GOLFnet challenge: The GOLFnet Charity Challenge 2006, sponsored by Bulmers, offers GUI members another opportunity to test their consistency over the summer months.
Running from June 1st to August 31st, the event ranks players in four categories. Based on their top three scores (combined nett differentials) in qualifying singles competitions (both home and away) during that period the top 12 in each category will play in the National Final at Carton House GC (Montgomerie Course) on Tuesday, October 3rd.
Players can view their ranking throughout the competition via the continuously updated order of merit which will be displayed on www.GOLFnet.ie under the Club and Member log-ins.
The Bulmers GOLFnet Charity Challenge is open to players over 18 holding handicaps on GOLFnet. A one-off entry fee of €€15 (£10) payable to their home club, registers the player on GOLFnet. All proceeds raised from the Charity Challenge will be donated to selected charities.
Ring of Kerry strikes gold
The Ring of Kerry GC has finally fulfilled its potential with the award of a prestigious Golf Monthly/HSBC Regional Course Rankings gold medal. These awards are based on many criteria, including course design, condition, clubhouse, facilities and staff. Other recipients included Royal St Georges, St Andrews and Tralee.
Blessed with an unparalleled setting, the beauty of the Ring of Kerry course has never been in question. The course itself, has undergone many recent changes, including removing rough, re-shaping greens and re-designing holes - to render it much more user-friendly whilst maintaining its championship status.
The clubhouse facilities have also been upgraded and a driving range added to the practice facilities.
Busy schedule for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy (Holywood), who successfully defended the West of Ireland Championship at Co Sligo Golf Club last week, faces a very busy schedule in the coming weeks.
McIlroy, who is also the Irish Amateur Close champion, travels to New Zealand as the GUI nominee on the Europe team to play Asia/Pacific in Auckland on April 26th-28th. On his return he will have three weeks of tough competition, competing in the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes (May 5th-7th), the Irish Amateur Open, sponsored by AIB, at Portmarnock (May 12th-14th) and the Brabazon trophy at Ganton (May 19th-21st).
The six players selected by the GUI to compete in the Trubshaw Cup at Tenby Golf Club, Wales from April 29th-30th are: Cian Curley (Newlands), Nicholas Grant (Knock), Christopher Hughes (Royal Portrush), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) and Simon Ward (Co Louth).
Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) has been selected along with McIlroy to compete in the 42nd Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Brabazon Trophy selection: Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Connor Doran (Banbridge), Grant, Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin), McIlroy, Aengus McAllister (Portmarnock), Brendan McCarroll (Ballyliffin), Peter O'Keefe (Douglas) and Séamus Power (West Waterford)
St Luke's annual classic
The Friends of St Luke's Hospital 25th Annual Golf Classic will take place at Royal Dublin on Monday, June 19th. This popular team of four Stableford competition is one on the main events in the St Luke's fundraising calendar and places on the time-sheet are filling up fast. Contact: Deirdre Hughes at (0-1) 4065036 or 087-2319728 or email: deirdre@friendsofstlukes.ie
Scottish success for Reid
Deirdre Smith from Co Louth and Cork's Clare Coughlan were best of the Irish in the Helen Holm Scottish Strokeplay Championship over Royal Troon at the weekend. Smith with rounds of 72, 76 and 76 tied on 224 with Coughlan (75, 70 and 79).
However, they were 12 shots adrift of the winner, England's Melisa Reid. In a dramatic finish, 18-year-old Reid, from Derby, the English girls champion for the past two years, staged a smash-and-grab victory over long-time leader Emma Duggleby from Yorkshire. One shot behind on the 18th tee, Reid birdied the last for a three-under-par 72 and 13-under-par 212. Duggleby three-putted from 30 feet for a bogey five, a closing 74 and 213.
Other Irish scores included Maura Morrin (Curragh) 230 (72 76 and 79), Tricia Mangan (Ennis) 77 75 79 and Martina Gillen (Beaverstown) 75 75 81, on 231. Jenna Wilson and Heather MacRae won the international team event for Scotland with 445. Ireland were seventh on 462.
