Sligo's strong showAll Ireland Senior Cup winners Co Sligo finished in fifth place out of 26 teams in the European Men's Club Trophy in Corfu last week.
The team of David Dunne, Gary McDermott and Syreth Heavey shot a total of 438 over three rounds to finish behind winners France on 420, Slovakia on 426 and Germany 432.
McDermott added to his already star-studded CV by finishing joint third in the individual competition in a tournament won by France's Romain Schnieder. Schnieder shot 69, 66 and 72 to win the individual award on 207 and lead France to victory. The competition was held over three rounds with the two best cards counting on each day. The Co Sligo scores were: Day 1: 147 (Gary McDermott 71, David Dunne 76). Day 2: 144 (Gary McDermott 69, David Dunne 75 ). Day 3: 147 (Gary McDermott 73, Syreth Heavey 74).
Coen brothers excel
It has been a great year for three of the Coen brothers from the parish of Killererin in north Galway. Joe, who lives in Slane, Co Meath, is captain of Nuremore GC in Carrickmacross, and was the recent winner of the Skoda/Independent County Masters Classic with his captain's prize winner, Thomas Hughes.
Peter, who lives in Milltown, Co Galway, won this year's President's prize at Claremorris GC.
Pat, who lives in Claregalway, is captain of Athenry GC and recently combined with club professional Ray Ryan to win the Irish qualifier of the Gulf Air International Pro/Captain Challenge, supported by BMW. Their two-stroke victory at Knightsbrook GC in Trim booked them a place on a luxury trip to the final in Bahrain.
Slade juniors impress
Slade Valley juniors were best of the 11 teams in the Paddy Skerritt Trophy at St Anne's GC last week. The Slade team of Ciarán Conway, Niall Conway, Conor Bracken, John G O'Sullivan and junior captain Stephen Brady fired a total of 105 points (best three cards from five) to win by seven points from Stackstown.
The best gross went to Michael O'Rourke, a four handicap from the local club, who won with a 75, while the best nett went to Niall Worth from Balcarrick with 35 points.
Festive deal at Grange
An ideal Christmas gift for golfers. Treat yourself and three companions to a half-hour golf lesson, followed by 12 holes of golf, and relax after with a light meal/refreshments in the excellent surroundings of Grange Golf Club in Rathfarnham. For €200 the voucher covers the tuition, 12 holes of golf and refreshments for four persons. Vouchers are available from the office (01-4932889, ext 8) or the Pro Shop (01-4932889, ext 5). Holders of vouchers book dates through the Pro Shop.
New format for St Rule
Next year's St Rule Trophy will be a one-day event over 36 holes of the Old Course, St Andrews, on Sunday, May 25th, instead of its traditional format of 54 holes over a Saturday-Sunday with the first round over the New Course.
"It's due to the Curtis Cup over the Old Course on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 30th-31th and June 1st and the heavy load on the St Rule Club," said Alison White who was elected captain of the organising club, St Rule, on Saturday.
"We have invited the United States team to play but had a negative response from their captain as they just arrive on the Sunday. The Ladies Golf Union have already said that the Britain and Ireland team would not play in the St Rule Trophy.
"We would be pleased for any supporters of either side to enter the tournament as long as they meet the handicap requirements."
Delaney delivers
Tara Delaney helped the Kent State team to a third-place finish at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in their final tournament of the fall season last week. The 13th-ranked Golden Flashes shot a collective 293 to finish five strokes ahead of 10th ranked Tennessee.
Junior Kirby Dreher earned her fourth top-10 finish in as many tournaments this autumn, finishing ninth overall following a third round 73. Dreher shot a one-over 217 (73-71-73) for the tournament.
Senior Delaney, from Carlow, bogeyed three of her first four holes, but recovered making three birdies in the round and ended with a two-over 74. For the tournament she shot a three-over 219 (74, 71, 74), finishing in a six-way tie for 11th place.
Also tying for 11th was freshman Martina Gavier, who was steady with 13 pars, three bogeys and two birdies in one-over round of 73. The rookie has finished in the top 15 in three of the four tournaments this autumn and had a three-over 219 total (73, 73, 73).
