Tomorrow and Monday the first US-Ireland Alliance Golf Challenge involving corporate leaders from both sides of the Atlantic takes place at the K Club in Co Kildare and a heavy-hitting bunch they are. The US team, led by ambassador Mike Sullivan, includes Dan Tully, chairman emeritus of Merrill Lynch, James Quinn, CEO of Tiffany and Co and Wayne Huizenga, owner of the Miami Dolphins, which is a football team. The Irish will be captained by the governor of the Bank of Ireland, Howard Kilroy and comprises Elan's Donal Geaney, Hardwicke's Mark Kavanagh and Donal O'Connor of Price Waterhouse Cooper.
It's all in aid of the George Mitchell Scholarships which begin next year and will send American post-graduates to study in Ireland, North and South. The Alliance is headed by Trina Vargo, former adviser to Senator Ted Kennedy, who flew in from Washington this week to get the golf organised.