for a 36-hole aggregate of 165, nine strokes behind the winners, Spain's Beatriz Ramirez de Haro and Isabel Lorenzana who shot 74 and 82. The Spanish pair won by a stroke from Sweden's Barbro Rehnqvist and Christina Birke.
Ladies competition launched
Lady golfers in Britain and Ireland are being given an opportunity to compete in a new nationwide competition which culminates at Wentworth's famous East course in September. The Health Perception Ladies' Championship of Britain and Ireland is aimed at club golfers and in its first year the Ladies Golf Union expect it to attract at least 30,000 players from the 2,740 clubs and 226,000 affiliated members.
Commenting at the launch at Wentworth of the championship, Andy Salmon, chief executive of the LGU said: "We are delighted to announce that Heath Perception, one of the UK's leading health manufacturers founded by Olympic gold medallist David Wilkie, will be the title sponsor of our new Championship for handicap golfers.
"Whilst this event does not exclude the elite golfer, it is our aim to provide another opportunity for club golfers to compete on an international basis and with this in mind, we have targeted the thousands of middle-to-high handicap players without whom most clubs would not exist."
Every club in Britain and Ireland will be invited to hold an 18-hole qualifying round during April and May of this year. The winner from each club will go forward to play in one of 13 area finals to be contested during July and August, with the winner from each of those days going through to Wentworth.
Ulster boys take on Surrey
Experience at a young level can stand a golfer in good stead in later life. That's the motto of the GUI Ulster Branch who have organised a two-leg boys' match with the Surrey County Union. The first leg will be played at Walton Heath on April 25th and the return fixture at Royal Belfast on August 12th, with the Surrey team also taking part in the Boyd Cup at Malone on August 11th. Provided this pilot event is a success the fixture will be repeated in future years.
The Ulster team is: Karl Gilbert (Malone), Nicholas Grant (Knock), Chris Long (City of Derry), Wayne McCully (Donaghadee), Rory McIlroy (Holywood), Andrew Shaw (Lurgan). The non-playing captain will be Maurice McKinley (Shandon Park).
Boys to battle at Lahinch
Europe's top boy golfers will clash on August 29th-30th at Lahinch Golf Club when Britain and Ireland play the Continent of Europe for the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Last year in Lausanne B&I added to their tally of victories with a 14-10 win over their opponents but Lahinch, Ireland's first venue to host this event, will present a challenge entirely different to the Swiss layout.
In order to select a team of nine to defend the trophy, the Boys Selection Committee of chairman Jeffrey Toye, Roy Case, Philip Dixon, Hugh Hunter and Ireland's John Moloughney will be in attendance at most major junior tournaments, from the Scottish Boys Championship and Peter McEvoy Trophy in April, through the Carris Trophy, to the Boys British Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool in August.
The Jacques Leglise Trophy was first played in 1958 and since then the Continent have only won six times.
