A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Ulster out for hat-trick of women's interpro titles
ULSTER will have their sights set on three wins in row at the Women’s Interprovincials when play commences at Cork Golf Club, Little Island, tomorrow morning.
Players will be keen to impress the Irish selectors as Cork is also the host venue to the Home International matches in September.
Favourites Ulster field a strong team further boosted by the inclusion of the Maguire twins, Leona and Lisa, and also boasting the talents of current internationals Louise Coffey (Malone), Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Charlene Reid (Royal Portrush).
Laura Grant (Lisburn) joins Paula to give the side two sets of sisters, while Victoria Bradshaw, having made her debut for Ulster’s senior side in 2005, adds valuable experience to the team.
Munster, runners-up last year, field the same team with the exception of Sarah Cunningham, (Ennis) who has returned from injury to replace Mary Sheehy (Tralee).
Leinster once again field a formidable team with a mixture of experience and youth. The debutantes in the side are Anna Courtney (St Anne’s) and Irish Under-18 International Ariana Coyle Diez (Elm Park).
Connacht will be looking to cause an upset again this year – they beat Leinster on the final day last year at Royal County Down to claim a credible third place. Fiona Carroll (Galway Bay) rejoins the team after a break from the game.
O'Briain triumphs with course record
FORMER Royal Dublin amateur Neil O’Briain set a course record at Costa Esuri in Spain last week in the Jamega Pro Golf Tour.
In an event cut short by constant rain on day two O’Briain took the first prize of €2,000 with his record 63.
Out in four-under-par 32 with birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and eighth, O’Briain did even better on the homeward run with five more birdies. A birdie at the 10th was followed by a hat-trick of threes from the 13th and then getting to nine under with just one to play.
O’Briain just missed a six-foot birdie putt on the last but tapped in for par to establish a new course record for Costa Esuri of 63 shots.
As they had completed 18 holes on the first day a result could be declared and it was the delighted O’Briain who took the spoils.
Scott Drummond, who is finding the sort of form which won him the BMW PGA Championship, finished second on six-under-par 66.
Scotland edge Ireland for title
SCOTLAND edged Ireland on a nail-biting deciding day of play at the Four Nations Development Matches at Hilton Templepatrick last week.
Two eagles at the 18th from Bob McIntrye and Fraser Davren against Caolan Kennedy and Neil McKinstry respectively sealed victory after Ireland and Scotland had shared the morning foursomes.
In the other match, Wales came roaring out of the blocks after the disappointment of their defeat to Ireland, winning the first three foursomes against the Netherlands while the fourth was halved. They finished off the victory by winning five of the eight singles.
Sheridan and McNamara end on high
JOAN SHERIDAN from Newlands and David McNamara from Stackstown were crowned the City Matchplay champions at the Castle GC last week when the winter-long event came to a fitting conclusion. Sheridan proved fitness and golf is good for you when she edged out local Amy Jones by one hole.
It was a personal triumph for Sheridan, who was diagnosed with MS 11 years ago with the prognosis she would be in a wheelchair a year later. But she showed her fighting spirits to overcome the setback and claim the title.
The men’s final was equally exciting, with McNamara defeating Michael Curran from Tulfarris on the 19th. Over 100 players from more than 50 golf clubs entered the competition.
** THE Irish team for the annual Mary McKenna Cup match between Ireland’s Senior Women’s squad and the Scottish Veteran Ladies Golfing Association at Hilton Templepatrick GC, Belfast, on April 15th and 16th is: Suzanne Corcoran (Portumna), Pat Doran (Donabate), Helen Jones (Strabane), Gertie McMullen (The Island), Mairéad MacNamara (Woodbrook), Sheena McElroy (Grange), Pauline Walsh (Headfort) and Carol Wickham (Laytown Bettystown).
The team will be captained by Terry Sexton from Dún Laoghaire GC.
Cunningham up to scratch in Cork
SARAH CUNNINGHAM from Ennis won the third Scratch Cup of the year after firing 72 and 75 to defeat Munster team-mate Gillian O’Leary (Cork) by three shots at Cork GC, venue of this week’s women’s interprovincials.
Jointly leading on 72 after the first 18 holes, Cunningham went on to forge ahead of co-leaders O’Leary and Charlene Reid from Royal Portrush with a solid 75 in the afternoon for a 147 total to claim her first trophy of 2012.
O’Leary added a 78 for 150 for second place with Leona Maguire in third place on 151 after rounds of 74 and 77.
Reid, with rounds of 72 and 80, and Karen Delaney (Carlow) 74, 78 were next best on 152.
O’Leary, on 98 points, now leads the ILGU/Titleist Ladies Scratch Cup Circuit by four points from Cunningham, with Jessica Carty on 86 and Carla Reynolds on 84. The circuit now moves to Dublin for the Cassidy Travel-sponsored Woodbrook Scratch Cup in two weeks’ time.
New venture launch in West
The Ireland West Golf Clubs Association will be launched tomorrow at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, Co Mayo.
At its first public meeting the chairman of the new body, Paul O’Neill, will outline the objectives of the new association and explain the strategy he believes must be put in place to encourage the maximum number of golfing tourists to the Connacht region.
O’Neill, who is the marketing manager at Westport Golf Club, highlighted the need for all 41 affiliated clubs to work together where possible in order to develop the unique golfing product that exists on the Atlantic Coast and he emphasised the importance of establishing best practice work models both on and off the course.
The new association will look to market all the different types of golf products that currently exist in the region – parkland and links.
Invitations have been sent to all the clubs and with no affiliation fee required to join the new group O’Neill is expecting a large attendance at tomorrow’s inaugural meeting.
“After the support my initiative received at the annual delegate meeting of the GUI back in November, I’m very excited about this new venture,” said O’Neill.
