Laytown lay down shield The Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Shield, one off the most popular events on the senior scratch cup calendar, will take on a new look this year.
After 33 years, the shield is to take its place in the vaults and be replaced by a new cup. First played for in 1971 when Co Louth's Mark Gannon was the winner, the event, sponsored by Hibernia Steel Products Ltd, has seen many of the stars of Irish amateur golf grace the fairways of Laytown and Bettystown over the years.
And this year, the holder, Eoin O'Sullivan from The Island, will be out to achieve a unique double, as holder of the old and the new trophies. The event takes place on Sunday, May 2nd, and the first 60 players off three handicap or lower are guaranteed entry. With a first prize of a voucher for 400, the entry fee, which also includes lunch, is excellent value at 30.
Also unique to Laytown and Bettystown, the 36-hole event will have a shot-gun start, at 9.0 a.m. and 2.0 p.m. Entries close on Wednesday, April 28th, contact Helen or Albert at 041-9827170/9827563.
McKenna's strong selection
Mary McKenna will lead a strong Irish selection in the annual seniors' match against Scotland at Hermitage Golf Club today and tomorrow.
McKenna will be joined by Roma English (Larne), Rhona Fanagan (Milltown), Valerie Hassett (Ennis), Mary Madden (Ballinasloe), Anna Maloney (Clonmel), Denise O'Sullivan (Hermitage) and Terry Sexton (Dun Laoghaire) as they bid to regain the Mary McKenna Trophy.
Scotland, meanwhile, will give a first cap to Lorna Bennett (Ladybank). Other "new" faces in the Scotland team which won the trophy at Prestwick last year are Cecilia Kenny (Dunblane), mother of Curtis Cup team candidate Lynn Kenny, and Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park).
Rose Anderson (Huntly), Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee), Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh), Moira Thomson (North Berwick) and Irish seniors champion Pamela Williamson (Baberton) make up the rest of the team.
McKinney takes the honours
Seafield Golf Club in Wexford provided the perfect test for the opening Leinster Alliance fixture of the season. Harry McKinney from the neighbouring European Club took the gross honours with a 78, beating Killiney's Keith Bardon on a countback with Tony Goode (Lucan) third on 79.
The nett prize went to Slade Valley's Greg Donnelly on 74 with Derek Rath (Old Conna) and local James Murphy taking the minor places.
Walsh claims Cork open title
Irish international (and former national strokeplay and matchplay champion) John Walsh of Collins won the Cork Charity Open Pitch and Putt Scratch Cup at Rocklodge. Walsh was 33 under par for the three rounds and headed former two-time national juvenile strokeplay runner-up Kieran Dunscombe by three.
Limerick inter-county star Mark Ryan headed the field in the Limerick Masters. Ryan shot a 23 under par 139 for 54 holes to hold off Tipperary stalwart Seán Minogue from Nenagh by two shots.
Mark Millar of Cement in Drogheda, the 2000 and 2001 Irish matchplay champion, made a welcome return to the winner's enclosure on Easter Monday. Millar beat fellow Irish international Eddie Carey of the host club in a play-off for the Athgarvan Scratch Cup. The Louth man parred the first hole of sudden death as the event finished in near darkness.
Mullingar club honour Lee
Mullingar golf club paid tribute to Albert Lee recently, conferring him with honorary life membership in recognition of his achievements, and his recent appointment as the 56th president of the Golfing Union of Ireland.
Mullingar has the unique distinction of having produced three union presidents - Ita Wallace and Cathy Smith are former presidents of the Ladies' Golfing Union of Ireland - and now Lee.
Lee has served the club since 1972. He was honorary secretary for 11 years, was elected club captain in 1987 and joined the Leinster Branch GUI in 1990. Lee became honorary secretary of the branch in 1995 and was elected chairman in 1999, serving for four years.
Power defends Hermitage title
Hermitage Ladies' Scratch Cup, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, will take place on Sunday, May 2nd, with the usual high level entry expected once again. The event is now in its 33rd year and has been further enhanced by its inclusion in the ILGU Order of Merit listing, which will ensure a big turn-out of top women players. The handicap limit is 12 and those interested should enter without delay as entry will be limited to the first 66 golfers with the lowest handicaps received.
Last year's winner, Eileen Rose Power (now a five-time winner), is looking forward to returning to Hermitage to defend her title. Entry forms are available from Ladies' Scratch Cup Sub-Committee at Hermitage Club, Lucan, Co Dublin. Phone: 00353 1 6268491; fax: 00353 1 6238881.
Connacht beat bug and field
Connacht, the favourites, won the Irish girls' inter-provincial team championship for the first time at Westport Golf Club on Friday.
The last day's proceedings were marred slightly by a mystery illness which laid several players low. Connacht were the only team able to field a full complement of players in the afternoon singles.
Ulster had only four fit players, Leinster had two players incapacitated, while Munster had three hors de combat due to the bug. Connacht completed their programme with a 100 per cent record, beating Ulster 6-2 in the final match to clinch the title. Final placings: 1 Connacht 3 pts; 2 Ulster 2 pts; 3 Leinster ½ pt, 4 Munster ½ pt.
Boyzone press for fundraiser
The five former members of Boyzone are to hold their first Irish press conference together in five years at CityWest Hotel today to launch a bid to raise funds for charities close to their hearts.
Keith Duffy, Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately will meet up to officially launch Keith's third annual celebrity golf classic, in aid of the Irish Autism Alliance. The Golf Classic will take place on September 17th at the new Palmerstown Stud Golf Club, in Kildare.
Last year they raised 100,000 and this year, Keating plans to donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Marie Keating Foundation. Details of the event are available from Rachel Mooney on 087-2051913 or Robert Love (087 8128770).
Castlegregory captains tops
The two captains of Castlegregory proved their golfing prowess on Sunday as Beaufort golf club hosted the Kerry Captains' Invitation Day. Clubs throughout the whole county were represented by their captain and lady captain, who played a fourball betterball over nine holes. The winners on the day were Frankie Herlihy (14) and Edel Randles (20) from Castlegregory who fired 24 points for the nine holes, good enough to be four points clear of the next best pairing of Paul Duffy (11) and Julie Beckett (20) from Ceann Sibeál.
Club hands over to members
Although only three years in existence, South County golf club, in Brittas village in Dublin, has now had its control handed over to the members.
Started by Dr Nick Bielenberg, Neil Craigie and Neil Holman the club has now developed into one of the finest in the country. The current price of a membership share is 25,000 and unlike some other clubs it can be sold on in the future at full market value.
The number of members of the club is to be capped at 711, which is to ensure there will be accessible tee times for all members. Also, either an individual or a company can buy the membership share.
Also members who don't wish to use their playing membership can lease it out on an annual basis, subject to the club rules.
