Limerick's Cian McNamara finished well down the field in the Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club, Sea Island, Georgia, over the weekend. The tournament for Walker Cup contenders from both sides of the Atlantic was won by US player Nicholas Thompson, the only man to finish under par with rounds of 77, 71 and a fantastic 66 for two-under 214. He won by two shots from fellow American Brian Harman.
McNamara had rounds of 79, 73 and 79 for 231. Welshman Rhys Davies, a golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University and number five in the American college rankings, had the highest finish of all the Britain & Ireland in the select field. Davies, from Bridgend, scored 73, 74 and 70 for one-over-par 217 and joint third place.
Nigel Edwards of Wales and George Murray of Scotland finished on 224, Adam Gee of England, Craig Smith of Wales and Stuart Wilson of Scotland were on 227, while Gary Wolstenholme, who won the NSW Championship two weeks ago, was on the same mark as McNamara, 231.
Westward Ho
Planning a trip to the west? Parklands West Golf is offering mid-week golf at three courses for just €70 per person for the package. The three courses are Westport, the venue for this year's Irish Close Championship, Ballinrobe and Castlebar. Tee-times available from Monday to Friday inclusive. Central booking through Westport Golf Club 098-28262.
Charity pays big
The Padraig Harrington Charity Golf Shows, sponsored by Kartel and O2, held last month at Citywest Hotel, Dublin, raised in excess of €220,000. All proceeds are being distributed through the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation, including the sum of €50,000, which was realised specifically from one of the three Shows in aid of the Tsunami Disaster Appeal through the European Tour International Relief Golf Fund.
Other charities to benefit are: 3TS Foundation, Bubble Gum Club, Children's Medical and Research Foundation, CROSS, Faustina Lente Foundation, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Meningitis Research Foundation, St John of God Hospital Reserve Foundation, St Michael's House, Tabor House Trust, Variety Club of Ireland.
Martin blows competition away
Craig Martin, a 15-year-old five handicap juvenile member of Kilkenny Golf Club, had an outstanding day on Sunday week last. In the morning he played in the South East Senior Alliance outing at Gowran where he shot a net 69 to take first prize. He played in the final Winter League competition in Kilkenny in the afternoon, when the winds were still very strong, and had a haul of five birdies in his round of 37 points which won the competition on the back six. This win also moved Martin to top of the leaderboard for the overall Winter League prize. The effect of both scores was a reduction of .6 in his handicap which is now 4.6. His total of 11 birdies over two rounds in almost storm force winds was remarkable.
New qualifying venues
Enville Golf Club and The Gog Magog are named as new additions in the list of 16 clubs that will host Regional Qualifying for the 2007 British Open Championship at Carnoustie. The other 14 venues will be The Island Golf Club, Dublin; Ashridge, Effingham, Minchinhampton, Musselburgh, Notts, Old Fold Manor, Pannal, Pleasington, Prestbury, Rochester & Cobham Park, Royal Ashdown Forest, Silloth-on-Solway and Trentham.
Lynch heads PPUI
The Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland can now boast of 11,797 members from 127 clubs. The figures were announced at the agm in the Anner Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary, on Saturday, where Billy Lynch from the Royal Meath club was elected president. Other officers elected were: Vice President: Myles McMorrow (Lakeside), Hon Secretary: Michael Murphy (Old County), Hon Treasurer: Breda Brophy (McDonagh), Hon Registrar: Helen McMorrow (Lakeside), Competitions Secretary: Frank Smith (Glenville), Public Relations/ Marketing Officer: Liam Sherry (St Bridget's), Coaching/Development Officer: Mervyn Cooney (St Patrick's).
New boys star in Hilary
New members Harry McKeon from Greystones and Co Louth's Michael O'Brien took the top honours at the BMW-sponsored Hilary outing to Portmarnock Hotel and Links on Sunday. Three handicapper McKeon took the nett prize with a 71 on a better back nine from O'Brien, with Séamus McPartland (Greenore) third on 72. The professional prize went to Ray Kane from The Island also with 71 from Beaverstown's Gary Cullen, while the team prize went to McKeon with Mark Coates (Sutton) and Martin Kelly (Forrest Little) with a 63. The next outing is on Sunday next at St Anne's Golf Club.
Academy in the West
Westport Golf Club are close to officially opening their new academy. The club has a concept of an all-inclusive teaching facility at Carrowholly, one unique to the West of Ireland. The development a nine-bay, all-weather floodlit golf academy and driving range. It was members of the club who backed the idea, while they also gained the assistance of a number of PGA personnel. It is hoped that Junior Golf Camps will be staged at the venue, which will also be made available to the general public.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
