McDowell continues to star for Alabama

GOLF/US Colleges: Ireland international and Walker Cup player Graeme McDowell won his fourth individual title of the season in the Seminole Intercollegiate tournament at Talahassee, Florida, earlier this week. It is the Irishman's seventh victory of his American collegiate career.

The Rathmore golfer shot rounds of 68, 69, 69 for a 10-under-par total of 206, to win the individual title by seven shots. He also helped the University of Alabama to second place in the team event, five strokes behind the University of North Carolina. It was McDowell's third win in the last four events on the tour.

He led the statistics categories for the pars fours (3.77) and fives (4.42), recording 16 birdies and two eagles.

Earlier this season, the young Ulsterman won top honours at the Topy Cup, the Country Club of Louisiana and the Gator Invitational.

This weekend McDowell will defend the Conrad Rehling Alabama Spring Invitational tournament title at Tuscaloosa.

Meanwhile, in Cape Town, reigning Irish title holder Alison Coffey and Cork's former champion Claire Coughlan yesterday coasted into the knock-out phase of the South African Women's Amateur Open over the Rondebosch course in Cape Town.

But Elaine Dowdall missed out by six strokes after a disappointing three rounds.

For the second consecutive day, Coffey gave a lacklustre display on the greens and required 36 putts, but still managed a one-under-par 72, which indicates the strength of the rest of her game.