Woodenbridge Golf Club will be contesting their first Leinster finals of the Irish Mixed Foursomes when they line up with Sutton, Greenore and Kilternan at the Curragh on August 15th.
However, the make-up of the Woodenbridge side must be unique, for it is made up of three husbands and wives, two sisters-in-law, a brother and sister-in-law and the two honorary secretaries of the club. None of the husbands and wives, however, play as a pair.
Woodenbridge have beaten Wexford, Mount Juliet, Carlow, Rathfarnham and the holders Waterford on their way to the finals. Three members of the side, Rachael Doyle, Liz Byrne and Mary McDonald were also members of the successful 1997 Midland District Women's Senior Cup team. The Woodenbridge pairings for the final are: Sean Darcy and Liz Byrne; Dudley Byrne and Breda Murphy; Syl McDonald and Bernie Doyle; Dermot Healy and Noelle Doyle; Norman Doyle and Mary McDonald; Jim Byrne and Rachel Doyle; Paddy Doran and Bernie Darcy.
The Shell Ladies Challenge has produced some great golf throughout the country as the regional qualifiers attempt to reach the All-Ireland final in Mount Juliet on September 15th. But pride of place must go to Slade Valley member Geraldine Hanley who scored a magnificent 51 points in the Curragh. The 43 points scored by second placed Ann Hughes (Hazel Grove) would have good enough to win many of the other regional finals, but at least she had the consolation of getting through to the final.
One of the casualties in the regional finals was Hetty Clarke, mother of touring professional Darren, from Bushfoot Golf Club. A keen golfer who plays off 12, she just failed to make the finals.
Meanwhile, former Irish Close champion and Irish international Barbra Hackett has pulled out of Thursday's regional final at Ballyclough because she feels she has an unfair advantage over the other participants. The Castletroy club member is joining the professional ranks next month.
West Waterford had many anxious moments before they retained their Fred Daly (Munster Section) Trophy when they won two matches on tie holes to ease their way past Munster Junior Foursomes champions, Ballybunion in the semi-finals.
Mark Shanahan birdied the 18th, chipped in at the 19th for a half and won on the 20th with a superb par while John Keane birdied the 19th. West Waterford will now take on the Leinster champions, Wexford, in the All-Ireland semi-finals at Youghal on August 19th.
Hermitage's Lucy Donegan shot a remarkable score to win the club professional's (Simon Byrne) prize last week. Donegan, playing off a handicap of 14, finished 10 up which included one loss. In all Lucy had 11 wins, six halves and one loss and she had six to spare over the next best score from one of the club's most promising juniors, Larina Hayes, who, off a handicap of 30, finished four up.
The AIB Lord Mayor's Cup starts at Clontarf next Sunday and at the launch of this year's event were (from left): club president Eugene Hoey, defending champion Gordon Eivers, Jim Walsh, manager AIB and Alex Magill, Clontarf captain.
Dermot Burke had a comfortable four shots to spare when winning the annual Champions' Cup at Westmanstown last week. The 18 handicapper from Stackstown shot a brilliant 63 to win from Philip Briggs (17) from Ballymote and Noel Casserly (17) from Royal Tara, who both shot 68. The gross was won by David O'Brien from the host club with a 76.
Esther Fitzgerald, the lady captain, is the player in form at Castlewarden. She celebrated her new 37 handicap by shooting a magnificent 47 points to win the Captain's (Tom Maxwell) Prize to the Ladies by seven points from Vivien Coleman.
The Nick Faldo Junior Series, which was rained off in May, has been rescheduled to take place at Royal Dublin today.
The Midland Boys' Championship, one of the most popular junior events in the country, starts today in Birr and continues tomorrow.
The Legends golf society will have IMG chief Mark McCormack as their special guest for their Autumn outing in September.
