McIlroy one to beat: World number two and holder of the title Rory McIlroy will be the one to beat as the Radisson SAS Hotel and Spa-sponsored West of Ireland Championship swings into action with the qualifying rounds at Co Sligo GC, Rosses Point, on Friday and Saturday.
The recent winner of the individual title at the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande - where Ireland finished third - McIlroy will begin his race for a hat-trick of West titles at 2.03pm on Friday in the company of Mark Thistleton from Britain and Simon Doherty from Malone GC.
Also at Rosses Point are the other members of the Sotogrande team - Simon Ward, Shane Lowry and Niall Kearney - in a strong field that saw the handicap limit fall at 0.7.
Declan Brannigan (Seapoint) secured a starting berth through the past winners' exemption clause, and four players got in through the under-15 exemption clause. Connacht have 16 players starting, the most notable being Stephen Healy of Claremorris, the 2006 Irish Boys champion, who makes his Senior championship debut.
Faller falls to Simon
Irish Girls' International Sara Faller made a brave bid but eventually went down to South African star Ashleigh Simon in the final of the South African Women's Amateur Matchplay Championship at George Golf Club last week.
The amazing, record-setting 17-year-old dynamo Simon added the matchplay to her strokeplay victory for the third consecutive year, breaking yet another record.
South Africa's best prospect since LPGA Hall of Fame star Sally Little won three majors in the 1980s, has the swing, the power, the dedication and drive to follow in Little's spikemarks.
Faller was equally determined to win her first major championship. Having beaten Henriette Frylink 5 and 4 in the first round, Iliska Verwey 4 and 3 and Border champion Lizelle Muller 3 and 2, she dispatched giant-killer Gina Switala in the semi-final.
Simon, who was 7 up on the 25th hole in the 36-hole final, kept doing what she does best, playing it one shot at a time until she overcame Faller on the 32nd hole.
Lahinch the quiz kings
Lahinch GC in Co Clare were crowned Golf Quiz champions of Britain and Ireland for the second time in four years at St Andrews in Scotland on Sunday.
The Lahinch team of Kevin Glynn, Shane Duggan, Frank Keane, Phenie Murphy and Thomas Neenan beat Weston-super-Mare and Hadley Wood in a three-team semi-final, before going head-to-head with West Lancashire in the final, which the Co Clare team won by 40 points to 34.
Since the first round of the competition last November, Lahinch beat East Clare and Dungarvan to reach the semi-final stage, where they first overcame last year's winners, Roe Park from Derry, to qualify for the final against Blainroe, which they went on to win on a score of 43 to 39.
Turner moves up
Niall Turner of Muskerry moved up 17 places in the world amateur rankings to 24th after finishing eighth in the Administaff Augusta State Invitational in Augusta, Georgia, over the weekend. Turner finished on two-under-par 214 after rounds of 73, 70 and 71.
The other Irish players in the field included Gareth Shaw, who finished tied 12th; Séamus Power, tied 24th, and Cian McNamara who ended in 70th place.
Coastal Carolina made it a clean sweep, as 15th-ranked Dustin Johnson claimed the individual title, posting a 12-under 204 total for the tournament.
World Amateur Rankings: 1 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1217.65, 2 Rory McIlroy (Irl), 1182, 3 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 1156.25. Other Irish in top 100: 24 Niall Turner 800, 46 Séamus Power 740.62, 51 Gareth Shaw 734.62, 54 Simon Ward 721.88, 57 Jonathan Caldwell 712.5, 83 Cian McNamara 572.09.
Give Bell a tinkle
For women who really want to improve their game this season, Oceânico Resorts and Leisure have linked up with professional Vanessa Bell to stage a clinic for five days from Monday, April 30th, to Friday, May 4th, in the western Algarve.
The golf clinic at Palmares offers players of all levels an opportunity to brush up on their skills and slip in an extra bit of practice before the summer season gets into full swing.
The package includes seven nights self-catering accommodation, four rounds of golf at Palmares golf course; transfers to and from the course daily, unlimited access to the driving range plus a gala dinner.
Prices for the package start from €714 per person. For details www.oceanicoresorts.com/ or call 01-6177967.
McElhinney on a run
Brian McElhinney's good form in the North Western Alliance continued recently when he was victorious in Eugene Garvey's Captain's Prize.
The North West scratch golfer and former British Amateur champion - who had won the previous outing in Rosapenna and been runner-up in the one before that in Portsalon - won with a score of 73.
In the nett category, the winner was Letterkenny 15-handicapper Danny McLaughlin with a score of 73, just beating Dunfanaghy's Brian Wallace (8) on a countback, with Odran McGettigan (22) of Strabane third two shots back on 75.
In the gross category, there was a one-two for North West, as Michael McGeady (scr) had four shots to spare over Pádraig MacLochlainn (4), who edged John G McBride (scr) from Rosapenna on a countback.
Riordan starts defence
Tipperary's Marion Riordan will start the defence of her Balisto Munster Senior Ladies Championship title at Douglas GC tomorrow.
Her main challenge is likely to come from fellow interprovincial Gillian O'Leary (Cork/UCC) and under-18 players Holli Snelling from Killarney and Louise Coffey of Warrenpoint.
The defending champion will actually tee off first tomorrow morning at 8am, in a three-ball involving O'Leary and Kate Gallagher of Claremorris.
The Balisto Munster Junior Championships get under way this morning with an 18-hole strokeplay qualifying round, which will reduce the field of 132 to 32 for matchplay stages.
The finals of both championships will take place on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Ford Cork Scratch will be played at Cork Golf Club on Saturday next, April 7th.
Mayo scores for Goal
The annual Mayo Goal Classic takes place at Claremorris Golf Club on Thursday week, April 12th.
The organisers are eager to make this year's classic an extra special event, as it will form part of Goal's 30th anniversary celebrations.
Team entries at the classic cost €180. Tees and greens can also be sponsored for €80. It is hoped that over 50 teams will take part on the day.
Prizes for the competition have been sponsored by Pat Hughes of Carraig Donn and various leading Irish gift companies and golf courses.
Those interested in taking part can pick up a timesheet from Claremorris Golf Club. Please contact the club at 09493 71527 for a tee time.
To book teams contact committee members: Chris Farrell, Ballina (096) 73025; Marie Jacob Breslin, Claremorris (09493) 71592; Michael Byrne, Castlebar (09490) 21561 or Pat Hughes, Westport (098) 50300.
Vagliano trip on offer
Irish fans looking to support the Britain and Ireland team in St Andrew's Bay in the Vagliano Trophy 2007 will be pleased to know a trip is being organised.
This year's Vagliano Trophy team is being captained by Mary McKenna, and Theresa Morgan, in conjunction with Marathon Travel, is looking to hear from anyone interested in travelling to Scotland.
The trip departs on July 25th by coach and ferry to St Andrews and returns on the Sunday, July 29th. For further information, contact Theresa Morgan on 041-6851876 or morgan@eircom.net
skeenan@irish-times.ie
