Even with one counting championship remaining, in-form Graeme McDowell's charge on titles on the domestic calendar has come too late to deprive Noel Fox of the "golfer of the year" accolade on the Golfing Union of Ireland's Order of Merit.
McDowell, the Irish close champion, who missed the season-opening West and Irish strokeplay events due to his studying commitments in the United States, needed to reach the final of last week's North of Ireland (he was a beaten semi-finalist) to keep the battle for the Willie Gill award alive going into the South of Ireland at Lahinch in two weeks time. So, it means that Fox - who got off to a fast start by winning the Irish strokeplay and East of Ireland titles early in the campaign - is now in an unbeatable situation.
Fox has accumulated 155 points so far in the perpetual award with McDowell his nearest challenger on 100 points. Michael Hoey, winner of the North title, is currently third with 90 points and Eamonn Brady in fourth place on 85 points. While the Willie Gill award is out of his reach, McDowell still has the chance to overtake current leader Justin Kehoe in the race for the Joe Carr award which goes to the winner of the youths' Order of Merit.
Kehoe - winner of the Connacht youths and runner-up to McDowell in the Irish youths' - is leading the way with 125 points, pursued by McDowell on 110 points.
Technically, Darren Crowe and Sean McTernan (both on 85 points) are also still capable of overhauling the top pair - but it would appear to be an unlikely scenario and all the indicators point to Kehoe and McDowell fighting it out for the top spot at the final counting event, the Ulster youths at Belvoir Park next month.
Incidentally, the closing date for the South of Ireland at Lahinch - when the winner will receive an invitation to play in the Shell Houston Open on the US Tour next year - is next Friday at 5.00 pm. Entry forms can be attained from the secretary's office at Lahinch (065-81003) or e-mail a request for an entry form to lgc@iol.ie.
Meanwhile, there has been a significant increase in the number of entries for the Irish Girls (under-18) and Irish Women's Intermediate (under-23) championships which commence with strokeplay qualifying at Limerick Golf Club today (see draws below).
Just a week after Tiger Woods traipsed the same fairways in aid of charity, the country's top young women golfers will be chasing two of the most prestigious titles on the domestic scene.
Teresa Thompson, secretary of the ILGU, estimates that there is a "25 per cent increase on last year, which is very promising for the future of girls golf" in this year's championships.
Pamela Murphy of The Island, who won the girls' title last year, has now progressed to the Intermediate event where she will have last year's national champion Claire Coughlan and a host of internationals, including Elaine Dowdall, Jenny Gannon and Una Marsden, among her rivals.
Martina Gillen, who was away on international duty last week and missed the Leinster girls championship as a result, will start as favourite to take the Irish girls title.