Power up to scratch
Eileen Rose Power claimed victory in the Lahinch Scratch Cup, played over the Old Course on Saturday. The Kilkenny scratch golfer fired a 36-hole total of 153 to win the gross prize by three shots from Athenry's Fiona Carroll (3) and Niamh Kitching (2) of Claremorris. Next best was Athlone's Ann Geoghegan (3) on 160. The nett winner was Cork's Lillian Harrington (6) with a score of 148, with Pamela Murphy (4) from Ennis next best on 153, four ahead of Clonmel's Helen O'Donoghue (8).
Old hurlers Little success
It's hard to beat experience. Last week at Forrest Little's four-man invitational team event the host club's Larry McGuinness was joined by three of his former Eoghan Ruadh hurling colleagues of the 1950s and they romped to victory.
Joining 16-handicapper McGuinness were Bernard Fitzpatrick, an 18-handicapper from Newlands, RTÉ broadcaster and author Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin, who plays off 20 in Hermitage, and Knockanally's Seán O'Brien (22), a substitute on the Dublin hurling team that lost to Tipperary in the 1961 All-Ireland final.
Although it was the first time the four had competed together in a golf team event they recorded an impressive 87 points to finish four points clear of their nearest rivals among the 152 that competed on the day.
Their victory proved hugely popular and none were more surprised than the four themselves as they knew nothing of their success until the actual prize giving.
Big ones elude Dempsey
The golfing gods haven't exactly been kind to Michelle Dempsey at Charlesland GC in Co Wicklow of late. Despite playing some consistent golf, she has missed out on the top prizes on a couple of occasions. At the start of the month she fired a nett 79 to finish runner-up to Hilary Gall (16) in the singles competition. Two days later in the April Medal, the 16-handicapper won the gross prize with a score of 92. However, the medal went to Liz O'Dwyer (21) with a nett 69, six better than runner-up Margaret Kehoe (25), with Mary Kavanagh third on 76. Kavanagh had a second third place only last Saturday in the singles competition. Her 36 points total was well shy of winner Judy O'Connell's (31) impressive 43, five better than Annette Lynch (24).
Duggan in the prizes
With a low handicap it's not easy to feature in the prizes each week, but last weekend Tom Duggan of Clonmel defied the odds. Despite playing off four, he shot 38 points on Saturday to finish third in the open singles competition, behind runaway winner Toddy O'Brien's (11) 44 points, five better than PJ Phelan (8). Gavin Smyth (1) was the gross winner with 35 points.
Then less than 24 hours later Duggan was in the winners' circle once again, finishing second in the Spring Medal. His score of 68 was beaten on a countback by Tom Noonan (20), while Eoin Cass (5) was third on 69. A 72 claimed the gross prize for Brendan Keating.
Madden ace sets up win
Seven is a number many consider lucky. And that was certainly true for one Royal Tara members last week.
Playing in the Breffni Shield Scotch foursomes 12-handicapper Maura Madden came to the par three 11th hole and with her trusty seven-iron holed in one, much to the delight of playing partner Erika Goggins (17).
The duo had double reason for celebration as they went on to win the qualifying event. Their score of nett 66 saw relegated Alice Davis (7) and Breeda Farrell (23) to runners-up with 67.6.
Shanahan wins and wins
You would think that losing a shot or two would limit your chances of winning at your club each week. But not if you are playing consistently well.
Slade Valley's Imelda Shanahan has been steadily cutting shots off her handicap and collecting the odd victory or two in the process. Only last Saturday week she won the singles competition with 40 points, playing off 25.
That cost her a shot, but the very next day she finished four up in the v par singles event to pip Denise Campbell (29) and win once again. That score cost her yet another shot, but on last Saturday she made it win number three, when now off 23, she won the singles stroke competition with a nett 74.
Molyneux by a long shot
There is winning and then there is winning with something to spare,exactly what Rose Molyneux did over the Cashen Course in Ballybunion last Tuesday. Playing off 29, she simply blew away the rest of the field. Her score of 41 points was six ahead of nearest rival Helen O'Donoghue (34), who was one better than Katherine Tangney (21), while Claire Hurley (19) was the gross winner.
Redahan on a roll
Bray's Dee Redahan has had a win, a second and a third recently. Last Sunday week she partnered Rosemary Gantly (24) to victory in the scotch foursomes, with 42 points. Two days later, the 17-handicapper was joined by Gantly and Mary O'Reilly (20) as they finished runners-up in the rumble, while a week earlier she had been third in her class in the PGA Tankard, which was won by Nikki Gordon (36) with 35 points.
