Today's other golf stories in brief
Gonzaga book final place
GONZAGA College won the Leinster final of the Irish Schools’ Matchplay at Grange Golf Club last week after they beat Blackrock College by 3½ to 1½.
One-up wins for Alex Gleeson and Peter McKeever and a 4 and 3 win for Eoghan McKeever, plus a half for Seán Higgins, were enough to see them on their way to victory. Their only loss fell to Tommy O’Brien, who was well beaten by Gerard McNamara, going down 7 and 6.
Gonzaga will represent Leinster in the national finals, which take place in Killarney on April 20th. Blackrock had already qualified to represent Leinster in the strokeplay event.
Brabazon wins at Portmarnock again
BALBRIGGAN’S Dave Brabazon, off three handicap, showed his liking for Portmarnock Links as he followed up his win in the Hilary Society at the same venue last year by winning again on Sunday.
His three-under-par 68 was three shots better than a group of players on 71.
Runner-up was newcomer to the society Scott Williams (4) from Castle, who beat another newcomer, Fergal O’Connell (5) from Forrest Little, on the back nine.
Gerard Kelly, from UCD, followed up his win last week by taking the gross with 70, and the professional’s prize was shared by Eamon Brady from Clontarf and Gavin Lunny from Naas, also with 70.
The team winners were Gerard Kelly (UCD), Ryan Hannon (Sutton), Gary Cullen (Beaverstown) and Donal O’Brien (LB) with 59 net.
The next outing is on Sunday, March 7th, in Seapoint. To book time check website or call 087-0510899.
ANYTHING you can do . . . Last Sunday at Adare Manor Golf Club, playing the first round of the Spring League, Eamonn Ryan, a 17 handicapper, playing the par-four fourth hole, holed out his second shot for an eagle two.
And in the next fourball, his brother, Gerry, playing off 13, on the same hole and from almost the same position also holed out for an eagle two. A feat that will be hard to beat.
McElroy and Thomas claim Spanish senior pairs title
THERE was success in Spain last week for former Irish international Sheena McElroy when she won the Spanish Senior Ladies International Pairs Championship at Novo Sancti Petri in Cadiz.
In partnership with Vicki Thomas of Wales, they were victorious by a single shot in the 36-hole format which sees one round of fourball, followed by one round of foursomes.
The Irish-Welsh pairing had a 72 in the fourball round and then an 80 in the foursomes for a two-round total of 152 to win by one stroke from the Spanish partnership of Cristina Marsans and Catalina Castillejo with another Spanish duo of Maria Pia Allende and Bufill Estany third on 157.
It was a good week for the Welsh in Spain as Welsh Senior international Jane Rees won the Spanish Senior Ladies Open Amateur Championship at the same venue.
Rees was a runaway winner, finishing eight shots clear after the 36-hole championship following rounds of 73 and 78 for 151 total, with Germany’s Tessa Oldenbourg her nearest challenger. Castillejo was third a further two strokes back on 161.
McElroy led the Irish challenge. She was in second place after an opening 79, but a second-round 86 saw her finish in a tie for eighth place. Valerie Hassett, after rounds of 87 and 86, was 19th, Valerie Shannon tied 28th and Pamela Morgan tied 43rd.
Students on one-day Meath mission
THIS Easter 13 students and four teachers from St Patrick’s Classical School Navan will travel to Calcutta. A biennial undertaking since 2006, they will work there with two local charities, educating and helping disabled children.
As part of their fundraising activities, two students from transition year, Hugh Martyn (Headfort) and Ciarán O’Rourke (Royal Tara), will play one hole on each course in Co Meath on one day, Tuesday, March 9th.
A different hole from one to 18 will be played on each course.
There are 15 Golf Union of Ireland-affiliated clubs in the county, with two courses in Headfort and 27 holes in Royal Tara and Black Bush, thereby satisfying the required 18 holes on 18 courses.
Support is being sought through “18 Hole” sponsorship cards which have been distributed to clubs.
For further information or to pledge support, contact Alf Martyn at 086-8281527.
Young triumphs on home track
A COLD day last Monday at Rosslare failed to prevent some hot scoring as the latest of the Rosslare Alliance events took place. Almost 60 competitors braved the conditions, and although a cold northeast wind made the course play long, the scoring was still of a good standard with the fast and true greens testing every player.
Host club professional Johnny Young took the plaudits in the gross section with 36 points, good enough for a one-point margin over St Helen’s Bay Glen Robinson, with Jimmy Bolger of Kilkenny next best on 33 points.
In the nett category, Anthony Corish from St Helen’s Bay had the best score of the day with 38 points, one better than Callan’s John Dwyer, while Michael Goggin (Wexford) with 36 points.
The final two dates for the Rosslare Alliance are on Monday, March 1st, and Monday, March 22nd.
Places on the timesheet are available on 053-9132032.
Power plays part for US college
SÉAMUS POWER from West Waterford, finished fifth overall to help East Tennessee University to win the JU Invitational college tournament at the TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium course, in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Power, now coached by former ET and PGA players Garrett Willis and Ireland’s Keith Nolan, finished at seven-over-par 223 after rounds of 80, 71 and 72.
The Buccaneers, ranked 39th by Golfstat.com, fired a final round 299 to beat Wake Forest by seven strokes and Clemson by eight.
ET had four players in the top 15, including a team-best performance by Michael Stewart from Troon, Scotland, who finished tied for third on the individual leaderboard at 222 (73-76-73).
Stewart finished four strokes back of Wake Forest’s Brendan Gielow for the individual title, but the Bucs got strong showings from the rest of the team to take the tournament title. Rhys Enoch from Cornwall, England, tied for 11th at 10-over, and freshman Garth McGee from Bangor, tied for 15th at 12-over.
“The course played hard, as you can see from the scores, but we did enough good things to win,” said head coach Fred Warren, whose team won its 41st tournament title under his leadership.