Danielle McVeigh, representing Texas A&M, shot 74 73 73 for a total of 220 and share of 17th place, while Rebecca Watson (Tennessee) shot 73, 77, 76 for 226 and finished joint 41st.
Nicholas gets the nod
The Ladies European Tour has named England's Alison Nicholas as captain of the 2009 European Solheim Cup team at Rich Harvest Farms in Illinois, from August 17th to 23rd. Under her leadership, the 12 best European- born players from the LET Tour will be attempting to win the Cup for the first time on American soil.
"It's a great honour to be the Solheim Cup captain and I'm delighted," said Nicholas, who takes over from this year's captain, Helen Alfredsson.
"I can't wait. It's fantastic. I'm really excited and very passionate about it. I love the Solheim Cup. I always enjoyed playing and I enjoyed the last four events though I wasn't playing. It's been a very special part of my golfing career."
Nicholas, a winner of the US Open back in 1997, brings extraordinary experience and character to the team. The 45-year-old from Birmingham represented Europe on six consecutive occasions from 1990 as a player.
She was involved in all three of Europe's victories, as a player in 1992 and 2000 and as Vice-captain to Catrin Nilsmark in 2003. She was also Vice-captain in 2005.
O'Connor leads the way
The wonderfully exciting new Christy O'Connor Junior-designed golf course at Knightsbrook in Trim, Co Meath, was the venue for the second outing of the Leinster Alliance winter season last Sunday.
And although measuring just under 6,900 yards off the white markers, the superb condition of the course led to some fine scoring with over a quarter of the large turnout beating the standard scratch of 35 points.
The two winning scores were of high standard indeed, with Niall O'Connor, off scratch from Elm Park, winning the nett category with a terrific five-under-par 41 points, while not to be outdone Ger Lawlor, playing off plus four and from City West, won the gross section with an equally impressive four-under-par total of 40 points.
O'Connor had three points to spare over Ciarán Leonard (5) of Slade Valley, while third in the nett was the K Club's Greg Murphy (6) also with 38 points, ahead of Greystones's Eddie Condren (3) and the K Club's Tony Hayes (4).
In the gross, Alan Condren (+1) from Greystones with 36 points was four points off Lawlor's winning total, while Keith Bardon (3) from Killiney was third, also with 36 points.
The next Alliance outing is on Sunday November 25th at Portmarnock Links and places on the timesheet are available from Michael Neary at 01 - 2827297.
Ballyliffin to the fore
Players from the host club, Ballyliffin, proved that local knowledge can be a distinct advantage when they occupied three of the top four placings in the gross category in the North Western Alliance outing on Saturday over the Old Links Course at the Donegal venue.
Taking the spoils was Brendan McCarroll, playing off scratch, with a fine score of four-under-par 67 around the par 71 course. He had a single shot to spare over Enda Kennedy (+1) of Strabane, with two more Ballyliffin members, Sean Doherty (2) and Connor Mallon (scr), next best on 69 and 70 respectively.
In the nett category, a superb 63 from Michael Gallagher, playing off seven out of Foyle Golf Club in Co Derry, gave him a three-stroke winning margin over Mark Caithness (16) of Dunfanaghy, with Kieran Martin (15) from Strabane, next best on 67.
The Alliance's next outing is once again in Ballyliffin - only this time on the Glashedy course - on Saturday November 24th.
Jennings in form
Charlesland's Edwina Jennings is enjoying a good end to the season. The 15 handicapper has been steady in recent times and has featured twice at the Co Wicklow club. She won Class One a few weeks back with a score of 33 points, in an event won by Ann Monaghan (33) with 43 points, while the other class winners were Emir Bruton (20) with 37 points and Linda Byrne (29) with 36. Then only last week Jennings was pipped for honours in the hamper competition, when, like overall winner Maureen Dent (13), she fired a nett 70, only to lose on a countback, with Fiona Scott (10) third a shot back on 71.
