A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

Brady in sparkling form

The sunny weather at County Louth last Thursday not surprisingly produced some excellent scoring for the Lion Court Capital Links Pro-Am outing, the first of the new season. And there was none better than Eamon Brady - representing Clontarf - who played some flawless golf. A score of five under par 67, which included five birdies and no bogeys, saw him finish four shots ahead of a host of players, Greg Massey (Hermitage), Michael Lavelle (K Club), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), David Houlihan (K Club) and John McHenry (K Club), who were all trailing in his wake on 71.

Not surprisingly Brady won the nett prize ahead of Fox and Lavelle, with Ray Hughes (7) of Royal Dublin next on 72. In the gross category, Houlihan, off a handicap of plus one, was victorious with a 70, one better than McHenry and Massey, with Jimmy Hegarty (scr, Spawell) fourth on 72. In the team event there was further success for Brady and Houlihan as they teamed up with Pat O'Brien (2) of Laytown and Bettystown to take the top prize.

In the over 50s section, Mossie Dignam (6) of The Island was the amateur winner with a score of 73, while the host club's Paddy McGuirk took the professional prize with a score of 76.

Skerries success

Skerries GC are coming to the end of what has been a highly memorable centenary year. The north Dublin club will look back on 2005 with many fond memories as there have been many highlights including a centenary ball, a pro-am, while they have also had a successful day when they invited the other seven clubs that are celebrating their centenary to their club for a day of golf and celebration.

But not only has the club had a successful time, but also the club's captain, Michael Branagan. There are times the duty of the captain can affect golf, but not Branagan. If anything he is playing better than ever. And so good and consistent has his golf been over the past number of months that he has lost five shots off his handicap. He began the year playing off 13, but now, following his latest success last Wednesday where he shot a one under par gross 72, he is now playing off eight.

During the year he also won in Lisburn and Hermitage, two of the other clubs that are celebrating their Centenary this year and where Skerries went to visit.

Black Bush make mark

There's a justifiable air of satisfaction these days among the membership of Black Bush GC as they reflect on their interclub exploits this year. In one of their best years in the Pierce Purcell Shield team, under manager Barry McDonnell, they won in Leinster and were beaten by a whisker in the All-Ireland semi-final in Rosslare by Castleblaney, the eventual winners.

The Newsam Cup team, under the guidance of Jim Colgan, won out in the event organised by Royal Tara - foursomes matchplay for players 17 handicap and over. They beat Townley Hall in the final in Royal Tara. One of the Black Bush players was 71-year-old Bernard Kenny.

Charlie Hoey helped his team prevail in the Kestrel Cup, the event organised by Westmanstown for senior golfers. It was a case of almost in the Moore Cup staged by Portarlington when they were beaten in the final by Nenagh. The Co Meath club also won the North Leinster Past Captains team prize this year for the first time.

Timon tops in Portugal

Con Timon gave a masterful display of golf in winning, by some distance, the annual Victor Ludini trophy in Portugal recently. Played over four days Timon managed to score over 30 points each day despite his handicap being altered downwards by handicap secretary John Farrell. Courses played included Quinta do Lago, San Lorenzo (twice), and Victoria Villamoura.

There were excellent performances by Mark Skehan and John Reynolds, who both played in the final fourball. Aiden Reynolds gave a consummate performance in winning back the BudKev trophy. The Victoria Villamoura course will host the World Cup in November and it will be interesting to see if any top professional gets a hole in one at the 13th which is a difficult 176 yard hole. Gerry Sullivan achieved that momentous feat with a glorious four-iron shot in difficult windy conditions and went on to score 42 points on the day.

Gowran Park go close

The third Shamrock Golf Trophy final was held in Dundrum House Hotel over Wednesday and Thursday in the second week of October. Brilliant sunshine and a stiff course playing off the blues brought out the very best in the field. The first four teams were covered by two shots. With a fantastic score of 123 the eventual winners were Redditich GC from England. They were closely followed home by Gowran Park Golf Club from Ireland who were only .6 of a shot behind. In third place were Esker Hills from Ireland. Fourth prize went to Stratford Oaks from England.

All of the participants had a great time playing in the competition. The format is a scramble played in three-person teams with the qualifying competition being held in their own club. Once they have won in the club they then have a trip away. They are then joined by the captain and become a four-person team.

Carwood memorial

Greystones GC was host to the third annual Michael Carwood Memorial Trophy match between the Dublin Journalists GS and the Press, Radio and Television GS last Monday week. Michael - a former golf writer with The Irish Times and sports editor of the Sunday Press - died unexpectedly in October 2002 and had been captain of the DJs at the time of his death, while he was also a former captain and president of the Press, Radio. This year's match again proved highly competitive and was memorable for the host society, the PRTV, as they won for the first time, by 10 points, having lost out on the first two occasions the event was played.

Wiseman's double wins

You would have thought losing a few shots off your handicap might just prevent you from appearing in the winners' circle for a while. But that wasn't the case at Seapoint GC in Co Louth recently where Marie Wiseman proved losing three shots wasn't going to stop her winning run. Playing off 28 she won the last mid-week singles competition with a fine score of 43 points. That saw her lose three shots, but at the weekend, now playing off 25, won the versus-par competition in style with a score of 2-up, with Irene Kirwan (24) second having finished all square, while Linda McAuley was third (22) with a score of one down. ... skeenan@irish-times.ie