Sutton in Barton Shield final: Sutton will be the Leinster Barton Shield representatives in this year's Bulmers All-Ireland finals at Shannon from September 16th-18th.
In an exciting final, at the excellently presented Killeen Golf Club, Sutton edged out Hermitage by one hole in a nail-biting final. It looked to be going Hermitage's way when they turned two up but the 10th and 11th holes were to play a vital part in the outcome. Sutton won both holes to turn the deficit into a two-hole advantage they were never to lose. Not even the presence of Ronan Flood (Padraig Harrington's caddie) who carried the bag for Greg Bowden could help his club. Hermitage did make a brave effort at the finish in coming from dormie three down to take both matches to the 18th. In the final analysis Mark Collins and Seamus McMonagle finished all square with Greg Massey and Sean O'Flaherty while Alan Darbey and Derek Downie beat Bowden and Alan Dowling by one hole. Sutton last took the Leinster title in 1972 and their last All-Ireland success was in 1950 following successes in 1946 and 1948.
Borris into first All-Ireland final
Celebrations went on for days in Borris GC recently after they qualified for their first All-Ireland final. The nine-hole Carlow Club will represent Leinster in the Pierce Purcell Shield final after beating Portmarnock 3-2 in the provincial decider in Kilkenny. The Borris squad, managed by Mick Dillon and Mick Hanrahan, included Pat McGrath, AF Mitchell, John Lillis, Edward Holden, Jim Conran, Kevin Cosgrave, Mick Geoghegan, John Thompson, John Quinn, Greg Murphy, Mick Coady, Mick Condron and Art O'Leary.
Meanwhile, tie holes were the order of the day as Dundalk won two matches on the 19th to edge out Dún Laoghaire 3-2 in a thrilling Leinster final of the Jimmy Bruen Shield at Wicklow GC. With the sides level at 1-1 Ken Norton and Michael Coburn beat Dún Laoghaire's Aiden McCarthy and Austin Savage on the 19th, and Charlie Monahan and Ruairí Gogarty also won on the first tie hole against Michael Morrissey and Eoin O'Brien. Declan Meagher and Colm Hodkinson kept Dún Laoghaire in the match with a 20th-hole victory over Alan McCabe and Michael Gill.
The Best Cup line-up for the semi-finals sees Kilternan take on St Margaret's while Grange meet Skerries in the second semi-final.
Skerries try to bridge 40-year gap
Skerries will be trying to bridge a 40-year gap by reaching the final of the Barton Cup having last won the trophy in 1965. In the semi-final they meet Royal Tara, with the Dublin team holding the advantage of having three of the five matches at home. In the second semi-final, Kilcoole, who are in existence for only 10 years, have surprised many by reaching this stage where they clash with Cill Dara, who have a wealth of experience in inter-club competition, and will play three games at home. The winners will meet over the two-leg Centenary Final on August 21st and the final leg on September 4th.
Dublin Boys set for Grange
Leading Irish tournament professional Paul McGinley welcomes the second annual Grange-Allianz Dublin Boys championship to be staged on his home course on Friday, August 13th. For boys under 16 years of age on August 13th, with a maximum handicap of 16, the 36-hole strokes championship is one of the feature underage events in the greater Dublin area.
Ryder Cup hero McGinley, who learned his golf at Grange, says: "I am delighted that my sponsors Allianz are supporting the Dublin Boys Golf in my home club Grange. Great credit is due to Grange and Allianz for giving the up and coming stars a chance to test their skills on a great course that holds so many happy memories for me."
Patrons of the event are the legendary Christy O'Connor snr and Wattie Sullivan, who spent a lifetime as the Grange club's resident professional.
The Island host hospice aid day
The Island GC will host the annual day in aid of St Francis Hospice, Raheney, on Monday, August 16th. With the chance to play on one of the top links courses in the country and also help a very worthy cause, the event is a four-person team (any combination) and the cost to include meals is a400 per team. The timesheet for the event is available at 01-8436205.
Masterson makes his mark
Paul Masterson shot the first sub-par round at the altered Coollattin course in President Joe Lennon's prize last week. Masterson, an 18-year-old, who plays to a handicap of three, fired a magnificent 69 that included birdies at the first, seventh, 10th, 11th and 12th. However, in a day of hot scoring the top prize went to Carnew's Ken Redmond with a 61 off 18 from Peter Andrews 62 and Dan O'Leary and Tony Fleming on 64. Masterson took the gross.
Dolan wins ladies captain's prize
Gort GC was the venue for a close-run Lady Captain's Prize last week, but in the end it was a former lady captain who took the honours. Ellen Dolan had the slenderest of winning margins with her score of 66, just one better than Marie Hannon Healy, while back in third spot was Kathleen Reeves on 68. The gross prize went to Bernie Larkin. It was a particularly special win for Dolan as not only was she delighted to collect Maureen Brennan's prize as a former ladies captain, but also this year her own husband, Brendan, is the club's men's captain.
Campbell's record round at Ardee
The honorary secretary's (Sheila Roche) Prize to ladies at Ardee GC is one of their more prestigious events and is a title coveted by many of the members. But it was made all the more memorable this year when the winner set a course record around the County Louth course.
Taking the honours in some style was six-handicapper Joanna Campbell who blew the rest of the field away. In doing so she set a new standard for the course of 71 gross. That gave her a wonderful nett score of 65 and a four-shot victory over the rest of the competitors. Second was Nuala Thorne (25) on 69, the same score as third-placed Phyllis Leahy (27), while Sara Byrne (9) took the gross prize after a score of 81. But all the congratulations were reserved for Campbell, and her new course record.
Combined Dominican doubles
Doubles were the order of the day at the recent Combined Dominican Golf Society outing to Naas GC. A tough outing to win at the best of times, Orla McGuinness (Swords GC) won for the second year in succession. The former Eccles Street pupil was once again the winner with a superb score of 42 points. That gave the 18-handicapper a two-point winning margin over Myra Glynn (22) from Old Conna, with Delgany's Maureen Mason (23) in third,also on 40 points. However, McGuinness wasn't the only one celebrating a double as Cabra Schools were also second-time winners. 2003 - which was the 40th anniversary of the society - marked their first win in 30 years of competing. Win number two has come quickly as they made it back- to- back titles. The wonder now is whether McGuinness and Cabra Schools will make it a hat-trick of wins in 2005.
Creative trouble-shooting
Looking to improve your mental toughness on the golf course? Well if so the Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge, is the venue for you, where a creative clinic on that aspect of the game will take place. The idea is to train yourself to be more effective on course troubleshooting. The course will be given by Éamonn Kelly on August 26th (from 6.30pm to 9.30pm). The cost of the session is €75 per participant. Further information is available from Kelly on 01-6601906 or 087-6423045.
Horgan denies O'Sullivan
Junior member Jennifer O'Sullivan proved to have the best score in Anne O'Connor's Lady Captain's Prize at Craddockstown recently, but the honours went to Carmel Horgan. Horgan, playing off 13, won the event with a two-round score of 150, pushing O'Sullivan into runners-up spot.
The 17-handicapper had performed exceptionally well with a score of 148, while Elizabeth Flood (22) was third in 152, just edging out Anne Coventry (22) on a countback. Stella Lunny (8) was the gross prize winner on 166.
