Today's other stories in brief
Irish seniors triumph
In a good year for amateur golf Ireland added the European Seniors' Team Championship at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia, to their list of successes last week. Val Smyth, Nigel Duke, Tony Goode, Seamus McParland, Maurice Kelly and Hugh Smyth beat Scotland in the final by three matches to two.
The foursomes pairing of Duke and Val Smyth, and McParland in the singles, were narrowly beaten, but victories in the singles matches by Goode and Kelly left the match tied at 2-2. It was then up to Hugh Smyth who was one down with two to play. Smyth staged a great fight back and levelled the match at the 18th before going on to clinch the title for Ireland at the third extra hole.
The victory follows on the success of Ireland in the European Team Championship at Western Gailes last month, Arthur Pierse's victory in the British Seniors Amateur Championship and Rory McIlroy claiming the Silver Medal as leading amateur at the British Open in Carnoustie.
Double for K Club
There was double cause for celebration at The K Club last week when the club won its first Leinster pennant and the women won the Eastern District final of Miele Ireland Interclub Fourball at Slieve Russell.
Under the management of club captains Martin Fitzgerald and Peaches Kemp, The K Club won the Leinster Mixed Foursomes title with a tie-hole victory over The Castle in the final at Enniscorthy GC. With the sides tied at two matches each victory was secured when Vincent Coyle and Karena O'Connor beat John Williams and Justine Agnew at the first tie-hole. The other members of the winning K Club team, that now goes forward to the All-Ireland finals at Athlone next month, were Jody Gilhooly, Alice Doyle, Emmet Savage, Pat Desmond, Tom Freeman, Trish Lacey, Michael Lavelle and Mary Burnell.
After their celebrations went on long into the night, five members of the winning mixed team - Doyle, O'Connor, Burnell, Lacey and Desmond continued their rich vein of form when winning Interclub Fourball with a 3-1 victory over Dublin City. The other members of the team were Rosaleen Cunningham, Lou Soden and Mary Merrins, which ironically was captained by Marianne Fitzgerald, the wife of club captain, Martin.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Regional Final of the Miele Ireland Ladies Interclub Fourball, Co Armagh came from behind in three of their four ties to squeeze out a desperately unlucky Letterkenny team. The Donegal side rallied strongly over the opening holes but Co Armagh weathered the inclement drizzle the better and emerged victorious by a 3-1 margin.
Both The K Club and Co Armagh now join the winners of the South (which pits Mallow against Thurles) and West (Mountbellew v Birr) regional finals, to be held later this week with all four sides progressing to the All-Ireland semi-finals at Mount Juliet on Saturday, September 15th with the All-Ireland final taking place the following day.
Harris sisters shine
The recent Eileen Leyden Sisters Trophy at Grange GC in Dublin proved a huge success with 86 clubs represented as 103 pairs went in search of glory.
And at the end of a competitive day of golf, the honours went to the Slade Valley duo of Louise Harris and Gillian Harris, playing off seven and nine respectively, who fired 39 points, to win on a countback from Dympna Wilson (18) also of Slade Valley and her sister, Joan Donnelly, a 21-handicapper playing out of Kilcoole.
Third place was secured by Deirdre Connellan (24, Glen of the Downs) and Gráinne Moyles (28, Rathfarnham), while Kate and Juliet Overend of Carrickmines were the gross winners.
McVeigh takes gold
Ireland's Danielle McVeigh (Royal Co Down) added a final round 76 to lift the individual gold medal by four strokes from Mexico's Diana Cantu at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, last week.
In the team event, Ireland took silver with final rounds of 76 and 79, just one shot too many to fend off a dramatic final day's assault by Mexico who added 71 and 74 to their tournament tally.
University of Limerick student Niamh Kitching (Claremorris) carded a seven-over-par 79 while University College Cork's Gillian O'Leary (Cork) was one shot further back on 80.
Thailand beat Mexico by just one stroke to take team gold in the men's event, a tournament to which Ireland did not send a team.
Riordan's new route
One of Ireland's top women golfers, Marian Riordan, will join the professional ranks after next month's Home Internationals which take place at Dunbar, Scotland on September 12th-14th.
The 26-year-old PE teacher, the runaway leader of this year's ILGU Order of Merit, has decided to move to pastures new in search of a career in the game.
Riordan, will be inducted into the three-year PGA course for professionals at The Belfry in Birmingham, where she will embark on one of the most exciting ventures of her life.
The Tipperary player has been the most consistent performer in Irish golf this year, culminating in a runners-up spot at the Irish Close, a Lahinch Scratch Cup win and is certain of a place on the team for Dunbar.
Reddan retains title
Barry Reddan from Co Louth retained the Leinster Seniors Title at Co Meath GC last week. The former international shot two rounds of 75 for a one-shot win over Kilternan's Michael McNally who shot 76 and 75. Two shots back in third place were Dinny White from Moate (75, 78) and Declan Branigan from Seapoint (75, 78).
Jim Carvill from Warrenpoint, finished three shots clear in winning the Leinster Mid-Amateur Championship at the Grange GC. Carvill had rounds of 74, 75 and 75 for a 224 total with Alan Condren from Greystones second after rounds of 82, 73 and 72. In third place on 228 was Dara O'Neill from the European Club, who shot 75, 77 and 76.
Record for Walton
Philip Walton wrote himself into the history books recently when he recorded a course record at Navan GC with a superb round. The nine-year-old course hosted its first pro-am tournament and Walton eased to victory and in some style as well.
The former Ryder Cup player posted a stunning nine-under-par 63 with nine birdies and nine pars on his card.
The course was designed by Bobby Browne from Laytown & Bettystown and is situated inside Navan racecourse.
In the pro-am the majority of the amateurs were from the host club with Ashbourne's John Dwyer and locals Liam Hyland (9), John McCarthy (11) and Mark Keenan (15) top of the leaderboard on 96 points.
Ladies qualifiers
The draw for the AA Insurance Ladies Golf Championships qualifiers between the Southern and Western Districts, to be played in Athenry GC on September 7th, sees Galway Bay competing in three of the six events.
Dooks will play Galway Bay in the senior foursomes while Kinsale in the Minor Cup and Lee Valley in the Challenge Cup will be their other opponents. Castletroy will play Gort in the junior foursomes while Templemore will meet Westport in the Junior Cup and East Cork will take on Roscommon in the Intermediate Cup.
The winners of these six qualifiers will proceed to the national finals in Athlone at the end of September.
Meanwhile, next Monday, August 27th, is a busy day for ladies golf clubs - the national finals of the Australian Spoons Foursomes will be held in Naas. ...
