Shay’s Short Game: James Sugrue in stellar field for Mullingar Scratch Cup

Mullingar next stop for South champion Sugrue

New South of Ireland champion James Sugrue from Mallow and Irish Amateur Open Champion Peter O’Keefe lead a top-class field for this year’s Mullingar Scratch Cup, sponsored by Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt, on the August bank holiday weekend.

North of Ireland champion Rowan Lester also returns to Mullingar, where he was runner-up in 2016. Galway’s Ronan Mullarney defends the title, which he won with ease last year, finishing five shots clear of the field.

Mullarney is one of three former champions in the field and is joined in Mullingar by 2011 winner Nicky Grant and 2014 victor Geoff Lenehan. In total, there are a number of senior panel members contending with Jonathan Yates and Conor Purcell joining Sugrue, O’Keefe and Lester in the race for the scratch trophy.

As the season enters its final stages, Mullingar represents one of the last chances to claim silverware. Irish Youths Champion Neil McKinstry, Tramore’s Robin Dawson and Robbie Cannon from Balbriggan are other potential title challengers. So too Kinsale’s John Murphy, Jordan Hood of Galgorm Castle and Newlands’ Jake Whelan.

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Morrow claims Scandinavian seniors title

Adrian Morrow, last year’s European Seniors Champion and current Leinster Seniors Champio,n added the Scandinavian Seniors Open title to his list of successes when winning by five shots at the PGA of Sweden National in Oslo over the weekend.

The Porrtmarnock man signed for rounds of 73, 73 and 70 for a level par total of 216 - five ahead of Sweden’s Tore Sviland from the Falsterbo GC who shot 74, 68 and 79 for a five-over-par total of 221.

Sviland took second place on a better last 36 holes from England’s Douglas Cameron from Moor Park who carded rounds of 71, 75 and 75 to also finish on 221.

Morrow’s next assignment is the Munster Seniors Open at Lee Valley on after which the team for the Seniors Home Internationals at Rosslare Golf Club on September 26th-28th will be named.

Former Irish champion Maurice Kelly is also in the field with Cork’s Tom Cleary previous winner in 2009, 2014 and 2015, John Mitchell (Tramore) and Michael Quirke (Doneraile) also listed.

Ireland just outside the top-10

Ireland finished just outside the top 10 as Annabel Wilson took a share of eighth place in the girls event at the European Young Masters in Oslo. It was victory for England in the team event as they finished five shots clear of Norway. Ireland were two shots outside the top 10 on 15 over.

Lily-May Humphreys, only 15 years old, from England, must be a candidate for a place in the B and I team to defend the Curtis Cup next June after following up her victory in the English women’s amateur championship by winning the girls’ title.

Lily-May, who has a string of junior titles on her CV, came from behind for her latest win with rounds of 69, 74 and 71 for a two-under-par total of 214 to win by one stroke from Italy’s Maria Vittoria Corbi (71-74-70). Annabell Fuller (Roehampton) finished third with scores of 75, 73 and 68 for 216. Wilson finished on 220 after rounds of 73 74 73 while 234 Sara Byrne tied 30th on 234 (73 82 79).

Norway, the host country, produced the winner and also one of the joint runners-up in the boy’s championship. Bard Bjornevik Skogen was in the mix from an opening 67 and followed that up with rounds of 70 and 69 for a 10-under-par total of 206

Compatriot Mikkel Antonsen, with rounds of 63, 73 and 72, tied for second place on 208 with France’s Nicolas Muller (73-67-68). Connemara’s Luke O’Neill ended the week tied 21st on 220 after shooting 67, 77 and 76 while Aaron Marshall signed for 73, 78 and a level par 72 to finish on seven over, tied for 27th.

Irish down the field in Switzerland

France’s Agathe Laisne, who covered her last 11 holes in five under par to pip long-time leader Albane Valenzuela (Switzerland), world ranked number two female amateur, won the European women’s individual amateur championship at Lausanne Golf Club, Switzerland.

Laisne shot 73, 73, 67 and 67 for eight-under 280. Valenzuela, who bogeyed the 15th and 17th holes in her last round, finished one shot behind with scores of 70, 67, 68 and 76, her final circuit seeing six bogeys undo all the good work of the first three days.

