Other golf stories in brief
PGA pro-am back in Turkey
THE PGA National Pro-Am Grand final is set to return to Turkey for a second consecutive year. It follows the successful staging of last year's event at the Sirene Beach Hotel Resort and Antalya Golf Club, which saw the title claimed in a gripping finale by Machynys Peninsula pro John Peters and partner Adam Curtin.
This year's 36-hole final, over the PGA Sultan Course, and will be held between November 30th and December 4th. A total of 16 pairs from across Britain and Ireland will secure their places via a series of qualifiers which are being staged right up until July. The tournament carries a prize fund of Stg£30,000, with £5,000 going to the winning professional.
This is the 24th staging of the event, which has boasted a host of glamorous destinations in Portugal, Spain, Sardinia and even the Bahamas.
Meanwhile, former British Open and US Open champion Tony Jacklin is to receive the Golf Foundation's Spirit of Golf Award this summer for his inspiration and contribution for youngsters to take up the game. He will be presented with the honour during British Open week at Aintree.
Ken Schofield, president of the Golf Foundation, said: "Tony Jacklin's double successes in the Open Championship and the US Open set the standard and provided the inspiration for all of British and European golf's modern major champions. Almost 40 years on and we still marvel at the magnitude of his achievements."
Hurling and soccer classics
• THE FRIENDS of Dublin Hurling second annual classic takes place at Castlewarden GC on Thursday, May 29th.
The competition is for teams of four with two scores to count at each hole. Team of four costs €400, hole sponsorship is €100 or event sponsor €1,500.
Contact Michael at 087-2331983.
• HOME FARM FC, celebrating 80 years of soccer, are holding their Classic this year at Hollywood Lakes on Friday, June 20th.
A team of four costs €300, which covers the golf and an evening meal. The Classic is limited to 20 teams. Opportunities for sponsorship are also available. Anyone interested should contact either Des Daly on 087 8058244 or Eamonn Mahon 087 2584930. Presentation of prizes will be at the Home Farm clubhouse in Whitehall at 10pm.
• THE NORTH Dublin Golf Club Captain's Association are holding their next outing on Monday next, May 12th, in Portmarnock in what is Gary McShane's Captain's Prize. The timesheet is open from 8.30am to 1.30pm, with dinner at 7.30 that evening.
Formidable Dundalk
DUNDALK GC proved the top club as the Irish Association of Golf Club Secretaries held their annual Captain, Professional, Secretary and Greenkeeper outing in County Louth GC recently. With a team comprising Captain Vincent Conlon (6), professional Leslie Walker (scr), Secretary Terry Sloane (21) and greenkeeper Paddy Holohan (19), they had 89 points to win by a single point from the Castleknock foursome of Paul Tobin (12), Emmett Staunton (scr), Paddy Maguire (17) and Thomas Barnes (16). Athenry were third on 87 points. Walker as he also took the top professional prize with a 68.
Delaney second as Kent State win
THE FORMER CURTIS Cup player Tara Delaney, a student at Kent State University, finished runner-up as her college supplied the first three finishers in the Mid-American College Conference Championship at Brickyard Crossing, Indianapolis, last week.
Delaney, from Carlow, shot rounds of 74, 75, 75 and 70 for a total of six-over-par 294.
She finished three shots behind team-mate Kirby Dreher, who scored 74, 74, 74 and 69 for 291.
Kent State ran away with the team title, totalling 1,177, compared with runners-up Eastern Michigan (1,228) and Toledo (1,232) in a field of eight.
Meanwhile, Danielle McVeigh, representing Texas A and M, finished fourth behind Oklahoma State's Jaclyn Sweeney at Karsten Creek, Stillwater, in Oklahoma.
Sweeney finished nine-over-par with 74, 74 and 77 for 225. Oklahoma State players also finished second and third, with Karin Kinnerud on 229 (76-76-77) and Amanda Johnson on 230 (80-74-76).
McVeigh fired 78, 75 and 80 for 233.
Carvill strikes form early
JIM CARVILL showed good early-season form when winning the Hibernia Steel-sponsored Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Cup on Sunday.
The former international from Warrenpoint set the target early, with a first-round level par 71 in testing conditions, and followed with a 73 in the afternoon to win by one shot from Richard O'Donovan from Lucan.
O'Donovan shot rounds of 72 and 73 for 145 and edged out local Joe Moore (74, 72). Marcus Armitage from England, Aengus McAllister (Portmarnock), Alan Dowling (Hermitage) and Donal O'Brien (LB) all finished on 147.
THE ANNUAL Lady Golfer's sponsored walk takes place in Howth on Saturday next to raise funds for childrens hospice home care services. Contact Tracy Power at the Irish Hospice Foundation at 01-673 00 44.
Play a round with Padraig
ONE LUCKY fan attending this year's Irish Open will have the chance to play with reigning champion Padraig Harrington in the pro-am on Wednesday, May 14th.
Anyone who buys a ticket before May 10th will be entered into a draw to join Ireland's number one player for 18 holes at the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.
Harrington will make his first competitive appearance on home soil since his British Open victory when he defends his title at the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort from May 15th-18th.
One ticket will guarantee one entry into the prize draw, and all entrants must be available to play all day on Wednesday, May 14th. All entrants must have a certified GUI/ILGU handicap of 24 or below for men and 36 or below for women.
In addition, GUI/ILGU cardholders will be eligible for an advanced ticket offer. Cardholders who purchase an adult ticket in advance will receive a second adult ticket free.
Junior fans aged 16 or under accompanied by an adult will be admitted free. Details from europeantourtickets.com, quoting GUI08, or by contacting 1890 252 698.
