By SHAY KEENAN
O’Briain triumphs at the Links Golf Society Pro-Am
ROYAL Dublin’s Niall O’Briain took the honours last Thursday at the Waterford Crystal Links Golf Society Pro-Am at Portmarnock Links.
On a day of good scoring the scratch golfer won the nett category with a score of 69, edging out Peter O’Hagan from Luttrellstown with a third scratch golfer, Michael Lavelle from the K Club, third on 70.
Woodenbridge’s Ger Phelan, playing off a handicap of seven, was fourth on 71, with Peter Rogers (3) from Dundalk fifth on 72.
In the gross category, Castle’s Dara Lernihan, also playing off scratch, claimed the top spot with a score of 69, one ahead of the society’s president, Des Smyth, and Galway’s Joe Lyons (+1).
Three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington was fourth in the gross section with a score of 71, the same mark as Greenore’s Robert Giles.
Taking the team prize were Giles, who was joined by Frank Kennedy, a three handicapper from The Island, and Woodenbridge’s Phelan.
In the over-50s category Pat O’Brien from Laytown and Bettystown, playing off three, won the gross prize with a score of 78, while the K Club’s Paddy Whelan, playing off eight, was the nett winner with a score of 75.
Next up for the Links is a visit to Royal Dublin next month where they will playing for Smyth’s President’s Prize.
Girls event set for Vagliano dates
A TEAM of six girl golfers from Britain and Ireland will cross swords with their opposite numbers from the Continent of Europe in a new match, to be played for the first time at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, on June 24th and 25th this year.
The match will involve 12 players, aged 16 and under, in four sets of matches over a two days. All six players will play in two sets of three foursomes and two sets of six singles matches.
The new match, the name of which will be announced in the next few weeks, will be played concurrently with the ladies’ equivalent, the biennial Vagliano Trophy match, which was first contested between Britain and Ireland and Europe in 1959 and which will be defended by the Continent of Europe in Wales. Wales’ Sue Turner will captain the team.
THE Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, will be joined by Gillian O’Leary from Cork, Charlene Reid from Royal Portrush and Emma O’Driscoll from Ballybunion in the the 86th Portuguese international women’s championship over 54 holes at Aroeira Golf Club, near Lisbon, from January 27th to 30th.
Turner makes final Asian stage
NIALL TURNER from Team Ireland golf qualified for the final stage of the Asian Tour in Hua Hin in Thailand. Turner qualified with four-under total with rounds of 74, 71, 69, 70 to qualify in 15th position out of a field of 130 at Majestic Creek Golf Resort. The stage was won by Matt Docking from Australia at 12 under. He now progresses to the final stage to be held over two courses – Imperial Lake Golf Resort and Springfield Royal Country Club – in Hua Hin, Thailand. The final stage is from January 19th-23rd, 2011 with a field of 180. There were 433 entries in total, of whom 117 are exempt to final stage.
Athenry juniors second at HomeNations event in Spain
LAST YEAR’S Fred Daly winners Athenry GC finished second at the Junior Team Golf Home Nations Championship last week at the Nicklaus Golf Trail, El Valle, Murcia, Spain, where Ireland (Athenry), England (West Essex), Scotland (Liberton) and Wales (Wrexham) competed.
The Athenry team was Seán Cannon, David Byrne, Brian O’Reilly, Seán Glynn, Peter Dolan and Pat Croghan.
On the first day Ireland defeated Wales while England saw off Scotland’s challenge.
Ireland held on to their lead after day two by defeating Scotland five matches to one while England won all six of their matches against Wales.
On the final day of the championship Ireland narrowly lost out to England who were crowned the winners after winning five out of their six matches.
Wales defeated Scotland 3½-2½ which gave them third place leaving Scotland in fourth position.
Europro Tour qualifying school
ENTRIES are now being accepted for participation on the 2011 PGA Europro Tour qualifying school.
First stage action gets under way at The Players Club, De Vere Slaley Hall and Stoke by Nayland on April 7th and 8th.
The successful players making it through that stage will move into the 54-hole final qualifying which takes place the following week at Frilford Heath from Wednesday, April 13th, through to Friday, April 15th, where there is a £16,000 (€19,200) prize fund at stake.
Of course this year’s Europro Tour will once again visit Ireland with a tournament scheduled for Galgorm Castle on June 27th to July 1st.
Closing date for entries to both stages is Thursday, March 24th, and anyone looking for further details should log on to www.europrotour.com
ONE of Europe’s leading golf trade shows and educational events, The Golf Show, has announced the dates for this year’s event.
Following the success of the inaugural event last October, the Golf Show 2011 will return to the Harrogate International Centre from Tuesday, October 25th, to Thursday, October 27th.
Anyone wishing to get further details and who wishes to register for the event should do so through the official website, www.golftradeshow.co.uk
Bradshaw bags his 18th hole-in-one in competition
HOLE-IN-ONE expert Billy Bradshaw of Greystones GC, Co Wicklow, has done it again. Bradshaw recently had another ace – his 18th in competition. Two other aces he had were not in competition events. Billy, 83, had his latest hole-in-one at the l60-yard 11th hole in Greystones. His three-wood shot went dead straight, hit the flag pole, there was a loud crack, and the ball dropped into the hole. Turner turned to his playing partners Pat Gormley and Brendan Byrne and quipped, “I hate putting.” Well done Billy.
THERE was a further honour for Peter Alliss recently when he received the PGA Recognition Award at the Professional Golfers’ Association’s annual fundraising lunch. Alliss has been a long-standing PGA member and is known for his prowess as a player, course designer and broadcaster.
