A round up of today's other golf stories in brief...
Cavan Gaels best in GAA challenge
FERMANAGH'S Derrygonnelly Harps were prevented from achieving a historic provincial three-in-a-row as Cavan Gaels won their third Ulster title in nine years in a nail-biting FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge Ulster final at Killymoon Golf Club in Tyrone.
The former All-Ireland champions snatched the trophy from local club Carrickmore, who spent five hours as clubhouse leaders after finishing early on with 81 points. Mickey Bradley (9) and Séamus McCarton (21) combined for a tally of 41 points, while their team-mates Brendan McCarton (22) and Ryan Daly (12) added 40 points.
Carrickmore's hopes were, however, dashed by Cavan Gaels by the narrowest of margins. JJ O'Reilly (12) and Brendan McClarey (18) notched up 43 points, while Phillip McMahon (9) and Gerry Bravender (13) chipped in with 39, which meant they had become provincial champions with just a point to spare.
Carrickmacross Emmetts were third as Ray O'Hara (12), Liam McKitterick (14), Andrew Capaldi (11) and James Capaldi (16) posted 78.
Conroy unbeatable in the foothills
FLORENCE CONROY is in flying form at Kilmashogue GC. Having started the season with a handicap of 28, Conroy has won the April medal, the May medal and the June medal, as well as the Lady Captain's prize. Over two days, she had a net 135 (63 and 72), and is now down to 23.
We all dream of winning at least one Captain's prize, but last Saturday at St Helen's Bay, James Morrissey overcame the shock of a triple bogey on the last hole in (Mick Brosnan) Captain's prize play-off to collect his third such trophy in as many years.
Has this remarkable feat been matched at any other club?
In his acceptance speech Morrissey laid out his stall for next year by claiming he still had room on his mantelpiece!
Morrissey, playing off five, finished with a 36-hole total of 140 to win by two from Paul Keenan (13), with Mark Doyle (18) third on 143, one ahead of Pat O'Connor (13).
Branigan pulls off major coup
GREG NORMAN may have failed in his bid to become the oldest winner of a Major when losing out to Pádraig Harrington on Sunday at Royal Birkdale. But did Billy Branigan make history of his own last Saturday in winning the Captain's prize at Newlands?
Today Branigan celebrates his 82nd birthday. On Saturday, playing off a handicap of 21, he won Billy Hughes Captain's prize with a 36-hole total of 137.
The previous Saturday he had qualified for the final day with a 70 and scooped the prize with a 67 to win by one stroke - the perfect early 82nd birthday present.
Since joining Newlands in 1971, Billy, who was off a handicap of 9 in his younger days, has won the Club Singles Championship and the Professional's Prize and even had a hole in one, at the 12th, but it took him 37 years to win the big one.
The wait was well worthwhile as be celebrated in the club with his six children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren before heading off to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of his grandkids and party into the small hours.
One wonders is Billy the oldest ever to win a Captain's prize? His victory certainly proves you are never too young to land the Major championship at your club.
Leinster aim for five-in-a-row
LEINSTER will have their sights on a fifth consecutive Interprovincial title when play commences at East Clare Golf Club next week.
Given the challenging East Clare parkland course is a par-73 of over 6,194 yards, Friday's champions will be worthy winners of the series of matches now in their 44th year.
Leinster have gone for a mixture of experience and youth, with three new caps in the persons of Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge), Aedin Murphy (Carlow) and Ciara Butler (Newlands).
Clandeboye's Nikki Moore will lead a strong Ulster side bidding to regain the trophy after a poor performance last season. The Ulster Ladies' champion is joined in the team by Danielle McVeigh (Royal County Down), who was unavailable last season while playing in the World Universities Championships in Thailand, where she won the women's individual title.
Promoted to the senior side is the double girls' champion, Sarah Louise Winter from Carnalea, who added the Ulster title to her success in Leinster over the past few weeks.
It is a youthful-looking side, but has the experienced Gemma Heggarty and Bronagh Lunney, as well as the long-serving Moore to balance the scales.
The Munster champion Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) leads a Connacht side that includes the experienced Daragh McGowan and Sinéad O'Sullivan, while international Gillian O'Leary leads a Munster outfit that includes South of Ireland Scratch Cup winner Catherine Tucker (Limerick) and Girls' Close semi-finalists Sarah Crowe (Tipperary) and Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion).
Moriya beats boys to win Open
A 13-year-old Thai - she has her 14th birthday before the end of the month - made a little bit of golfing history at windswept Hesketh Golf Club, Southport, last week.
Moriya Jutanugarn became the first girl to win the R&A Junior British Open, an international biennial golf championship for under-16s.
Close on 70 countries responded to invitations to send a boy and a girl to the event.
Moriya speaks little English but let her clubs do the talking as she put together rounds of 72, 75 and 78 for a 54-hole total of nine-over-par 225 in a wind that increased in ferocity every day until it was blowing a gale at times on the final day.
She came from five shots back with nine holes to play, took the lead with a birdie on the 17th, and won by one shot from 14-year-old Jordan Spieth from Dallas, Texas, and 15-year-old Steven Lam from Hong Kong.
A scratch golfer who is the girls' champion of Thailand, Moriya had never played links golf before.
Ireland's Daniel Murphy came 17th on 238 with scores of 78, 77 and 83 while Daryl Conroy was third in the girls' bronze division after shooting 84 and 91.
Under-16s head for The Grange
THE 15th annual Allianz Dublin Boys' Championship will take place at The Grange on Friday, August 8th.
Endorsed by Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, who learned his golf at the Rathfarnham venue, the 36-hole strokes event is open to boys under 16 on August 8th. On display will be a replica of the Ryder Cup, donated to the Grange by their best-known professional product.
The Allianz Dublin boys championship has a maximum handicap limit of 16 and is open to the first 69 entries received.
Enquiries to Grange Golf Club on (telephone) 01-4932889.
