SHORT GAME:ROSAPENNA'S Enda Kennedy picked up the plaudits at the latest North Western Golfing Alliance outing, which was played over the Glashedy Course at Ballyliffin on Saturday.
Playing off a handicap of plus one, Kennedy played some excellent golf on the day and was around in three under par 69 to win the gross prize.
That score of Kennedy gave him a three shot winning margin over Michael McGeady (+3, McCambridge Duffy) who shot level par 72, the same score as City of Derry’s Keelan Quigg, playing off one.
In the nett category, it was a good day for the contingent from Strabane, with four of their members in the top six, including first-placed Kieran O’Neill, who won with 39 points off a handicap of 13, beating Letterkenny’s Eamonn McGlinchey (8) on a countback.
In third spot was another Strabane member Pat Corry (10) with 38, while his fellow club members Marty McDermott and Maurice McGettigan were next best, both on 37.
Next up for the Alliance is a visit to another of Donegal’s finest courses, when they travel to Narin and Portnoo on Saturday week, November 3rd.
Meadow ranked third in Europe for 2012
IRELAND’S Stephanie Meadow finished third in the Ladies’ European amateur rankings for 2012 behind England internationals Georgia Hall and 16-year-old Charley Hull.
The rankings reflect the position of European players in the women’s world amateur rankings, where Hall is currently fourth, Hull eighth and Meadow 11th.
Meadow couldn’t have asked for a better spring of 2012. It began when she helped her University of Alabama team win the NCAA Championship.
Meadow then made her debut appearance in the Curtis Cup and gained the winning point to help BI win the match for the first time since 1996.
A few weeks later she captured the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie. She earned a spot in the US Women’s Open as a result but missed the cut. Meadow holds the record at Alabama for most college wins, amassing five victories by the end of the 2011/12 season.
Manning (83) Rathfarnham's top man
AT the ripe young age of 83, Danny Manning, a member of Rathfarnham Golf Club since 1980, who plays off a handicap of 21, came in ahead of young and old members alike, to win the 2012 Golfer of the Year competition.
In the same year that Manning joined the club, which is located in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains on Stocking Lane, Brian O’Hara was appointed as the club’s golf professional.
Having given 32 years of loyal service that has seen the club grow from nine to 15 holes, O’Hara, who is well-known in golf circles the length and breadth of Ireland as one of game’s great characters, as well as a skilled teacher, retired earlier this month. RGC recently marked his retirement at a special function.
IT was a good day for home players last Monday at the Rosslare Alliance outing at Rosslare. The top two spots in the gross category were taken by members from the host club, with Chris Drumm’s 36 points edging out Darragh McComb by a point.
In the nett section, victory went to Tom Dowling (5, City West) with 39 points, one better than Rosslare’s three handicapper Liam McNamara.
The next outing of the Alliance takes place on Monday, November 5th, with entry fee € 25 for visitors and €15 for professionals. Timesheet and information contact Johnny Young on 053 9132032.
Entries open for Intervarsity Series event at Carton
THE Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union have announced that entries are open for the Intervarsity Series at Carton House on Friday, November 23rd. The event will be an 18-hole strokeplay championship played over the Montgomerie Course.
This event is the first in a three-event series. The second 18-hole event will take place at Strandhill GC, Sligo, on Friday, February 15th.
Entries for this event will be taken at Carton House by the championship committee at the first event.
The series will culminate with the 2013 Intervarsity Championship over 54 holes in March next year (venue to be confirmed).
Points will be allocated based on positions in each of the events, with points being reset based on positions in the Order of Merit table prior to the championship, which will serve as the grand finale for the series.
RATHCORE GC will host an Open Fourball Scramble competition made up of mixed four-person teams on Bank Holiday Monday, October 29th.
Rathcore have no temporary greens and this is a result of the dedication and hard work of the staff. For those wishing to participate early booking is advisable. Ring Aileen on 046-9541855, or go to the website, rathcoregolfandcountryclub.com, for on-line reservations.
Golden oldies rule in Craddockstown
WITH AGE comes experience and age was no barrier to matchplay winners in Craddockstown this year.
In the foursomes matchplay 66 year-old Jim Chambers, playing off 15, teamed up with five-handicapper Joe Byrne, 60 years of age, to win the title, beating Peter Cahill (6) and his 12 year-old son Rory, playing off 12, in the final.
But Byrne wasn’t finished there as he was to add two more titles, firstly winning the singles final by defeating Aidan McDonald (13) and then in the fourball final, he partnered Keith Smith as they went on to defeat Pat O’Callaghan and Tommy O’Malley.
Swede Holmqvist turns professional
SWEDISH golfing prodigy Daniela Holmqvist has turned professional and signed with IMG.
Holmqvist, who is known for her exceptional ball-striking, excelled in her amateur career whilst attending College at the University of California.
A Swedish national team member for the last two years, Holmqvist also became the first Cal female golfer to be named Pac 12 Golfer of the Month last March.
Holmqvist will compete at two LET Access events, in Crete and Spain, in the coming weeks before taking part in the LET Tour School for 2013, which will be held over two weeks from December 6th-17th, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Holmqvist was born in Switzerland, but travelled through Europe with her family until the age of five before settling in Sweden. Her father, Hans Holmqvist, was a professional football player, with 27 caps (four goals) for the Swedish national side.
