By SHAY KEENAN

O'Donovan wins Leinster Youths

LUCAN’S Richard O’Donovan won his first championship by taking the Sigma Wireless-sponsored Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship at Laytown Bettystown Golf Club last week.

O’Donovan, who led by five shots going into the final round, held on well under tough conditions to clinch the title from Craig Martin from Kilkenny by two shots.

O’Donovan had rounds of 73, 72 and 78 for a 223 total, while Martin took second place after rounds of 77, 76 and 72, to edge out the Headfort pair of Brian Casey (74, 79 72), and Rory McNamara (74, 76, 75) after all three finished on 225.

2010 is guaranteed to hold fond memories for Anna Rochford. Not only is she Lady Captain of Coollattin in Co Wicklow, but she has just recorded recorded her first hole in one. The all important ace came on hole 5a, 145 yards, and she was playing with this last year’s captains, Steve McGuinness and Liz McGoohan.

THE death has occurred of Eamon Curran, former Irish team captain, trustee and past president of the Golfing Union of Ireland. He was president in 1996, following a term as chairman of the Leinster Branch, and continued to serve the union as a trustee up to his death.

Leinster seeking seventh consecutive title

LEINSTER will bid for a seventh consecutive ILGU Interprovincial title when this year’s event tees off at The Island GC tomorrow.

Since first played in 1964, Leinster have won the trophy on 31 occasions, in addition to sharing the title with Ulster in 1967. Munster have claimed seven, their most recent wins coming in 2002 and 2003 to break the Leinster hold on the trophy from 1994 to 2009.

Leinster field a formidable team which will be led by Internationals Aedin Murphy (Carlow), Mary Dowling (New Ross), Karen Delaney (Carlow), Maria Dunne (Skerries) and Deirdre Smith (Co Louth), while Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Ciara Butler (Newlands) and Rachel Cassidy (The Island) complete the team.

A young Munster side look likely to be the strongest challengers. The southern side includes current internationals Sarah Cunningham and Gillian O’Leary, as well as girls international Laura McCarthy (Muskerry). Castletroy’s Cleo Ryan is the only new cap in the Munster side.

Ulster, who last won the trophy in 1989, have Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down), while Niamh Kitching (Limerick) will once again lead Connacht with Girls’ International Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) and former Irish Girls’ Champion Kate Gallagher (Claremorris) in their ranks as they go in search of their first victory in the tournament.

O'Sullivan in fine form for college

TWO weeks ago Ireland’s Sinead O’Sullivan finished joint third in a college event in Arizona. Last week the girl from Galway, a senior at East Tennessee State University, moved on to Pinehurst, North Carolina, and finished joint fourth in a field of 93 at the Pinehurst Challenge tournament.

O’Sullivan had scores of 72, 72 and 74 for a two-over-par total of 218 over the Pinehurst Number Six course, which has a ladies par of 72.

She finished six shots behind the winner, Florida State’s Lacey Agney (72-70-70), who had two shots to spare over runner-up Christine Shimel from Maryland (71-68-75).

Olivia Higgins, from England, had a unfortunate and costly last round of 79. After two scores of 71, Higgins was lying second behind Shimel, but she eventually finished joint seventh on 222.

Florida State, on 863, won the team title from Maryland (896), with Campbell (897) third and East Tennessee State (903) fourth.

Donegal hosts classic events

DONEGAL is the place to go this summer with three classic events listed among the many opens.

The Donegal three-day Links Classic takes place from May 4th-6th at Rosapenna, Portsalon and Ballyliffin. The entry fee is €110 per person to include a presentation buffet. Entries to Cathal Toland at Portsalon GC 074 915 59459.

The Mid Summer Seniors Challenge (over 50s) will be held at Portsalon, Dunfanaghy and Rosapenna from June 14th-16th.

Entry fee is €110 per player to include a presentation buffet at Rosapenna on day three. Entries to Frank Casey Jnr on 074 915 5000.

The Donegal Summer Links Challenge goes ahead on July 28th-30th at Narin and Portnoo, Rosapenna and Portsalon, a 54-hole tournament with overall and daily prizes. The entry fee is €99 to include a presentation buffet at Rosapenna on Friday July 30th. Entries to Connor Mallon at Narin Portnoo GC on 074 954 5107.

Dunne best at Royal Co Down

MARIA Dunne from Skerries claimed the first scratch cup of the 2010 season with a win at the Royal Co Down Ladies Scratch Salver last week.

In challenging conditions over the championship links, Dunne tied with Louise Coffey from Malone on a 36-hole total of 161 and secured victory thanks to a better second round score.

Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) was a shot further back in third place, while Maura Diamond of Royal Portrush finished fourth.

ELM PARK GC, hosts to the ILGU Eastern District Senior Cup on May 15th-16th, will stage an open fourball on April 13th.

Entries to Fiona Marshall at 01-2693438.

O'Leary claims Munster title

GILLIAN O’Leary, the Irish international, claimed the Munster Senior Championship by a single shot coming from behind to win at Ballybunion last week.

A final round of 73 saw the Cork scratch golfer defeat overnight leader Mary Dowling from New Ross by a single stroke on Friday.

O’Leary had also won the title back in 2007. She opened with rounds of 78 and 79, but her impressive final round of 73 gave her a 54-hole total of 230 to just edge Dowling, who disappointed with a final round of 80, 10 shots worse than her second round. In third place was Victoria Bradshaw from Bangor on 235, while Woodenbridge’s Louise Mernagh was third on 237.

Sarah Helly, of Enniscrone, meanwhile, won the Munster Girls Championship title. She led the field after round one with the best-of-the- day score of 77 and followed up with rounds of 84 and 78 in very difficult weather conditions to finish fifth overall in the Senior Championship and was declared the winner of the Girls Championship at the end of the 54-hole strokeplay event.

In the Junior Championship Final, Mary Savage (Tralee/Ardfert) won the title, beating Anne Leonard (Bandon/Ballybunion) on the 16th hole. Mary is Lady Captain of Ardfert this year and was winning the title for the first time in only her second appearance.