Hat-trick of holes in one

Maybe it had something to do with the worthy cause - which just happened to be the St Brigid's Hospice in the Curragh - but golfers wondered if there was divine intervention in a remarkable run of holes-in-in at Naas Golf Club last Friday.

In a shot-gun start golf classic organised by the Naas Lions Club, no less than three players achieved aces - and, incredibly, all the feats occurred at the same hole, the 135 yards third.

Batty Foley, a 17-handicapper from Killorglin, Joe Noone (also 17) from Woodlands near Clane, and JJ Hipwell, (23) from Naas, all recorded holes-in-one on the same hole. However, none of them were playing together in the same teams.

"Remarkable, wasn't it," said organiser Tim O'Connell. It certainly was, but the feat was actually bettered - albeit by professionals - in the 1989 US Open at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester when four competitors - Doug Weaver, Mark Wiebe, Jerry Pate and Nick Price - aced the 167 yards sixth hole within a two hours period. The odds against four professionals achieving such a record in a field of 156 players are reckoned to be 332,000 to 1.

So, what odds would there have been on three high handicap amateurs - in a field of 152 - achieving a hat-trick of aces? Probably a million to one.

Lillian Behan, the Irish champion, will be one of just two former winners in the field at the British Women's Amateur Open Championship to be played at Little Aston on June 9th-13th.

With the target a place on the British and Irish team to defend the Curtis Cup against the United States in August, the event attracted a record entry of 175 players. However, the field has been limited to 140 - and Behan will spearhead a strong Irish challenge that consists of 11 players.

Behan, who won the national championship at Clandeboye last Saturday, will be accompanied by Hazel Kavanagh (Grange), Irene Murphy (Cork), Tricia Mangan (Ennis), Suzanne O'Brien (Milltown), Sinead Keane (The Curragh), Alison Coffey (Warrenpoint), Claire Dowling (Copt Heath), Barbara Hackett (Castletroy), Valerie Hassett (Ennis) and Elaine Dowdall (Wexford).

Oonagh Purfield did not enter for the championship, but will play in the British Open Strokeplay later in the season.