By SHAY KEENAN
NUI Galway Alumni outing
GOLFING graduates of NUI Galway and their friends have a double reason for entering their alumni association’s annual outing at Mullingar next weekend.
Renowned sculptor John Coll has donated a new perpetual trophy for the winner of the competition – and everyone who takes part will be eligible for a draw for two tickets to next Sunday’s All-Ireland football finals.
The event takes place in Mullingar GC on Friday next, and according to the event organiser; RTÉ presenter and graduate Seán O’Rourke, the day promises to be an ideal way to meet up with graduates old and new.
The entry fee of € 55 includes green fees, prizes (including a chance to win those All-Ireland tickets) and dinner later that evening.
Bookings and further details available from NUI Galway Alumni Office on 091 493750 or online at www.nuigalway.ie/alumni-friends.
Esker Hills duo seal St Andrews place
VERY blustery conditions did not effect some outstanding scoring at Portmarnock GC where the Leinster and Dublin finals of the Holmpatrick Cup were decided on Sunday.
In both finals, three teams shared top spot.
In Leinster 39 points were returned by Rathsallagh and Mountain View but it was the Esker Hills duo of Gary Scanlon (5) and David Hogan (8) who booked their passage to St Andrews with a homeward run of 21 points.
Then later 36 points was the popular score with the Dublin clubs Corrstown and Balbriggan but The Links Portmarnock had John Lawler (9) and Gavin Rylands (11) returning the winning back nine of 20 points.
The final line-up for the All-Ireland final will be completed on Sunday next at Farnham Estate with the Ulster and Connacht decider.
Charleville’s Tony Davern (17) and John Hayes (16) are the Munster pairing for St Andrews.
The USA were the resounding winners of “The Solheim Cup Meath Challenge” held in Killeen Castle recently.
The event, which was co-ordinated by Meath County Council and Meath Tourism, followed the efforts of 12 women selected from local clubs in Meath and Louth via a radio programme on LMFM.
Their objective was to reduce their handicap over a period of 12 weeks given the voluntary assistance of local golf professionals and compete against each other – six women representing the USA and six women representing Europe.
In doing so it was also raising awareness of the Solheim Cup locally to ensure support for the event next week.
The updating of information was managed and sponsored by LMFM and Meath Tourism through their social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook. This kept people interested and each player started to gather their own following.
The winning team was captained by Janet Nash, representing the USA, who is also a member of Killeen Castle GC.
Europe: Una Woods, Rebecca Lacy, Therese Kilcline, Betty Travers, Laerke Ladefoged, Kathleen Grendon.
USA: Maeve O’Hehir, Mary Laverty, Gillian Hogan, Janet Nash, Frances Meade, Clare McLoughlin.
Finn lands Irish senior strokeplay
FINLAND’S Minna Kaarnalahti fired a final-round 77 to win the Irish Senior Women’s Open Strokeplay title by one shot from Helen Jones, Pauline Walsh and Alison Bartlett at Greenore last week.
Playing ahead of the final two pairings, Kaarnalahti birdied the 10th and in spite of a bogey on the 14th, held her nerve to birdie the last and set the clubhouse target at 238. Walsh from Headfort had earlier set a target of 239 after leapfrogging the field with a best-of-the-tournament 73.
The focus then turned to the final pairing of Jones from Strabane and Scotland’s Bartlett. Jones, two ahead playing 18, failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker to card what she thought was a bogey.
However, a spectator reported Jones’ caddy for raking her footprint before the sand shot was played and the rules officials had no option but to impose an additional two-stroke penalty.
Bartlett carded a regulation par to sign for a 78 and third place, while Jones’ treble bogey not only cost her the championship but relegated her to fourth place on card count back.
Ireland A won the Nations Cup from Ireland B, with Wales and Canada next.
Christy O'Connor challenge event
THE Christy O’Connor challenge, a fourball competition open to all GUI and ILGU members, is being held again in Royal Dublin this autumn.
The remaining qualifying rounds will be held on September 29th and October 4th, with the first three pairs each day going forward to a grand final, dinner and prize-giving on October 21st.
The prize for the winning pair is a holiday for two at Amendoeira Golf Resort in Portugal. Cost of entry is € 100 per pair, further details on www.theroyaldublingolfclub.com or telephone 01-8336346.
Sutton claim Carr Mara Trophy
SUTTON GC won the Carr Mara Trophy in Rosses Point over the weekend between seven USA and seven Irish clubs in an eight-man team event. The trophy honours the late Joe Carr and the late Wellington Mara, owner of New York Giants and past president of Winged Foot GC.
The USA participants were: Pine Valley, Bel Air, Oakmont, Oak Hill, Garden City, Winged Foot and The Olympic Club.
Oakmont Country Club will host both the Carr Mara and the US Open in 2017 (Carr Mara visits The Olympic Club, San Francisco in 2013, Royal Portrush 2015).
The Irish clubs were those with which JB Carr had close links – such as Royal Portrush (where he won his third British Amateur title in 1960); Co Sligo (12 Wests), Co Louth (12 Easts); Lahinch (three Souths); Ballybunion, Portmarnock and his home club Sutton.
The winning Sutton team was John Carr, Alan Darbey, John O’Neill, Aidan Williams, Tony Higgins, David O’Neill, Alan Levey and Frank Grant.
USA shine at 'The Solheim Cup Meath Challenge'
THE Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, will lead the European Challenge in the PING Junior Solheim Cup at Knightsbrook GC, Trim, Co Meath, next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Admission in free. Schedule: Tues: 8am Foursomes; 1.30pm: Fourball. Wed: 8am: Singles.
