A round-up of today's other golf stories in brief...
Look and learn as stars tee up in East
DROP IN to one of Ireland's leading links courses during the East of Ireland Championship at Co Louth Golf Club from Saturday to Monday and watch and learn from some of the country's top amateur, including West of Ireland champion Shane Lowry from Esker Hills.
Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) has joined the professional ranks following his 13-under-par 275 victory in last year's championship, the lowest 72-hole score achieved over the course.
A local favourite will be Simon Ward of the host club, runner-up in last year's championship. Previous champions in the field include Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint) and Michael Sinclair (Knock).
The championship dates back to 1941 when the inaugural winner was the late JB Carr from Sutton, the first Irishman to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame.
In more recent times the title was won by Darren Clarke and contested by Paul McGinley, Pádraig Harrington (British Open Champion) and Rory McIlroy, and the last three-time winner, Noel Fox, from Portmarnock.
McCarthy well clear at Portmarnock
THE ISLAND'S Tom McCarthy was a comfortable winner of Gary McShane's Captain's Prize at the North Dublin Golf Club Captains' Association outing at Portmarnock.
The 13-handicapper proved to be far and away the best golfer on the day as he scored an impressive 40 points, four clear of a group of eight.
Second place went to four-handicapper Pat Comerford, from Corrstown, who was the best of those on 36 points, with Brendan McKeon (13, St Anne's) taking third place.
The Seniors prize was taken by Willie Leggett (6, The Island) with 34 points. Bernie Dillon (17, Howth) with 35 points took the spoils in the Veterans section, while Denis Hegarty from Rush was the victor in the Super Veterans category with 33 points.
Next up for the association is their visit to Forrest Little on August 25th, when they will all be battling for success in Bryan Gleeson's President's Prize.
Island ladies rise in Eastern
THE ISLAND GC bridged a 79-year gap when they won the Suzuki-sponsored Eastern District Senior Cup, beating host club Woodbrook in an exciting final 3-2 on Sunday.
All-Ireland champions in 1928 and 1929, The Island will now represent the East in the All-Ireland finals at Galway GC on August 29th-30th.
Rachael Cassidy, a student at Stirling University, set the ball rolling with a 4 and 3 win over Sue Phillips in the top match, and Sarah Carty added a second point by beating Mairéad McNamara by the same margin.
Woodbrook hit back with Linda Cole McKenna beating Suzie Sheehan on the final green and Clodagh Hopkins levelling the scores at two matches each with a 3 and 2 win over Angie Dwyer.
In an exciting conclusion, Gertie McMullan chipped and putted for a birdie finish and a 4 and 2 win over Lee Murphy O'Connell in the decider.
The Island team were captained by Mary Dinan, with Geraldine Ryan and Eileen Lowe the other members of the squad. In the earlier rounds, The Island overcame the Castle, Milltown and the Grange, while Woodbrook were successful against Donabate, Hermitage and holders Co Louth.
Trio on preliminary squad
THREE IRISH players, Jonathan Caldwell, Shane Lowry and Gareth Shaw, are included in a preliminary Britain & Ireland squad for this year's St Andrews Trophy, which will be played at Kingsbarns, Scotland, on August 29th and 30th.
The squad contains 16 players, varying from established B&I representatives such as Walker Cup players Caldwell and Nigel Edwards to newer players such as Lowry and Shaw.
Also in the squad is Chris Wood, who produced two stunning rounds on the final day of the Welsh Open Strokeplay Championship to take the title by six shots on Sunday.
The R&A selection committee have been encouraged by the squad's quality play this season, and in particular by recent performances from some of the younger players.
The group will be brought together at Kingsbarns for a two-day session on June 9th and 10th, giving players a chance to get to know both the course and each other.
The players have been chosen with next year's Walker Cup match at Merion, Pennsylvania, in mind, and there is still a chance for other players to force their way into the team, and the selectors fully expect several other players to come into contention for a place in the final nine-man team to face the Continent of Europe in August.
SQUAD: Wallace Booth (Comrie), Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye), Andrew Cooley (Chobham), Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch), Rhys Enoch (Truro), Matthew Haines (Chobham), Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Shane Lowry (Esker Hills), Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Chris Paisley (Stocksfield), Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park), Gareth Shaw (Lurgan). Steven Uzzell (Hornsea), Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes), Chris Wood (Long Ashton).
Fox seals third Irish Europro win in row
IRELAND'S EXCELLENT recent run of victories on the European Tour has been matched on the Europro Tour over the last number of weeks.
On Friday, Noel Fox was victorious in the Faithlegg Irish Championship in Waterford as he held his nerve to win a play-off against Elliot Saltman.
The win marked a great start on the Tour by Irish players, as he followed the win by Greystones's Alan Murray in the previous week's event at Collingtree Park and Brian McElhinney the week before at The Shire London course.
Fox - who finished with two birdies in a final round 67 to go with rounds of 72 and 68 to tie the lead - and Saltman finished on nine under on a fantastic final day to force a play-off down the 18th, which Fox birdied to take the trophy and a cheque for £10,000 (€12,568).
Naturally, Fox was delighted as he made it three Irish winners in a row on this year's Tour. "I'm over the moon and I'm delighted to have won," he said.
The tournament also was notable for another Irishman as Damian Mooney (Nevada Bobs Belfast) fired a closing round of 63, which was a course record at Faithlegg and was good enough to tie third, with Murray tied fourth.
Shield day again
THE 81st staging of the Leinster Alliance's Irish Times Shield will take place on Sunday, June 22nd, at Tulfarris. This popular team event was won last year by Stackstown, and once again a large attendance is expected. This year's timesheet is from 1.30pm to 4.30pm and teams should contact Michael Neary on 01-2827297 to book their times.
FORMER British Open and US Open champion Tony Jacklin is to receive the Golf Foundation's "Spirit of Golf" award this summer. The award recognises his inspiration and contribution to encouraging youngsters to take up the game. He will be presented with the honour during British Open week at this year's dinner at Aintree.
