Teams from nine counties in Leinster have reached the last 32 of the FBD-sponsored Barton Cup. It was another exciting round with Elmgreen, shock winners over holders Sutton, being knocked out on a 3-2 score by Deer Park. South County continued their winning ways and now face Hazel Grove.Compiled by Shay Keenan and KevinMcKenna
In an all-Kildare tie Cill Dara and Athy clash while Callan's opponents will be fellow Kilkenny club Gowran who overcame Mount Wolseley. Arklow travel to Wexford and Ardee go to Balbriggan.
In a north county Dublin pairing St Margaret's play Skerries for a place in the last 16. Royal Tara, winners against Co Meath in round two, now play Black Bush to qualify for a fourth-round tie against Mullingar or Tullamore. Place your bets
Supreme Odds, Ireland's telephone and online bookmaker, are prepared to lay you odds of 33 to 1 to win the Captain's Prize at your club. You may, alternatively, bet on a fellow member at the same odds.
To place your bet, simply nominate your stake and your choice of player, be it yourself or anyone else playing in the competition.
All players are offered at a fixed price of 33 to 1. And you may bet on as many players as you wish. The minimum bet size is a10 and the maximum bet size is a250. Supreme Odds will accept bets until the day before the Captain's Prize at each golf club.
Chicago trip on offer
At trip to Chicago is on offer at Powerscourt Golf Club on Independence Day, July 4th, when the first prize in the Open Mixed competition is a weekend for two in the Fitzpatrick's Hotel in Chicago. The event will take place on the new West course and is sponsored by Fitzpatrick's hotel group, Budweiser and Coca Cola. The entry fee is a120 per pair and includes barbecue at the 10th tee plus refreshments. There is a two shotgun start at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Places on the time sheet are available at 01-2046033.
Harkins seeks record
Ryston's Sean Harkins will seek his record-breaking fourth Irish Pitch and Putt matchplay crown at Deerpark (Killarney) next month. The Newbridge man won in 1986, 1991 and in 1999 and no player has won more, although Carrigaline's Joe Doyle has also won it three times (1969, 1971 and 1972). What would make Harkins's feat all the more noteworthy is that he would be winning out of a third club. When he beat Johnny Price in 1986 he was member of Shandon as he was when he beat Cormac Caulfield in 1991. He represented St Bridget's when he defeated Sean Downes in 1999.
Meanwhile, seven-time women's champion Geraldine Ward (Portmarnock), who is the reigning National Strokeplay title holder, will have one more try at equalling the all-time women's matchplay record of eight wins, held by the great Clare Keating.
Thrilling comeback
The final of the Killiney mixed matchplay gave full value to the large gallery when it took five extra holes to decide the destination of the 2004 Paddy Fitzpatrick Cup.
Three down with four to play, the Edmonstown pairing of Stephen and Sharon Mollins staged a magnificent comeback, to claim a notable victory. When Sharon sank a vital 10-footer on the 16th to bring the match to dormie two, few expected the tie to go much further.
But two further wins saw the match go up the 19th and both pairings had opportunities to win until a wayward shot from the bunker on the fifth tie-hole forced the Killiney pairing of John Bailie and Mary Cummins to concede a thrilling encounter.
St Wolstan's Classic
The St Wolstan's Girls' Community Schoool Parents' Association are holding a Classic in Castlewarden Golf Club on Thursday, June 17th.
Teams going out before 10 a.m. cost €250, between 10 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. cost €300 and after 11.30 a.m. cost €400 to include dinner. Places on the time sheet may be booked at 01-6288257.
Calling all graduates
The inaugural University of Ulster Golf Challenge, for graduates, students, staff and friends, organized by the University's Alumni Association, will be held at the Galgorm Castle Golf and Country Club next week (June 8th).
The competition, run on the stableford format, is an individual and team event in which both men and women compete for the same Champions Trophy. Entry fees are pitched at a very acceptable £30 for students and £35 for graduates, staff and visitors.
Booking form are available at www.ulster.ac.uk/alumni/eventsdiary
Walton's watch
Philip Walton will be an interested spectator when the Philip Walton Under-19 Scratch Cup takes place at The Island Golf Club on Monday, June 21st. With a handicap limit of 20 some of the best up and coming young players in the country are expected to test their skills over the Europen Youth Championship venue. Entry tee is €15 and places on the time sheet may be booked at 01-8436205 or 01-8436104.
Scoring is hot
Shots were being dropped all over the place at Ballybofey & Stranorlar after an extremely hot day of scoring last week.
So good, in fact, was the scoring on the day that all four winners saw their handicaps reduced. The winner y was 30 handicapper Brid McGinty, who won with a fine score of 62. She is now playing off 27.
Next was Dolores Devanney, who despite firing a nett 63 had to settle for runners-up spot, but still managed to reduce her handicap from 15 to 13.
And recent beginner Rhonda Russell showed some early promise with a score of 65 to claim third place, which was good enough to reduce her 36 handicap by two shots. Even the gross winner, Anne McAllsiter, shaved a shot off her handicap of 19. So all told a good day for all the winners.
Markey's popular win
The roars around the Balbriggan clubhouse last Sunday week were almost deafening when it was announced that long-time member Kathleen Markey had claimed one of the major prizes in Nicky Ennis' President's Prize to Ladies.
Last year Kathleen had a hip replacement, but she has bounced back in no uncertain terms and hasn't let it stop her enjoyment of golf and certainly hasn't allowed it to halt her golfing progress. Her score of 73, off a handicap of 31, earned her the top class three prize on the day.
Ennis' President's Prize actually produced a number of very popular winners. Former lady captain Mariann Martin, playing off 26, took the overall prize in what was a close-run contest.
Her score of 71 was just good enough to pip Mary Kavanagh (26) on the back nine, while back in third spot was Ann McEvoy (22) also on 71. The gross prize winner was 13 handicapper Nicola Campbell with a score of 73, while joining Markey as the other class winners were Imelda O'Shea (12) who won class one with a score of 75 and Mary Kenny (25) who won class two with a 73.
Farrell for Hollywood
Hollywood Lakes will be the venue for Tom Farrell's Captain's Prize of the North Dublin Golf Club Captain's Association on Friday week, June 11th. There are two separate slots on the timesheet. The first runs from 9 a.m. to 12.30, while there is a break for an hour before the second session from 1.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. The dinner takes place at 7.30 p.m.
Boyle ban lifted
The Central Council of the GUI yesterday decided not to extend the one month ban on Boyle Golf Club following investigations into irregularities in awarding handicaps to new members at the club.
Central Council considered the report of the Connacht Provincial Council and agreed that Boyle Golf Club were fully co-operative in insuring that matters had been corrected, and that the suspension imposed on Tuesday, May 4th 2004 will be lifted from midnight on Thursday.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