Ireland’s Curtis Cup player Olivia Mehaffey, the World number three, finished tied-eighth on 286 with rounds of 73, 71, 73 and 69. 294 Jessica Ross tied 42nd on 294 after 74, 73, 73 and 74 while Chloe Ryan was a shot back on 295 after rounds of 79 70 73 and 73.

Investment pays off at Portmarnock Links

Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Link,s which recently completed a €10 million investment in the hotel and golf links, last week received a ringing endorsement for their work on the golf course. To celebrate the first anniversary of the works on the course they held a four day Festival of Golf. Over 400 players joined in over the four days and their verdict was a unanimous endorsement of the impact of the works on thel course. Research over the four days confirmed that the course has never been in better shape and that it is back to the condition that saw it host two Ladies Irish Opens which attracted all of Europe’s top players in 2008 and 2009.

Portmarnock Links recently appointed its first ever professional, Conor Russell, who said that such has been the success of the event that they intend making it a regular event. “ It was a terrific four days and the feedback has been so good we have already started looking at 2018.”

Portmarnock Links also announce details of its ever popular Winter Series which this year commences two weeks earlier than usual on October 3rd. The event which is for low handicap amateurs and professionals runs every Tuesday up until the end of March. Top young professionals like Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan have been regular entrants. Former touring professional Damien McGrane had a record number of wins in last year’s Winter Series.

The Portmarnock Links will be hosting a one day event on Tuesday August 29th for all competitors who are intending to take part in this year’s Winter Series The time sheet is now open and bookings can be made by calling the Pro Shop on 01-8666592.

ILGU semi-finals in East Leinster

The semi-final stages of the AIG East Leinster ILU competitions have been reached and will be played out at Seapoint and Woodbrook next weekend.

At Seapoint on Saturday Stackstown take on Black Bush in the Junior Cup and Black Bush will also contest the Intermediate Cup where the meet Dun Laoghaire. The Minor Cup sees Corrstown take on Hermitage while in the Challnge Cup Malahide face Headfort.

On Sunday the second set of semi-finals will be contested at Woodbrook where Delgany and Rathfarnham meet in the Junior Cup, Killeen Castle meet Castle in the Intermediate Cup while Headfort take on Old Conna in the Minor Cup. In the Challenge Cup Elm Park will meet Craddockstown. Events on Saturday at Seapoint commence at 1.0pm while 11.0am is the start time at Woodbrook.

International ILGU teams named

Ladies Home International Matches (at Little Aston, August 9th-11th): Ciara Casey (Hermitage), Maria Dunne (Skerries), Paula Grant (Lisburn), Mairead Martin (Kanturk), Julie McCarthy (Forrest Little), Chloe Ryan (Castletroy), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan), Team Captain: Danielle McVeigh (RCDL), Team Manager: Clodagh Hopkins (Woodbrook), Team Coach: Donal Scott

Girls' Home International Matches (Little Aston, August 9th-11th): Sara Byrne (Douglas), Valerie Clancy (Killarney), Beth Coulter (Kirkistown Castle), Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush), Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo), Rachel Thompson (Cork), Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden). Team Captain: Gemma Butler (Birr), Team Manager: Helen Jones (Royal Portrush), Team Coach: Chris Jelly.

World Junior Girls' Championship (Marshes Golf Club, Ontario, Canada, September 26th-29th): Mairead Martin (Kanturk), Lauren Walsh (Caslewarden), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan).

English U16's Championship (Blackmoor Golf Club, August 8th-10th): Jan Browne (Kilkenny), Anna Dawson (Tramore), Aine Donegan (Woodstock), Anna Foster (Elm Park), Kate Lanigan (Hermitage), Canice Screene (Hermitage).

O’Brien wins Dublin Boy’s title

Elm Park’s Matthew O’Brien had a one-shot win in the Allianz Grange Dublin Boys Championship at the Grange Golf Club last weekend. The eight handicapper shot two rounds of 82 on the par 71 Centenary Course for a 164 total to edge out fellow Elm Park player James Fleming who carded 80 and 85 for 165.

Eoin Reade from Newlands was third on 167 after rounds f 86 and 81 while the best nett also went to Newlands with Leo Fearon winning with 145 of a 12 handicap (74, 71).

Now in its 24th year, the popular championship was played in scorching conditions at the home club of Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup Captain and 2016 Irish Olympic Team Captain, Paul McGinley.