It was a good start and good finish to the golfing season for the Heath's Ann Doolan, so much so that she collected a fair number of prizes during the past few months.

The 21 handicapper finished off the season in fine style only recently when she won the coveted Perpetual Cup, a singles matchplay competition played through the autumn. In the final, Doolan saw off the challenge of Mary Malone.

Doolan had already proved her worth during the early part of the golfing campaign as she won several competitions at the Portlaoise club, including a medal competition, while she also performed admirably in Eileen Fingleton's Captain's Prize, where she was the runner-up.

But perhaps her biggest win of the season came in the millennium competition on June 24th when she shot a superb 42 points to comfortably take top prize in what is a worldwide event organised by St Andrews. Meanwhile, it was also a good finish to the season for Marie Delaney, who won the Perpetual Plate. Delaney has made great strides at the game in a short period of time. Although she only took up golf about five years ago, she has already reduced her handicap from 45 to 26 and hopes to see it continue to fall.