Bangor star gets new role

Garth McGimpsey, who represented Ireland for 21 consecutive years in the Home Internationals before retiring from competitive international duty as a player at the end of 1999, hasn't waited too long before reentering the arena as a selector.

At yesterday's a.g.m. of the Golfing Union of Ireland in Portmarnock, McGimpsey was elected as a selector on the Irish senior team for this year. He replaces Mick Craddock, a former team captain. McGimpsey, a three-time Walker Cup player, who was also on the British and Irish team that won the Eishenhower Trophy (world amateur team championship) in 1988 and was a member of two European championship-winning Irish sides, joins Eddie Dunne (captain), Mick Burns, Brian Hoey and Mark Gannon on the selection team.

Meanwhile, Billy Black, a member of Malone Golf Club, has succeeded Paddy Murphy (Newlands) as president of the GUI. Black takes over at the helm of an organisation which now has more members than at any time in its 110-year history: the affiliation of Kellerig Castle (Carlow), Carnbeg (Louth), Dunloe (Kerry) and Loughall (Armagh) at yesterday's a.g.m brings the number of affiliated clubs to 394 with an estimated playing membership of 150,000.

Exciting Australian youngster Adam Scott emerged from the pack to seize the outright second round lead on the last hole of the Australian Masters in Melbourne yesterday.

While most struggled in the wind 20-year-old Scott carded the day's best round of six-under 66 to be seven-under 137.