Owens at KillineyThis week sees the start of a new chapter in the history of Killiney Golf Club, as Lee Owens takes over as the sixth club professional, succeeding Paddy O'Boyle. Like O'Boyle, Owens (26), began his golf at Sutton Golf Club, before joining Royal Dublin where his talents saw him recognised by the Leinster selectors at boys and youths level.
After a brief period working with his father Leonard (also a Killiney member), as the assistant professional at Royal Dublin, Owens joined Séamus Green at Elm Park, quickly becoming the head assistant professional at the busy Dublin club. Again, this mirrored the career of O'Boyle, who trained at Elm Park in the late 1960s under Kevin O'Connor.
Owens has combined his PGA training with an excellent playing career. In 2005 he won the Moran Cup, and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the British Open Championship at St Andrews. 2006 saw him win the Assistants Championship, and this year he won pro-am events at Black Bush, Kilcock and Castle Hume.
Owens finished this season in 37th place in the Irish Order of Merit. He will be assisted in his shop by 28-year-old Séamus McMonagle. Originally from Gweedore in Donegal, McMonagle plays off a handicap of plus two, and has been a member of Sutton GC, where he helped them to victory in the Barton Shield, and latterly in Elm Park GC.
Carton best in Europe
Carton House, in Maynooth, has been named European Golf Resort of the Year by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).
The award was presented to Carton House general manager David Webster and golf sales and marketing manager Áine Mangan at the IAGTO awards dinner in Cancun, Mexico, last Thursday on the final night of the International Golf Travel Market.
"This is a great honour for Carton House and wonderful recognition from the world's leading golf tour operators," said Mangan. "Our aim has always been to provide the very finest golf experience for our members and guests, and this award recognises the achievement of that aim. "
Located 14 miles west of Dublin City centre and 30 minutes from Dublin Airport, the historic, 1,100-acre estate of Carton Demesne was built in 1739 and is one of Ireland's great stately homes.
A true Welsh ace
Welshman Lee Abraham hopes to have won a place in the Guinness Book of Records after collecting two aces in three holes at the Inco Golf Club in Clydach, near Swansea recently.
The 23-year-old was playing in a foursomes with his father, Mark, when he holed in one at the 120-yard 13th with a sandwedge. Then, on the 150-yard 15th, Abraham used a pitching wedge to secure the second ace of his round - and fourth of his career.
Abraham started playing golf at 11 and had his first hole in one at St Mary's GC as a junior.
Mortimer off to flyer
David Mortimer made a flying start to the Links pro-am season at Co Louth last week when, in difficult conditions, he produced a three-under-par 69 to edge out plus-four amateur Shane Lowry from Esker Hills for the gross prize.
Mortimer won with a better back nine in the Lioncourt Capital-sponsored event. Links president Des Smyth took third from Eddie Doyle from Hermitage and Eamonn Brady from Clontarf after all three finished on level par 72.
Hermitage's Shay Boland, off a seven handicap, won the nett prize with a 69 from Peter O'Hagan from The K Club and Stephen Grant from Birr on 70. The team prize went to Joe Lyons from Galway, Eamonn McCartan from Greenore and Séamus O'Neill from The Island with a score of 10-under-par 62.
Antrim academy
The Greenmount Golf Academy in Antrim will be up and running by next September, as delegates heard at the GUI Ulster Branch agm at Shandon Park.
PJ Collins, who has overseen the Greenmount development during his term as chairman, stepped out of the position, and Ivor McCandless from Lisburn takes over the role for a four-year term.
Among the delegates was hale and hearty and probably the oldest delegate in Ireland, Bobby Bell (City of Derry and Greencastle), who celebrated his 93rd birthday recently.
ULSTER BRANCH OFFICIALS:Chairman - Ivor McCandless (Lisburn); Honorary Secretary - Eamon O'Connor (Donegal); Honorary Treasurer - Peter Sinclair (Knock); Honorary Match Secretary - Norman Bennett (Holywood); Provincial Council - R Archibald (Shandon Pk), S McBurney (Massereene), D McNeill (Cairndhu), D Montague (Fintona), B Ramsay (Letterkenny); Match & Handicapping Committee - R Dillon (Tandragee), P McCaffery (Enniskillen), T Magee (Clandeboye), G Marsden (Omagh).
Pros beat the weather
The Montgomerie Course at Carton House is a test at the best of times, but last Friday it gave the competitors on the Emerald Pro Tour a real examination. A strong wind and wet conditions made it tough going, but under the circumstances the scoring among the 90 competitors was good. And at the end of a hard day's slog three professionals shared the honours. Order of Merit leaders Greg Bowden (Hermitage) and David Mortimer (Team Ireland) were joined at the top of proceedings by Dunmurry's Gary Wardlow on 73, just one over par for the day. Only a shot back on 74 were John McDermott of Stackstown and Stuart Taylor from The Island.
And there was a debut win for three handicapper Jonathan Webb from Shandon Park in the amateur section. A better back nine of 20 points gave him a narrow victory over The Heritage's Paul Nugent (6) after both had 36 points. In third spot was Austin Cooney (14) from Killeen. The gross winner was Donaghadee's Wayne McCully (scr), just ahead of Mark Clifford (2) of Lucan.
The Tour moves to the Heritage Club this Friday.
