Short news about golf
Taylor goes East
The members of Sutton Golf Club were keen to initiate a competition in memory of the late JB Carr, who had played all his competitive golf as a member of the club. The Carr family generously donated two perpetual trophies - an East of Ireland Championship Cup replica to be played for by the women's section and a West of Ireland Championship Cup replica to be played for by the men's section.
Qualifying competitions were held in August and early September, and last week the leading 12 men and women competed in their respective finals. The winner of the East of Ireland Replica was Victoria Taylor (21) with 37 points, who won on the back nine from Vyvyenne Saunders (27), while Ciarán Reilly (12) won the West of Ireland Replica with 39 points. Séamus Campbell (16) finished second with 38 points. The event was rounded off that evening in the clubhouse with a meal followed by the presentation of prizes, where the Carr family were represented by his widow Mary and his daughter Sibeal.
Joe Carr won the West of Ireland Championship 12 times between 1946 and 1966, at Co Sligo GC, and he also won the East of Ireland Championship 12 times between 1941 and 1969 at Co Louth Golf Club.
Belvoir take Juniors
Belvoir Park Golf Club are the AA Insurance Junior Cup champions, while Larne Golf Club defeated a Mary McKenna-led Donabate in a tight contest to take the Senior Foursomes title at Athlone Golf Club on Sunday.
There was a dramatic end as Larne became the Senior Foursomes Champions defeating Donabate 2-1. Irish golfing legend McKenna, with partner Fionnuala Forde, made a great start for Donabate with a 7 and 6 victory, but Larne's team captain Roma English and Sarah O'Neill put in a fine performance in the top match to defeat Pat Doran and Aileen Hanratty.
A great performance by both Larne and Donabate third pairings of Gail McNabb and Barbara O'Neill and Deirdre Bardshaw and Patricia Morris enthralled spectators with a superb display of nip-and-tuck golf. It was two hours after Donabate's first victory that the Larne couple managed to secure the winning match on the 20th green.
In the first of the day's finals Belvoir Park defeated Corrstown 4-1 to take the Junior Cup thanks to early wins by Gail Linter, Pauline Bailie and Jenny Gibson, with halves for Sue Cashman and Judy Simpson.
Dun Laoghaire claimed the Minor Cup defeating Rockmount 3½ to 1½. Enniscorthy, with two teams in the finals, secured the Intermediate Cup and followed up with the Junior Foursomes title. They battled it out with East Cork and Gort winning 3½ to 1½ and 2½ to 1½ respectively.
The K Club defeated Galway Bay by three matches to two, although 2-1 down after the first three pairings they secured the Challenge Cup by taking the last two matches with Phyllis Kelly and Margaret Canavan both winning by 3 and 2 margins. The K Club Challenge Cup team followed up their Club's winning streak having recently been crowned the Irish Mixed Foursomes Champions at Athlone Golf Club.
Ireland beat Scots
There was success for the Irish Association of Golf Club Secretaries in their annual joust with their Scottish counterparts last week. Played in Nairn Golf Club in Scotland the two-day competition was a tight affair. The visitors held the advantage after day one having led four matches to two and with the second day's match being shared at three apiece, Ireland managed to retain the trophy by virtue of a 7-5 winning margin.
Wallace takes nett
Brian Wallace and Enda Kennedy were the first winners of the North Western Alliance opening outing of the season to Letterkenny GC on Saturday last. Ten handicapper Wallace from Dunfanaghy was the nett winner with Strabane's Kennedy - who plays off a plus one handicap - taking the honours in the gross category. Wallace had a two-shot winning margin over Strabane's Kevin Patton (8) with Dunfanaghy's Keith Lapsley next best on 73, followed by a trio from the host club of Mark Doherty (11), Barry Ramsay (18) and Hugh Tinney (16). In the gross section Kennedy, after a 69, was three ahead of the field, followed by scratch golfer Brendan McCarroll from Ballyliffin and Kieran Cunnane, a plus one handicapper, of Woodstock.
Next up for the Alliance is a visit to North West Golf Club on Saturday October 13th.
Mayo challenge
Further details of the three-day Mayo Golf Challenge have been announced. The McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris will sponsor the competition which has a first prize of a weekend for two in the hotel. There are daily prizes available for the competitions at each of the courses involved, which are Westport, Ballinrobe and Claremorris.
The fee for playing the three courses is €70 which is great value. The hotel is also offering a special package in conjunction with the golf challenge. The challenge is scheduled to go ahead from October 10th-12th and more information can be had from John at 094 9541118.
Anderson leads way
Hot scoring was the order of the day last Wednesday at Ballinrobe at it played host to the Connacht Section of the 2007/2008 Irish Schools Strokeplay as 30 schools competed for the right to represent Connacht at the National Finals in April 2008.
The winners two years ago, Sligo Grammar School, led home the qualifiers with some fine scoring thanks to a three-under 70 from school newcomer Barry Anderson (2) and an impressive 75 from one handicapper Michael Durcan, with the third card (82) coming from Stephen Brady (2).
Dunmore Community School held the early advantage but had to settle for runner-up spot when they returned a three-card aggregate of 232, their best individual score coming from Darren O'Malley (7) with a 75, Colin Daly (6) a 78 and Niall Tierney (7) a 79.
Women on top
The women showed the men the way last Saturday at St Helen's Bay in the annual Clare Redmond Trophy event, which attracts players from both St Helen's Bay and Foxrock.
It is a popular competition, kindly sponsored by Gay Redmond and his family in memory of his late wife, Clare, who was a member of both the Wexford and Dublin club.
Over 100 players competed for the same prizes through mens' and womens' competitions, but this year it was the women who showed the way.
Best score of the day was an impressive 42 points from Marie Tevlin (24), followed by Ann Parkinson (21) and Joanne Hare (36) who were a point adrift.
The best St Helen's Bay prize went to Lenora Walsh (32) with Dermot Murray (9) being the best Foxrock player.
Best news, though, was that €3,000 was also raised by the competitors for the Life Start Zambia Charity.
Knost earns medal
Texan Colt Knost is the inaugural winner of the Mark H McCormack Medal, given to the top player in the new world amateur golf ranking at the end of their season. Knost won both the US Amateur Public Links Championship and the US Amateur and was a member of the winning Walker Cup team at Royal County Down where he was the only player to play in all four matches without defeat.
Calling all ladies
Budding lady golfers may be interested to learn that Mount Juliet Conrad, with its Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course, is running another of its popular Residential Golf Master Classes for Lady Beginners from 15th -17th. Hosted by Seán Cotter, PGA professional at the Mount Juliet Golf Club, the three-day course will cover the essential elements to get you started as a golfer including grip, golf swing and putting - all amidst the picturesque surroundings of this luxurious sporting estate, near Thomastown, Co Kilkenny. The course is limited to eight people, guaranteeing plenty of individual attention under Seán's expert eye.
It is priced from €€519 per person sharing or from699 on a single occupancy basis which includes two nights' accommodation with breakfast in the Hunters' Yard, lunch and dinner on each day (excluding beverages) as well as golf tuition and use of golf clubs, if required. For further information on this and other Mount Juliet Conrad Master Classes, contact 056 777 3011 or visit www.mountjulietconrad.com
