A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Leinster Golf continue Strategic Review
Delegates attending the annual delegates meeting last November were advised Leinster Golf were in the process of carrying out a Strategic Review with the aim of producing a Strategic Plan to cover the next three to five years. A committee was formed to carry out the task and have been working away, meeting external and internal stakeholders in order to seek their views.
In order for the process to be as inclusive as possible and the opportunity to contribute to the development of the strategy, Leinster Golf sent out a link to a survey last week via email to all clubs in Leinster asking them to forward it to members.
All participants who complete the survey will have an opportunity to be entered into a draw for a chance to win a super prize of an overnight stay for two people and a round of golf courtesy of Carton House.
PGA Sultan course in the swing again
Antalya Golf Club’s highly-acclaimed PGA Sultan course lies in wait for the finalists in this year’s Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge . . . with Irish qualifiers heading for Roganstown.
The jewel in Turkey’s golfing crown will play host to the 36-hole final for the fourth successive year on November 21st and 22nd, following a hectic schedule of 10 summer regional qualifiers between July 31st and September 2nd.
And that Irish qualifying event has been pencilled in for Roganstown on Monday August 19th.
More than 500 clubs annually compete in the tournament which sees two of golf club’s influential figures, PGA professional and club captain, team-up in pursuit of glory.
This year’s event will also have a tempting £25,000 prize fund.
McNamara and Selfridge lead La Manga assault
Rory McNamara and Chris Selfridge, currently studying at the University of Toledo and winner of last year’s Irish Open Close Championship, will lead an eight-strong Irish assault on this week’s Spanish International Amateur Championship at La Manga.
The pair will be joined in Spain by McNamara’s Headfort clubmate Brian Casey, Reeve Whitson (Mourne), Richard O’Donovan (Lucan), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park) and Knock’s Nicholas Grant, with reigning British amateur champion Alan Dunbar the only notable Irish absentee.
Great opportunity to play at Ryder Cup venue
The chance to play at Gleneagles’ PGA Centenary Course – the host venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup – next September is the prize on offer to qualifiers for the Lombard Trophy, an event which is returning to the domestic calendar. The Island Golf Club will host the Irish section of qualifying on Tuesday, July 2nd.
The PGA National Pro-Am Championship then culminates in the grand final at Gleneagles on Tuesday, September 3rd and Wednesday, September 4th.
The Gleneagles event features 16 regional finalists where amateurs qualify to team up with their club PGA pro by winning one of the designated local monthly medals.
The winning professional will receive £12,000 in prize money.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones is delighted the event is back on the calendar. “We are delighted to welcome back Lombard as headline sponsor of this magnificent tournament,” he said.
“This is a unique event in that it offers PGA professionals a rare opportunity to team up with an amateur partner and represent their club in a national event,” added Jones.
Locals dominate in Tullamore
Local knowledge was certainly beneficial as the Midland Senior Alliance held their latest outing in Tullamore.
The nett category saw a clean sweep from the host club with a 65 from Matthew Grehan giving him a three-shot win over Robbie Connolly, with the Tullamore 1-2-3 being completed by Phonsie Daly, who was third with 70. Conor Stone of Carton House shot 68 to win the gross from Castle Barna’s Brian McCormack by a single shot with Mullingar’s David Lally third with a 70.
Cork to host Ford Scratch Cup
The Ford Ladies Scratch Cup will take place at Cork Golf Club on Saturday April 13th this year.
The 36- hole event – which has a handicap limit of 9 – is limited to 60 players and will have a shotgun start at 9am and 2.15pm.
Entry fee is €35. Entries for this popular event will close on Monday April 8th.
Entry forms and fees should be returned to Oonagh Barry, Ladies Branch, Cork Golf Club, Little Island, County Cork (cheque/postal order made payable to Ladies Branch, Cork Golf Club).
Any queries should be made to Oonagh at 086 884 5958 or oonaghbarry@gmail.com
