Compiled by SHAY KEENAN
Senior Cup joy for Royal Portrush
ROYAL Portrush collected their 25th Irish Senior Cup title when they defeated 2009 champions Kilkenny at Grange Golf Club on Saturday. In a nail-biting contest, Kilkenny drew first blood with current international Mary Dowling defeating the talented Charlene Reid 3 and 2. Another current international Lucy Simpson levelled matters with victory over Eileen Rose Power on the home green.
Mary Leahy Browne then put Kilkenny back in front with a 3 and 2 win over Victoria Bradshaw, before Seniors Champion Helen Jones tied matters once again, defeating Orla Dunphy 3 and 2.
In the deciding match, Ann Smee reduced the deficit from four down at the turn to just one through 14 against Naoimh Quigg. The 15th was halved in par put a penalty stroke on 16th saw Quigg regain the honour and a two-hole lead. An undeterred Smee held her nerve and a solid par on the 17th brought the tie to the final hole. Quigg seized the initiative once again and a conceded birdie at the last brought the Irish Senior Cup to Royal Portrush for a record breaking 25th time.
In the semi-finals Portrush defeated Enniscorthy 4-1 while Kilkenny eased past East Leinster winners The Island 3½-1½ after winning the top three matches.
Fitzpatrick cruises to British Boys title
ENGLAND’S Matthew Fitzpatrick produced a magnificent display of controlled golf to defeat Welshman Henry James by 10 and 8 in the 36-hole final of the British Boys Amateur Championship at Notts Golf Club.
The 17-year-old English boys international from Hallamshire GC in Sheffield was an approximate six under par and found himself nine up at the halfway stage.
He then played the next 10 holes in one under par to complete what was the most lopsided final since TR Shannon defeated Sandy Lyle by 10 and 9 at Royal Liverpool in 1974.
Fitzpatrick became the third English golfer to claim the title in four years following wins for Tom Lewis at Royal St George’s in 2009 and Harrison Greenberry at Burham Berrow 12 months ago.
Jordan Hood was best of the Irish – losing out in the third round to finalist James while Sean Flanagan from Co Sligo and Paul McBride from The Island reached the second round.
Doherty claims Connacht U-17 title
JONATHAN Doherty of Ballina Golf Club continued his recent run of good form by winning the Connacht under-17 Close Championship recently at Oughterard GC in Galway.
In what proved to be a close contest, a score of 73 saw Doherty just about edge out Shane Connor of Castlebar by a single shot with Ronan Mullarney from Galway taking third place with a score of 75.
Doherty has been in good form over the summer months and his success at Oughterard follows on from his impressive displays for the province of Connacht in the recent under-18 Interpros which were held at Royal County Down.
THE Irish Seniors team to compete in the European Team Championship at Estoril Golf Club, Portugal from September 4th-8th has been chosen.
The team is Tom Cleary (Cork), Maurice Kelly (Killeen), Garth McGimpsey (Bangor), Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock), John Mitchell (Tramore), Arthur Pierse (Tipperary). The team captain is Tony Goode from Lucan.
THE Friends of Dublin Hurling will hold their All-Ireland weekend golf classic at the K-Club (Smurfit Course) on Friday, September 7th 2012.
A team of four costs €320 which includes meals. Open to all the time sheet is available at www.fodh.ieor call Michael at 087-2331983.
Higgins heads a top-class field in Powerscourt
PING order of merit leaders David Higgins from Waterville, Barrie Trainor and Donal Gleeson from Old Old Conna lead a top-class field at Powerscourt GC next weekend for the Etihad Airways Pro-Am on Sunday and the Southern Championship (sponsored by Volkswagen Group) on Monday and Tuesday.
Some 56 teams will tee-up on Sunday over the two courses at Powerscourt in a shotgun start.
In the VW championship Mark O’Sullivan from Ashbourne will defend his title, while also in the field will be the 2010 champion Eamonn Darcy, Gary Murphy, Damien Mooney and Francis Howley. Higgins leads the race to Mount Juliet with 21,539 points from Trainor 21,003 and Gleeson on 18,430.
THERE was double reason for Caroline Fanning to celebrate on Sunday at Elmgreen GC in west County Dublin.
Not only was the 17 handicapper a narrow winner of Phyllis Breslins Lady President’s Day, but she also had the distinction of a hole in one on the way to victory.
She won the prestigious prize with a score of 66 to win by a single shot from Joyce Gavin (18) with Margaret Holland (24) in third spot on 69, while Rita Kearns (9) was the gross winner.
But to make it a more memorable day, Fanning also holed out at the 7th hole for her ace on the way to that 66.
Westport host Race to Portugal
THE Race to Portugal Open Golf Competition will once again take place at Westport Golf Club this month where two people will win a week in Portugal.
The lucky prize winners will stay at the Monte da Quinta Resort in the Algarve in early November and play in the Monte da Quinta Trophy, a two-day event for the best individual and overall club champions.
Liam Friel (Westport) is the defending individual champion from 2011 while Friel and Tom Walsh are the reigning club champions. Westport GC hosts the event on the week of August 27th for four days; it’s open to men and women. Full details Westport on 098 28262.
Malahide juniors win Fingal Trophy
THE Fingal Juniors Team Trophy, sponsored by McGuirks Golf, again proved a great success with the outcome being only decided on the final day, when Malahide held off all challengers to win the trophy for the second time.
The competition came down to the last groups at Beaverstown with Malahide beating Corrstown into second place with Clontarf finishing third.
Some 180 boys played for the 16 clubs over the eight weeks at the different venues.
This is the 15th year of the Fingal Juniors Team Trophy and the competition has grown in popularity with each season.
The successful Malahide team comprised the following players: Conor Sutton, Daniel Murphy, Jamie Kennedy, Karl Kennedy, Marco Lupo, Fintan O’Connor, Sam Nolan, Paul O’Sullivan, Ciaran Conway, Conor Murray, Philip Rusk, Sean Costello, Andrew Conlon and AD McCabe.
