A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Condren claims Bray Scratch cup

THERE was a Greystones one-two at the Senior Scratch Cup held at Bray on Saturday. Taking the honours on 140 after rounds of 72 and 68 was Kevin Condren.

He was three shots clear of clubmate Gary Dunne (2) who bounced back from an opening 77 to record a superb second round 66 and claim runners-up spot on 143 beating Blainroe’s Colin Woodruffe on a countback.

Two handicapper Colum Kenny (The Curragh) was the nett winner on 141. The two 18 hole gross winners were Tom Kennedy (Woodbrook) and Clontarf’s Páraic Connolly.

THE first leg of the Best Cup final between Hazel Grove and Malahide will take place at Hazel Grove GC on Saturday, August 27th (2.30) with the return leg at Malahide GC on Sunday, September 4th (2.30).

NEWLANDS take a three-point advantage into the second leg of the Bloom Cup final at The Castle next Sunday after their 4½-1½ win in the home leg.

Whelan the Dublin Boys' champion

JACK WHELAN, a promising 16-year-old three-handicapper from Newlands, underlined his rich golfing potential with a clear six shots victory in the Allianz Dublin boys’ championship at Grange Golf Club.

In the annual event endorsed by Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley, who learned his golf at the Rathfarnham club, Whelan, with rounds of 74 and 69 was a clear winner from fellow 16 -year-olds Peter McKeever (3) from the Castle, who shot rounds of 79-70 and Stackstown’s John McCarthy (5) who scored 75-74 – with McKeever declared runner-up on the basis of his superior second round.

Other 16-year-olds to the fore were Luke Conlon (8) from Milltown who won the best nett category with rounds of 65 and 70, and Jack Ward (8), with scores of 77-76, who was the leading home Grange player in the field of 69.

THE Pádraig Harrington -sponsored Stackstown Scratch Cup proved a great success with Seán Ryan (+1) from Royal Dublin beating local Shaun Carter (+1) at the second play-off hole after the two players finished on two-under-par 142 – both carding two 71s.

THE qualifying round for the Joe Duffy Motors Mixed Foursomes matchplay will take place at Sutton GC on Sunday, September 4th with the top-four to qualify.

Entries to Conor Russell at 01-8321703.

Irish Senior Cup glory for Douglas

MUNSTER champions Douglas captured their 13th Irish Senior Cup following a 3½-1½ win over Connacht champions Claremorris in the final at Malone GC on Saturday.

Douglas called on all the experience of former internationals Eavan Higgins and Kate MacCann to see the Leesiders home; they preserved their 100 per cent record, defeating Kung Fanning and Kate Gallagher. In the top match, Sarah Helly rounded off a great tournament with three wins from three after defeating Karen O’Neill on 17 to reduce the deficit to one match. Focus then drifted to the fourth match where Julie Coyne led by two holes standing on the 16th tee. The Youghal youngster defied her years and held her nerve with solid iron play to end Sarah Gallagher’s challenge and closed out the match on the next green. Celebrations of the highest order then ensued as Douglas claimed their first championship since 1990.

Earlier in the day, Helly was formidable in her 13th hole victory over current International Charlene Reid at the top of the order as Claremorris caused a major upset in defeating Irish champions and hot favourites Royal Portrush. In the second semi-final, Douglas were always in command in three matches in defeating Enniscorthy.

New Ross host Senior Scratch Cup

NEW ROSS Golf Club will run a combined men’s and women’s 36 holes Senior Scratch Cup next Saturday.

Entry to this unique event is limited to the first 33 lowest handicaps of each section of women and men. Entry Fee is € 35 which includes soup and sandwiches after 18 holes and a light meal at the presentation.

The format will be a shotgun start at 9.15am with the second round scheduled for 2.15pm.

An added boost for the women competing in the event is that it will carry Order of Merit points towards the leading amateur of the year. Entry Forms are available to competitors online at www.newrossgolfclub.ie.

BALTINGLASS GC vice-captain, Brendan Doogue, playing off nine, won the summer medal last week with a 67 nett and, not to be outdone, this week his wife Teresa, playing off 26 won the Ladies Summer Medal with 70 nett.

Dunmurry set to face Enniscorthy

THE first leg of this year’s FBD Barton Cup final between Dunmurry Springs and Enniscorthy, who won the title three years ago, will take place at Dunmurry Springs GC on Saturday next with the first match scheduled for noon.

Dunmurry Springs will be keen to get ahead in the first leg following their narrow defeat in last year’s final by Laytown Bettystown.

Commencing in March, six matches were won by each club in order to reach the final with Dunmurry Springs beating last year’s winners Laytown Bettystown in the semi-finals by 3-2 while Enniscorthy were 3½-1½ winners over Elm Park.

Elm Park pair victorious in McGinley Trophy final

THE Elm Park team of Denis J Hannigan and Richard O’Donnell are the McGinley Trophy champions for 2011 after their 4 and 3 win over Glen of the Downs, represented by Bobby Donnelly and Stephen Halpenny, in the final at Powerscourt GC last week.

The Elm Park pair made the perfect start by winning the first two holes and never looked back to close out the match on the 15th.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Glen of the Down saw off the challenge of Citywest (Ciarán O’Connor and Mark O’Leary) on the 15th after taking the lead at the second.

The second semi-final between Elm Park and Newlands (Aidan Murphy and Cathal Donnelly) was a top-class match with a betterball of eight-under-par for the 17 holes. Newlands went one up at the sixth with a birdie from Murphy. Elm Park levelled with an eagle at the par-five 12th by Hannigan and went one up at the 15th. The 16th par-3 was halved in birdies. Elm Park then went on to win at the 17th.

ASHBOURNE Golf Club are holding two Ladies Scratch Cups on Friday 19th August, Senior Cup for handicaps 0-9 and a Junior Cup for handicaps 10-18. Bookings at ashbhournegolfclub.ie or by contacting Helen Caulfield at 087-9182717.

THE National Final of the ILGU Junior Medal sponsored by Annika Sorenstam, in association with Golf Digest Ireland, will take place at Seapoint, on Tuesday, August 23rd.