GUI come to defence of youths' team event

The Golfing Union of Ireland has led the resistance to a move which attempted to scrap the European Youths' Team Championship. A concerted effort was made at the European Golf Association's annual general meeting in Malmo, Sweden, to discontinue the event - but the Irish delegates successfully fought the proposal, outlining the vital importance of youths' golf.

A number of countries had sought to end the youths' championship in favour of making the European Team Championship (currently held biennially) an annual event. The GUI's efforts means that the youths' championship will continue, with the event scheduled for Belgium next year and Scotland in 2000.

Meanwhile, the GUI's recent ordinary general meeting has deferred to the wishes of the players and agreed that next year's Irish Amateur Close Championship, which will be held at The Island on 13th-17th June, will return to a 36-holes strokeplay qualifying format, with the top 64 players progressing to the matchplay stages. The championship has been moved forward from its traditional August date.

It has also been decided that the Irish Amateur Open will next year move to a weekend date, on 9th10th May, at Fota Island, and it is hoped that a strong international dimension will be added by the participation of the New York Metropolitan team who are due in Ireland that week for their biennial meeting with the Irish team.

Indeed, the GUI is anxious to expand its international commitments and the National Panel Week at Quinta do Peru Golf Club on March 22nd-29th will also include a match against Portugal. It is also hoped to play an international match against Italy next year at the venue, yet to be selected, for the 1999 European Team Championship.

Michael Brett, a former international hockey player, celebrated his 21st birthday a week early when inspiring Dublin to victory in the Leinster Intercounty championship semi-final over Kildare at Portmarnock last Sunday.

Brett, a two-handicap member of the host club, was the big winner in Dublin's 4-1 victory. He had a five and four win over Luke Bird while Irish internationals Noel Fox and Michael McGinley recorded one-hole win over Richard Kelly and Warren Kelly respectively. The other two matches were halved: Jody Fanagan shared the spoils with Niall Gorey, and Alan Dowling halved with Maurice Kelly.

Meath beat Laois 3-2 in the other semi-final at Laytown. The final between Dublin and Meath will be staged next March.

Irish Senior Cup champions Co Sligo will take on the cream of the continent in the European Club Championship in Rome this week.

However, Sligo will be without Irish close champion Ken Kearney, who instead will be representing Ireland in the two-man international team event in Caracas, Venezuela. Kearney and team-mate Jody Fanagan fly out to South America on Sunday.

Lynne Sweeney and Philip Murphy - who are the teaching professionals at Limerick County - have been employed by the ILGU Western District to coach a selected Connacht ladies panel for next year's International matches at Murvagh. The Irish Region PGA members will also coach Deirdre Judge (Roscommon) and Marina Gilhawley (Enniscrone) over the winter months after their selection on the national junior panel.

Former Lady Captain Noreen Coffey made a piece of history last Sunday evening when she collected the "Golfer of the Year" award in Killarney Golf Club - 12 months after her sister Mary O'Rourke collected the same award.

Noreen, a 10-handicapper, emerged as winner of the keenly contested award after a campaign that took in 22 competitions during the season. Interestingly, the two sisters had the distinction of winning the club championship foursomes in 1995.

The 1996 Irish amateur close champion Peter Lawrie, who turned professional in September but failed to make it to the PGA European Tour school finals this week, has been appointed assistant professional at the Spawell Golf Complex. Lawrie will play on the Irish Region circuit next season.