Today's other stories in brief

Delaney in lead role

Irish Champion Karen Delaney (Carlow) leads an experienced Irish team in their bid for European Team Championships at Castleconturbia, Italy, starting today. Ireland last won the championship at Royal Waterloo in 1983 and joining Delaney is her younger sister Tara, Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down Ladies), Maura Morrin (The Curragh), Marian Riordan (Tipperary) and recently-crowned Leinster Champion Deirdre Smith (Co Louth).

Meanwhile, 12-year-old twins Leona and Lisa Maguire will be the youngest players to represent Ireland at the Girls (U-18) European Team Championships at Oslo GC in Norway, also starting today. Joining the Ulster duo are Victoria Bradshaw (Bangor) and Holli Snelling (Killarney) who will have greatly benefited from their experience at last year's championships in Denmark.

Boys under-19 event

Stackstown GC will play hosts to the 23rd annual Tilestyle Team Golf Trophy - a boys' under-19 team event - on July 23rd. This popular event attracts teams from all around the country and the format is a four-person team with three scores to count for the Tilestyle Trophy. There are also a number of gross and nett prizes. Padraig Harrington has been a winner of the team and individual prizes in the past. This year, in memory of late Jim McNaughton, a special memorial cup will also be presented to the winner of the best gross prize. Further information from Edna at Stackstown GC 01-4941993 or e-mail stackstowngc@eircom.net

Dublin GAA classic

The Dublin GAA Golf Classic is scheduled for Druids Glen GC on Tuesday, July 31st, with a shotgun start commencing at 1pm. The classic is part of the annual drive to generate funds to promote and develop Gaelic games in Dublin.

The competition consists of teams of four (men, women or mixed) playing stableford format with two scores to count on each hole.

Dinner will be served at 7pm and the prize-giving will take place at 8pm.

Details from John Costello, Dublin GAA, Parnell Park - john@dublingaa.ie or Denis Kane, Druids Glen Golf Course, dkane@druidsglen.ie.

Award for Roganstown

Roganstown GC has been given a gold award for the second year running in the HSBC Regional Course Rankings. This course ranking initiative runs alongside the Golf Monthly top 120 rankings and is designed to identify the excellent courses in the UK and Ireland.

South County shine

The South County GC, now in its sixth year, is experiencing its most successful period in inter-club golf this year. The Pierce Purcell Shield team, under manager Seán Bergin, reached the semi-finals of the Leinster section, while the Barton Cup team booked a place in the quarter-final against Bray.

The Straffan Cup team have reached the semi-final after their recent quarter-final win over Naas. The final of this competition is played at The K Club, motivation indeed to secure a final place for managers Sam and Willie Cullen.

The junior section is also showing potential by reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious Fred Daly Trophy. Their opponents at Luttrellstown on August 2nd will be Tullamore. Not a bad return for a club so young.

Irish pairs in the frame

Irish pairs were again in the frame at the world finals of the International pairs held over 36 holes at the Fairmont St Andrew's Bay resort in Scotland last week with South County's Seamus O'Doherty and Mark Doyle claiming third place after a play-off. The two nine handicappers had scores of 38 points and a best of the day 43 points in round two tied with England and Scotland.

In the play-off down the difficult par five 18th, and with one Irish ball lost off the tee, the South County boys lost out on the hole to two pars to take third place. On the second play-off hole the Scot's par had to play second best to a birdie to see the world title go to England.

Rathdowney's Pat Ruane and Bernard Smith fired solid rounds of 39 and 40 to give them a share of fourth place and Mourne's cousins John and Seán Paul Murray, with rounds of 35 and 39, finished in 10th position.

Worthy fund raiser

The annual mixed foursomes in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind will take place at Woodbrook GC on Sunday, August 12th. The cost for this worthy cause is €50 per person and places on the time sheet are available from 01-2821208. Woodbrook members may book on-line.

Special Olympic event

Special Olympics golfers will add a new dimension to their season today and tomorrow when teams from England, Scotland and Wales join Ireland in playing a Triple Crown-like competition in Hollystown GC, Dublin. It is the first time all four countries will have come together for an international event confined to 18-hole golfers. Topaz Energy will sponsor this 27-hole competition and such is the enthusiasm of all the countries that it is hoped to make it an annual event.

Seven players have been selected on the Irish Team which includes Rita Dunne (Eastern) and Gary Fleming (Munster), both of whom are part of the Team Ireland 2007 Golfers going to Shanghai for the Special Olympics World Games in October. The Irish team is: Rita Dunne (Eastern), Gary Fleming (Munster), Joe Fulton (Leinster), Sarah Hyland (Munster), Barry McGuinness (Eastern), Michael Murphy (Munster) and Robert Slevin (Eastern).

District finals at Ennis

Ennis GC is the hub of ladies golf over the coming week. The Southern District Finals of the AA Insurance Ladies Golf Championships will be played on Friday and Saturday next, July 13th and 14th, and will involve teams from 10 different clubs.

The foursomes finals, senior and junior, will be played on Friday with Dooks meeting Kinsale in the senior event and Limerick County play Castletroy in an all-Limerick junior foursomes final. On Saturday the finals of all four singles cups will be played. Templemore will have two teams in action - they meet Tralee in the final of the Junior Cup and Kinsale in the Minor Cup. The final of the Intermediate Cup will see East Cork against Ardfert. Lee Valley ladies are making their first appearance in a district final where they meet Cahir Park in the final of the Challenge Cup.

Provincial posts

The Irish Ladies Golf Union is currently recruiting for the positions of four provincial coaches to cover Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht. They are particularly looking for PGA professionals with a special interest in coaching/player performance to apply for the positions of provincial coaches to assist in the delivery of the new national training programme (2007/2011). The successful applicants will work closely with the district chairmen of training, Junior Golf Ireland and the national coach in the delivery of the training programme, which is focused on the development of junior players at club and district level. The positions are part-time which we have estimated at 12 days per district. Full details of requirements and qualifications are available on the union's website at www.ilgu.ie

Anyone interested should send their CV to: Sinead Hearty, chief executive, Irish Ladies Golf Union, 1 Clonskeagh Square, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14 or by email to sinead@ilgu.ie The closing date for receipt of applications is July 30th.

Sinnott lands ace

There was double celebration for Marion Sinnott in Courtown GC last Tuesday. Not only did the 13 handicapper leave the rest of the field trailing in her wake to win the invitation singles event with a score of 37 points, but she also had the honour of having an ace at the wonderfully named "One Club More" third hole, measuring 125 metres.

The hole in one helped her to a two-point victory with her nearest challenger being Mary Osborne (16).

Duffys deliver

Peggy Duffy of Black Bush and Linda Duffy are the latest winners of the mother and daughter foursomes competition played recently at Donabate Golf Club. With a score of 39 points, the Duffys had two points to spare over Martha and Amy Jones of the Castle, with Julie and Laura Doherty of Sutton next best on 36 points, while Pat and Tracy Eakin were the gross prize winners.