Other golf stories in brief
McGlone drives Dunmurry forward
PATRICK MCGLONE, a 16-year-old Belfast schoolboy, fired a brilliant three-under-par 69 to helped Dunmurry's five-man Irish Junior Cup team into the Ulster play-offs at Allen Park last week.
McGlone, a student at Rathmore, completed a weekend of dazzling displays.
Before heading to the Antrim course he posted a two-under-par 68 for 43 points off a five-handicap to win Dunmurry professional John Dolan's prize, and also have his handicap reduced to 4.1. "The kid is rarely off our practice ground," said Dolan. "He is very dedicated." Dunmurry took second place on 308 for the best four cards out of five.
Leading the qualifiers on the Castle Road, Antrim, venue was the host club's team, making the cut for a first time.
Antrim finished on 304, thanks to a sparkling one under the card 71 by five-handicapper Mark Moore. with Michael Nicholson (76), Ricky Galloway (78), Alan Jardine (79) and Tiernan McLarnon (81). The other qualifiers at Antrim were Greenacres (309) and Ballymena (313).
Ladies Irish Open in the pink
PINK RIBBON Golf Ireland, a unique new range of ladies golf apparel and accessories, will become the "official clothing" supplier to the AIB Ladies Irish Open 2008-2012.
As part of the new agreement, Pink Ribbon Golf will be designated as one of the official licensees of the official merchandising programme for the 2011 Solheim Cup which will be played over the new Killeen Castle golf course in Co Meath.
Pink Ribbon's unique selling point is that 10 per cent of all sales of its merchandise goes to Action Breast Cancer, part of the Irish Cancer Society.
CLAREMORRIS GC will host three Scratch Cups on Saturday next.
The John Keane Senior Scratch Cup will cater for golfers of 0-4 handicaps, the TSB Junior Scratch Cup is for handicaps of 5 to 9 while the Fr Eddie Griffith Intermediate Scratch Cup caters for handicaps of 10 to 18.
The entry fee is € 20 and you can enter by contacting Chris at 094-9371527.
Delaney claims Leinster title
TARA DELANEY - a winner at the Midland Championships at the end of May - continued her good form by adding another title to her trophy cabinet in winning the Clarins Leinster Championships at Castleknock on Sunday last.
The Carlow golfer had led the qualifying stage in style with a 145 total after rounds of 75 and 70 giving her a three-shot winning margin over Gillian O'Leary from Cork, and Niamh Kitching from Claremorris.
In the matchplay stages she was in equally fine form. After edging past Catherine Tucker (Limerick) on the 22nd hole, she beat Maria Dunne (Skerries) before accounting for Sarah Faller (Galway) 4 and 2 in the semi-finals. In the final she eased past Roscommon's Anne McCormack - who had beaten Woodenbridge's Louise Mernagh 4 and 3 in her semi-final, 7 and 5.
Meanwhile in the Leinster Junior Championships for the Duggan Cup, Carol McEnroe from Virginia was too good for Clontarf's Eileen O'Brien, winning 7 and 6 in the final.
GLENMALURE GC, Wicklow are holding a "4 Person Rumble" on Saturday and Sunday in aid of St Colman's Hospital, Rathdrum. The cost of a team is € 160 including a meal. For time-sheet, phone 0404-46679 .
Irish sextet eye British title
THE LADIES' Golf Union will crown a new British Open Amateur Champion this year - 144 of the best amateurs from 24 countries, including Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India and Morocco, tee off at the renowned West Links, North Berwick, Scotland, today (Wed).
Ireland will have six in the field - Karen and Tara Delaney from Carlow, Niamh Kitching from Claremorris, Danielle McVeigh from Royal Co Down, Cork's Gillian O'Leary and Deirdre Smith from Co Louth.
Unfortunately, the 2007 champion, Carlota Ciganda from Spain, is unable to defend her title, leaving it up for grabs. With a full exemption to the Ricoh Women's British Open on offer, the event has attracted record entries of over 200 competitors. In the strongest ever field, 116 of the entrants have handicaps of plus 0.1 or better.
The highly-rated Swedish twins, Caroline and Jacqueline Hedwall (Barseback), are among the strong international line up. Caroline, one of the top players in Europe, comes in as favourite with the lowest handicap on the entry list (+ 5.6), while earlier this year, Jacqueline took the runner-up spot in the Helen Holm Scottish Open Strokeplay, scoring a record-breaking 67 over Royal Troon.
Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, runner-up for the last two years, hopes a third attempt will be lucky for her.
Competitors in the Ladies' British Amateur Championship play 18 holes tomorrow and Thursday with the leading 64 players qualifying for the matchplay stage, culminating in an 18-hole final on the afternoon of Sunday June 15th.
Maguire twins team up for Ireland
IRISH WOMEN'S Champion Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) leads a highly-experienced Irish team into the 2008 European Under-18 Team Championships at Murcar, Scotland, from July 8th-12th.
Lisa Maguire, now playing off plus one, joins her 13-year-old twin in the line-up having narrowly lost out to Leona in the Irish women's final. Stephanie Meadow (Royal Portrush), currently studying in the USA, is a strong addition to the side while Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) completes the formidable quartet. The team is captained by Sinead Keane (The Curragh) and managed by Anita McCaw (RCDL).
Meanwhile, the selectors have also announced the team to play for the European Ladies Team Championships at Stenungsund, Sweden, July 8th-12th.
Munster champion Niamh Kitching (Claremorris), is joined by seasoned Internationals Tara Delaney (Carlow), Maura Morrin (The Curragh) and Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies). Gillian O'Leary (Cork) continues her impressive form while Dawn Marie Conaty (Ashbourne) wins her first senior cap. The team is captained by Phil O'Gorman (Laytown and Bettystown) and managed by Claire Robinson (Knock).
Mother and Daughter event
DONABATE GOLF Club are once again holding their Mother and Daughter Open Foursomes competition. This year's event takes place on July 4th. The hugely popular tournament has been played for since 1982. The Moran Trophy, which goes to the winners, was presented by the late Maureen Moran - a prominent member of Donabate - in memory of her late husband Freddie. Last year's winners Peggy and Linda Duffy from Black Bush GC will be back to defend their title. Entry is €35 per couple and places on the timesheet are available from Pauline Byrne on 01-8318992 or 087 9666982.
