Geraldine Ward and Marian Byrne had every reason to celebrate the first year of the new millennium when they became the first women to play pitch and putt internationally for Ireland when they were selected to play on the 10-strong side that defeated Catalonia 181/211/2 at the IGB Dublin. They Irish pair followed that by leading a six-strong Irish women's team that included Bernadette Coffey, Claire Murphy, Linda Murphy and Peggy Campbell to a 61/225/8 win over the Rest of Europe.
Mark Miller (Cement) was the new celebrity on the men's scene when he created a record by winning the National matchplay title at Seapoint by 11 and 9 against Bruff's Paceli Darcy. Anne Hall (Royal Meath) took the Penfold Commando Women's prize and in doing so deprived seven-times champion Geraldine Ward of a record eighth crown.
Ray Murphy (Templebreedy) had a five-shot victory in the Paddy Old Irish Whiskey men's strokeplay championship while Cloghogue's Marina O'Rourke claimed her second women's title.
Kildare teams dominated the inter-county championships winning both the men's and women's laurels. Elsewhere, Cork won the Murphy Cup at juvenile level, with Jason McNamara (Hillview) and Hazel Hanrahan (Fermoy) winning out. Parteen won the National mixed event, IGB won the club tournament and the Laceys from Trim, Bernie and Lily, won the National mixed title.
