Short Game

A round-up of other golf news in brief

A round-up of other golf news in brief

Lawrie and McGrane claim Links Society honours

EUROPEAN Tour players Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane took the honours in Des Smyth’s president’s prize at the final outing of the Links Golfing Society at Royal Dublin last week.

Lawrie, with a flawless three-under-par 69, won the president’s prize on a countback from McGrane, who won the gross.

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Second to Lawrie was David Mortimer on 72, with Frank Leonard from Knightsbrook a shot further back on 73. Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint), off plus one, was best of a trio on 74 that included Jude Doyle from St Anne’s and local Joe Enright, off eight.

McGrane’s 69 in the gross was three clear of Ashbourne’s John Dwyer, with Eamonn Brady from Clontarf on 73. Stuart Taylor from The Island took fourth place from Gary Cullen from Beaverstown, and Robert Giles from Greenore after all three finished on 74.

Mortimer and Enright also figured in the team prize with Tony Diamond on an eight-under-par 64. Pat O’Brien from Laytown and Bettystown won the gross in the over 50s, with Terry Lilly from Slade Valley taking the nett.

McGrane reached the turn in 31 with the help of an eagle at the sixth and birdies at the third and seventh but lost out to Lawrie on the back nine when he dropped a shot at the 17th.

Lawrie was out in 34 after a birdie at the eight and two more at the 11th and 12th on the way home gave him the edge over McGrane in the race for the president’s prize.

McGowan in Royal form

GOOD scoring was the order of the day on Sunday last as the Leinster Alliance held their penultimate outing of the season at Royal Dublin.

Despite the cold weather and the testing conditions of the north Dublin links course – which was in excellent condition – Beech Park’s nine-handicapper Tom McGowan produced a fine score of 39 points to win the nett category. He had two points to spare over Brendan Burke, also playing off nine, from Old Conna, while third place was claimed by Grange’s four-handicapper Conn Buckley, a further point adrift on 36 points.

In the gross category, Carton House’s Declan O’Neill – playing off two – was the winner with 36 points, three points clear of his nearest challenger Jamie Keegan (4) from Old Conna.

The last outing of the Alliance for the season will be Tony Frew’s Captain’s Prize which will be held on Sunday, March 14th, at Castleknock. The timesheet is with Michael Neary on 2827297.

Chance for career in greenkeeping  

EVER considered a career in greenkeeping? The Golfing Union of Ireland have just presented greenkeeping bursaries to Adrian McCullough and Chris Watt, and are looking for others to get involved in the course, which takes place in Antrim at CAFRE, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise at Greenmount Campus.

There are part- and full-time programmes, including a level-two diploma in work-based horticulture (sportsturf-Greenkeeper); an advanced national certificate at level three; and foundation degree/certificate of higher education at level four.

Until last year there wasn’t a full- time sports turf programme for young people. But CAFRE, in partnership with the GUI, opened the greenkeeping cadetship programme in June 2009, which is targeted at those aged between 17 and 25 with a keen interest in developing a career in greenkeeping.

The GUI is supporting two cadetships with a bursary of £7,500 (€8,270) each per annum, with each cadetship running from September 1st to August 31st.

Anyone who is interested in getting further details on the course and the requirements to participate can do so by checking out the GUI website on www.gui.ie

All applications must be received by May 7th.

Team Ireland announce grants

TEAM Ireland Golf Trust have announced grants totalling €217,000 to 17 aspiring golfers who are pursuing their careers on professional golf tours.

Among the golfers receiving the top award of €20,000 are Simon Thornton, who graduated to the European Tour in 2010 from the Challenge Tour, and Alison Walshe from Galway, who has a card on both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA in the United States.

Walshe has decided to represent Ireland in the professional ranks having competed for the USA in the Curtis Cup in 2008 as an amateur. Other golfers to receive a grant of €20,000 are Tara Delaney and Martina Gillen, who will both play on the Ladies European Tour in 2010.

A grant of €15,000 is awarded to former Walker Cup player Niall Kearney following a successful amateur career.

Kearney will play mainly on the Challenge Tour this year, as will Jonathan Caldwell and Gareth Shaw, who also receive grants of €15,000.

All three players were members of the victorious Irish European Championship team in 2008. Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh will also receive grants of € 15,000 to assist their campaigns on the Ladies European Tour.

Munster women's team named

THE IRISH LADIES Golf Union annual information meeting for clubs in the southern district will take place on Saturday at Mallow GAA Complex at noon.

The Munster team for the Women’s Interprovincial Championships at The Island GG, Dublin from April 7th-9th has been chosen: Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Sarah Cunningham (Ennis), Aoife Lowry (Tipperary), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry), Gillian O’Leary (Cork), Karen O’Neill (Douglas), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Linda Toomey (Limerick),

The team will be captained by Valerie Hassett from Ennis and will be managed by Valerie Shannon from Lahinch.

O'Kane breaks record at Ballyliffin

BALLYLIFFIN president – and former “handicap convenor” – Colm O’Kane took full advantage of the temporary greens and a shortened course to break all records last week, blasting his way around The Old Links in three over par, playing off an 18 handicap.

The effervescent left-hander shot his way to an incredible 51 points in frosty conditions as the temporary greens proved a happy and familiar hunting ground for “Steady Eddie” and his renowned propensity to putt at every opportunity.

The delighted O’Kane boasted afterwards that he never imagined shooting his age in Stableford points again!

O’Kane started both nines with four-point birdies and added another four pointer at the par-four 16th.

After scoring 24 points on the outward journey, the president came home in level threes with gross birdies at the 10th and 16th. His card read 3, 5, 5, 6, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4 and 3, 4, 3, 4, 6, 4, 3, 4, 5.