Keating proves bestDavid Keating mastered the conditions best to win the gross prize at the Leinster Alliance outing to PGA National last week. Played over 17 holes (the third was out of play) the Kinsale scratch player fired a four-under-par 64 for 38 points and a two shots win over Ger Lawlor from Citywest with Matt Holt from Arklow taking third place on 33 points.
The best net score of the day went to Ciarán Leonard, a six handicapper from Slade Valley, who fired 39 points to win by two from David Walsh from Dún Laoghaire and Eamon Moran from Slade Valley. The junior prize went to Jonathon Webster from South County with 37 points. The final outing of the season is the captain's (Eamon Connolly) prize at the European Club on March 4th. Time sheet with Michael Neary 01-2827297 (9am-5pm).
Ladies draw made
The draws for the 2007 AA Insurance Ladies Golf Championships, Southern District, have been made. This year the first round of all events, except for the senior foursomes, will be played on a home and away basis. This two-leg first round means that the AA Insurance Championships will get under way at the beginning of March - almost a month earlier than last year. Killarney, winners of the District Junior meet Macroom in the first round, while runners-up Tralee take on Waterville.
The Intermediate Cup see holders Ballybunion meeting Castletroy, while the Minor Cup winners, East Cork, meet near neighbours, Cobh. Castletroy who won the inaugural Challenge Cup, play Woodstock of Co Clare in the first round.
All first round matches have to be completed by April 1st.
Seventh win for Brady
He may well have taken a break from the tour in recent weeks, but that made no difference at all to Eamonn Brady who returned to action in the Emerald Pro Tour on Friday last at Corballis to claim what was his seventh win of the season. On a tricky course, which has eight par threes, Brady went around in just one over par for a three-shot victory over John Kelly of St Margaret's with Seafield's Patrick Geraghty in third place. Victory for Brady ensured he consolidated his place at the top of the Order of Merit.
The amateur section proved to be a tight contest with three players finishing the day tied on 34 points. However, winning on the back nine thanks to a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole was Carton House's Declan O'Neill, just edging past Ray Ebbs and Dave Kinlon. The tour moves to Knightsbrook this Friday, February 16th and places on the timesheet are available from Ciarán at 086-0807280 or by emailing teetimes@emeraldprotour.com. It is €50 for both amateurs and professionals.
Draper wins first title
So is it possible to be successful in two sports at a professional level? Well the answer would appear to be yes. Only last month Scott Draper - who won a mixed doubles Tennis Grand Slam title in his native Australia and who reached a career high of 42 in the singles rankings - was coaching Lleyton Hewitt in the Australian Open.
But on Sunday he returned to his golfing career and secured his first professional title when he won the New South Wales PGA Championship at Riverside Oaks. Former Davis Cup player Draper closed with a final round 65 to finish on 20 under par, one stroke ahead of Andrew Bonhomme and Aaron Townsend.
Ennis rewarded
Ennis golf club's concentration on girls' golf is beginning to pay rich dividends judging by the selection of a host of their players for the various Munster training panels which have just been announced. Ennis have five of the 10 players in the Munster A Training panel and two of the eight in the B Panel. The panels are A: Sarah Cunningham, Diandra O'Connell, Ciara Pender, Rachel Pyne, and Ruth Lillis all from Ennis, Holli Snelling (Killarney), Sarah Crowe (Tipperary), Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) and Hannah O'Brien (Lahinch). And the B panel: Michelle McCarthy (Clonmel), Eadaoin Curtin (Bantry), Eimear McManus (Limerick), Aoife Barry (Muskerry), Aoife Pyne and Jenny Hennessy (both Ennis) and Edel Coyne and Julie Coyne from Youghal.
Doherty honoured
One of Ireland's longest standing professionals Micheal Doherty, from City of Derry, has received a special honour in recognition of his contribution to the sport in this country. Recently he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Organisation in Ireland (District 1160). The 68-year-old began his golf career as assistant to Arnold Gilliland at the North West GC in 1954 and two years later, at the age of 17, became the club's head professional - the youngest club pro in Europe. In his time he has been bestowed with many honours and in 1976 was PGA Irish Region Captain. He has been at City of Derry since 1972.
Shay O'Donoghue dies
The death occurred unexpectedly last Friday of Shay O'Donoghue, secretary-manager of the Grange Golf Club in Rathfarnham. O'Donoghue, one of the longest serving managers in the country began his career at Newlands GC in 1977 before moving to the Grange GC in 1987. A former president of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries, O'Donoghue was manager of the Old Sheiling and Dublin Sport Hotels before moving into the world of golf. A keen musician, O'Donoghue, in his younger days, was a member of the Debonairs Showband. He will be sadly missed.
Ar dheis Dé Go raibh a anam.
The Christy O'Connor Oyster Society are next in action on Thursday, February 15th, with places on the timesheet available on 091-529609.
skeenan@irish-times.ie
