J P Fitzgerald, a man who has travelled all over the world with golfer Paul McGinley and Grand Prix team owner Eddie Jordan, stayed at home this weekend and took the Laytown and Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup in style.

The Co Louth golfer, who was beaten in two Irish Close finals, finished with an impressive three over par 143 for the 36 holes and had a three-shot cushion from a high-class field that included his clubmate John Gannon, who finished second, Portmarnock's Dermot Snow, who was third, John Moore (Laytown), Arthur Smith (Island), Gary Lunny (Naas) and Frank Gannon (Skerries).

A two over par 72 left him handily placed after the first round. He actually started nervously enough and was four over after nine holes, but he covered the back nine in three under. The back nine again proved decisive in the second round when he finished birdie, birdie.

"I was just one ahead after 16 holes, but I drove the 17th and had a birdie three and then I finished with another birdie for a three-shot victory", a delighted Fitzgerald recalled.

Michael Gaughan made it a family double when he won the captain's prize (Francie Mannion's) at Connemara Golf Club on Sunday. Two weeks ago his father, also Michael, won the president's prize (Hubert DeLapp's).

Michael junior, a student at Galway RTC, shot a nett 105 1/2 over the 27 holes to win from Patrick Togher with David Porter taking third place. Togher, in fact, shot the best score of 105 for the competition, but being a junior member he was ineligible for the main prize.

Michael Gaughan senior is the man in form in Connemara. He won the president's prize with a great score of 43 points and has since lost three shots, reducing his handicap to 14.

Presentation College, Bray, is proving to be an excellent nursery for golfers. Keith Nolan, now a professional on the US circuit, is probably their most famous past pupil but they have also produced Alan Murray and Alan Condron, two exceptionally-talented young amateurs who have represented Leinster at boys and youths level.

And it appears the production line is continuing with the college's recent victory in the Leinster Schools' Championship. Over 90 schools competed in the qualifying rounds. Presentation qualified for the semi-finals along with St Benildus at the Castle, while Blackrock College and Malahide Community School came through at Donabate.

In the semi-finals at Foxrock, Presentation beat Malahide 3 and 2 in the semi-final, while St Benildus beat Blackrock by a similar margin. In a close final, Presentation just edged out St Benildus 3 and 2.

The Presentation team included three brothers, David, Stephen and Mark Flynn, who are all members of Charlesland, Mark Kynes (Bray) and David Lewis (Greystones). It's no wonder Presentation were described by a GUI official as the golf school of the '90s.

Galway Bay is usually a stern test for any golfer. But add in a torrential downpour and a strong wind and, well, let's say it will separate the men from the boys.

The participants in the recent ninth annual Institute of Personnel and Development outing at the Galway course were faced with the toughest of conditions. Heavy rain caused their tee times to be delayed and, while the rain eventually stopped, the winds increased so much that the competition was reduced to 15 holes.

But on this occasion it separated the women, or at least one woman, from the men. Ann Kilgallon (above), who is a member of Beech Park, became the first lady to win this annual outing. Her score of 29 points was good enough to win the trophy which now takes pride of place in her office in Tallaght.

Mount Temple stages its eighth scratch cup next Sunday over 36 holes with holder, former international Liam McNamara (Woodbrook) defending his title. But will par be broken on this occasion? So far no winner has broken the 71 par on this Co Westmeath course.

Perhaps with the improving weather conditions this will be the year.

The good weather brought out the best in the Monthly Medal at Clontarf. Harry Lambe's 61 off a 12 handicap was only good enough to win Class Two as 26-year-old Paul Fagan went two better with a magnificent 59.

Fagan, a 13 handicapper, had a birdie at the third, where he holed from 12 feet. Needing a par at the last for 60, he chipped to two feet for the magical 59. Former Tipperary hurler Tony Wall also holed in one at the fourth.

Another hole in one helped Ciaran Butler win the St Conleth's Trophy at Powerscourt. The 13 handicapper holed out with an eight iron at the 16th on his way to 39 points and a two-point win over Luke Nestor, David Garvey and Michael O'Dea.

Michael's wife Anne, a former lady captain in Bray, will be more than pleased that her husband Michael (whose voice is well known from the public address announcements at Lansdowne Road) has finally got himself a new hold-all - the prize for finishing fourth.

Golfers from the South East can benefit from a novel idea by the St Helen's Bay Golf Club. For an outlay of just £10, golfers in counties Wexford, Carlow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Tipperary or Wicklow can play in an open in midweek in the month of June. And to make it even more attractive, clubs that provide more than 20 players will qualify for some excellent prizes which include a week's golf in France, four days' golf in Wales and a three-day golfing holiday in Ireland.

There are £2,500 worth of prizes in the Guinness All-Ireland Inter Pubs golf tournament which will be held at Ballinasloe Golf Club on May 30th and 31st. The competition will consist of teams of four and the first prize is four weekends for two at Renvyle House Hotel. All competitors must have official GUI handicaps. For further details contact The Secretary, Ballinasloe Golf Club. Tel: 0905-42126 (Tuesday-Friday).

Seapoint created their own piece of history over the weekend. After just five years in existence they qualified for the finals of the Jimmy Bruen Shield when winning the regional section at Ardee with victories over Dundalk, Ashbourne, Laytown and Bettystown and Co Meath.

Kevin Rogers teamed up with his sister, Bridie, to win the Clontarf mixed matchplay with an exciting onehole win over Declan Kenny and Adrian Kelly. Kevin, whose daughter Aideen, now a professional golfer, was a previous winner, and Bridie were three down after 11 but won the 12th, 13th, and 14th to square the match.

They went one down again after 16 but struck a vital blow when winning the 17th after both pairs had missed the green. A par at the last was good enough to give the Island/Ballymote pairing victory after their opponents went into the ditch on the 18th.