Compiled by Shay Keenan and Kevin McKenna.
Amateurs on tour
Colm Moriarty and Justin Kehoe will get another chance to add to their growing reputation when they play in the Sherry Cup in Spain next month. Moriarty, the winner of the New South Wales medal and the NSW Amateur Championships in the last fortnight, and Kehoe, who finished third in the NSW medal and was a semi-finalist in the matchplay, will be joined by East of Ireland champion Noel Fox (Portmarnock) and Scrabo's Andrew McCormick.
This quartet are just some of the travelling GUI players that will take to the courses of European this season.
This week the national junior panel are in Spain for a training week at the La Cala Golf Club, while Michael McGeady (City of Derry) and Mark Ryan (Grange) will compete in the Indian Amateur Championship and an international team event in Bangalore from March 2nd to 9th.
Johnny Foster (Ballyclare) and Colm Montgomery (City of Derry) are booked for the Mexican Amateur at the Club Campestre de la Ciudad from March 13th to 16th.
JUNIOR PANEL: Greg Bowden (Hermitage), Connor Doran (Banbridge), Shane Gannon (Co Louth), Brendan McCarroll (Ballyliffin), Brian McElhinney (North West), Michael McHugh (Ballinasloe), David McKee (Massereene), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Martin McTernan (Co Sligo), Greg Massey (Hermitage), Colm Montgomery (Malone), Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas), Brian O'Connor (Hermitage), David Rawluk (The Island), Gareth Shaw (Lurgan), Niall Turner (Muskerry).
NATIONAL PANEL: training week at Club Quinta do Peru and Aroeira Golf Club in Portugal on March 23rd to 30th. Darren Crowe (Dunmurry), John Foster (Ballyclare), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Justin Kehoe (Birr), Colm Moriarty (Athlone), Robert McCarthy (The Island), Andrew McCormick (Clandeboye), Michael McDermott (Stackstown), Michael McGeady (City of Derry), John McGinn (Greenore), Alastair McKinley (Shandon Park), Cian McNamara (Limerick), Mark Ryan (Grange), Stuart Paul (Tandragee)
INDIAN AMATEUR OPEN AND INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT (March 2nd-9th): Michael McGeady (City of Derry) and Mark Ryan (Grange)
SHERRY CUP (team event) to be played at Sotogrande Golf Club on the Costa de Sol, Spain: Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Justin Kehoe (Birr), Colm Moriarty (Athlone) and Andrew McCormick (Clandeboye).
LYTHAM TROPHY (Royal Lytham and St Annes on May 2nd to 4th May): John Foster (Ballyclare), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Justin Kehoe (Birr), Colm Moriarty (Athlone), Michael McGeady (City of Derry), John McGinn (Greenore).
Ladies fourball in the bank
ULSTER BANK is to continue its sponsorship of the All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship. The 2003 Championship, which will again be run under the auspices of the Irish Ladies Golf Union, will get under way in March and culminate with the All-Ireland final on September 19th.
The championship will begin at ILGU District level. Clubs will be represented by teams of six players, each pairing consisting of one golfer of 20 handicap or lower and one player of 21 handicap to 28.
The winner of the 2002 championship was The K Club GC, who beat Massereene GC (the 2001 Champions) in an exciting final, played at Luttrellstown Golf & Country Club last September.
Full details, including entry forms and competition rules, have been sent to each club in Ireland. Further copies are available from: Ulster Bank All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship 2003, 3-4 Merrion Place, Freepost, Dublin 2, or by phoning: 1800 224 455 (Free phone Rep of Ireland) or 0800 973028 (Free phone Northern Ireland).
Hospital friends hit the links
THE annual Golf Classic in Aid of The Friends of St Luke's Hospital will this year take place at Royal Dublin on Monday, May 19th. The format this year will be a four person team stableford event.
With the funds raised from this year's event it is hoped to extend the Oakland Lodge building within the hospital. This is a revolutionary concept in cancer care and a first within Irish healthcare services.
It is designed for patients who cannot travel daily for their treatment and provides complete privacy and independence, while the full range of hospital and medical services are close at hand. The Lodge consists of 30 en-suite rooms and is just a short distance from the hospital.
Further information on the May 19th Classic is available from Deirdre Hughes on 01-4065036 or 087-2319728 or e-mail: info@friendsofstlukes.ie
Coughlan steps up
Enjoying a bit of success in Luttrellstown Castle over the last week has been Yvonne Coghlan. Having had to settle for third spot behind Ann White in the nine hole competition last Tuesday, the 28 handicapper went a couple of places better on Saturday when, in the 14 hole competition, her score of 28 points was good enough to see off the rest of the field.
Similarly, in Seapoint, 27 handicapper Miriam Ryan and Pauline Butterly (24) were both twice in the winner's circle last week. Ryan was victorious on Thursday last with a score of 35.5, but was third at the weekend, while Butterly had to settle for runners-up spot in both events, losing out on a countback to Rita McGuinness (19) at the weekend.
Maybe it will be third time lucky for her next week.
