Compiled by Shay Keenan and Kevin McKenna
Simpson success
Mark Simpson, a 12-handicapper from Killymoon Golf Club in Co Tyrone, with a score of 68, and Miriam Hynes (26) from Portumna GC, who shot a fine 66, emerged as Ulster Bank All-Ireland Medal Champions in the final at Hollystown GC, organised by the ILGU and GUI last week.
A total of 400 men and women represented their clubs in this event, which was open to winners of club medal competitions.
Silver medals were won by Eugene Hanratty (9) of Dundalk GC with a 69 and Alice Davis (10) from Royal Tara, with 68. Bronze medals went to Greg McAuliffe (13) Nuremore GC, with 70 and Elizabeth Twomey (18), Clontarf GC, with 72.
International pairs
The Irish finals of the International Pairs competition, sponsored by The Tower Hotel Group, brought out the best in the qualifiers at Ballyliffin and Faithlegg GCs last week.
The Northern final saw a great performance from Portstewart's Boyd McNeill off an 11 handicap and Maurice Gowland (17) with 41 points for a two points win from Athenry vice-captain John Greaney and his partner James Giles.
At Faithlegg Frank Carbery (5) and Kevin O'Hora (13) from Ballykisteen edged out the Slade Valley father and son partnership of Brendan and Warren Keenan on the back nine after both pairs shot 43 points. The winners will be Ireland's representatives at next year's World finals at Celtic Manor in Wales.
Elmgreen camps
The Fingal County Council-owned Elmgreen Golf Centre are to continue with their junior golf camps over the autumn. Managed by Carr Golf, the camps have proved to be a great success over the last year, with tuition for beginners and juniors.
Coaching is undertaken by the four PGA professionals based full time at the centre - Arnold O'Connor, Paul McGahan, Karl Kelly and Phil Ring.
With its superb facilities the centre is the ideal place to host junior golf camps. Children are taught the fundamentals of the game through the use of the newly-refurbished driving range, the three academy holes and the pitch and putt course.
Endorsed by Junior Golf Ireland, the Golf Foundation, and Fingal County Council, the camps also teach juniors about etiquette and the rules of golf.
Saturday afternoon camps will run throughout November. Mid-term camps, of two days' duration, take place over the Halloween break, beginning on October 26th. For further information, log on to www.tigercubs.ie or phone (01) 8200797
Milltown seek double
Milltown GC will be chasing the double as the women's season draws to a close at the St Margaret's and Castle Golf Clubs in the coming weeks. The south Dublin club have qualified for the final of the Townsend Foursomes and the Junior Cup.
The foursomes final is at St Margaret's on Sunday (12.0) where they take on Headfort while the Junior Cup final is part of the Clarins-sponsored Eastern District Autumn finals at the Castle on Monday week, October 18th.
Milltown meet Skerries in the Junior Cup final while the in the third team final Powerscourt take on Mannan Castle. The fourth team final is between host club Castle and Dublin City while Lucan and Kilcoole contest the fifth team decider.
Hanlon wins in style
Success hasn't been short in coming to Vera Hanlon at Knockanally GC in recent years. During her time at the Co Kildare club she has enjoyed many a day in the limelight, most notably in the Lady Captain's Prize, which she has incredibly won on four occasions.
But last Thursday week she won a competition in which she had never been successful.
Despite being a member of the club since it was formed in 1985, and having played in countless monthly medals during that time, she had never managed to finish out on top. But that all changed last Thursday week as she won in some style.
Playing off a handicap of 16 she won by two shots from the rest of the field. Her score of 69 pushed Jane Salter into second spot on 71, the same score as third-placed Muriel Ryle, playing off 20.
Stack in control
Castlegregory's Dan O'Connor has been enjoying a good run of form of late in the Kerry Alliance golfing season. Winner around his home course in their last outing, O'Connor, who plays off seven, narrowly missed out on back-to-back wins at their recent outing in Dooks. Despite shooting a 74, however, it was good enough for runners-up spot as Moss Stack, an eight-handicapper from Newcastlewest, was victorious with a nett 72. Killarney's James O'Neill (4) was third on 75, one ahead of Denis Hickey of Kanturk. The gross prize was won by Killarney's Kevin Leacy with a 76.
Next up for the Kerry Alliance is a visit to Waterville on October 23rd. Places on the timesheet are available at 086 8383485.
Doheny strikes again
I Breda Doheny of Castletroy GC has nailed down a couple of impressive wins recently. The highlight came in Lilly Doyle's Lady President's Prize, an event that had been held over from early in the season to allow the Lady President to be back to full health.
Played over just 14 holes, 25-handicapper Doheny fired a nett 53 to win by two shots from Anne O'Friel (20) with Anna Martin (26) in third on 56, while Mary Crowley was the gross prize winner.
That marked the second time in as many weeks that Doheny had been in the winners' circle. A fortnight earlier she teamed up with Ber Murphy (30) and Tineka Leonard (35) to win the club's threeball rumble with a score of 66 points, six better than next best Ann Ward, Margaret Punch and Anne Noonan.
Curley shines
A hole-in-one by Gerry Curley helped the Enniscrone 14-handicapper to claim one of the five places for a trip to the Algarve in the annual All-Ireland captain's prize winners' competition, sponsored by Racket Hall Country House Golf and Conference Hotel, at Roscrea GC.
The women qualifiers were Lilian Kilmartin (Co Tipperary) 36 points, Anne Bennett (Lismore) 35, Kate Overend (Carrickmines) 35, Eily Duignan (Edenderry) 34 and Michelle McArdle (Rossmore) with 34. In the men's section Seamus Breen (Birr) shot 40 points off a three handicap, but it was only good enough for second place behind Ed Lowe (Dundalk) who won on the back nine with Trevor Melbourne (Cahir Park) and John McIntyre (Fernhill) taking the remaining places.
Howth reach summit
Howth GC claimed the Fingal Seniors Trophy, sponsored by Keith Simpson and Associates, last week with a 6½-5½ win over Balcarrick GC at Donabate. In the semi-finals Balcarrick beat Forrest Little while Howth accounted for The Island. John Robinson and Michael Kelly managed the winning team and the other members were: Eamonn Whelan, Cyril Lynch, Peter Faherty, Brian Staines, Peadar MacCanna, Jim Clune, Dick Conway, Neil Paul, Pat McGrath, Peter Mulhall, David Coleman, Muiris Heron, Tom Lowe and Fred Newell.
