Shatter is continuing to break new ground

For someone who took up golf a mere four and a half years ago, Carol Shatter - wife of TD Alan - certainly hasn't allowed the grass to grow beneath her feet! Last week, Carol won the Lady Golfer of the Year award at Edmondstown for the third time in four years, testimony to the amount of hard work she has put into her game since taking up the sport.

In fact, Carol has dropped swiftly in handicap from an initial 36 down to 12 and, apart from her individual successes, which include winning last year's lady captain's prize at her club, she has also represented Edmondstown in team competitions.

Carol's sporting background is actually as a hockey player and a cricketer - she played cricket for Railway Union in the Leinster senior league. And she has certainly brought that winning touch to the golfing fairways since taking up the sport, emphasised by her dramatic drop in handicap.

Meanwhile, the women of Howth Golf Club are making a good fist of dominating the ILGU Autumn Teams, the popular endof-season competitions which are nearing a conclusion.

Howth have managed to reach the semi-final stages in three of the five competitions: the Townsend Foursomes, the Junior Cup and the 5th Team. Howth are due to meet Foxrock in the semifinals of the Townsend, will face the Island in the Junior Cup and are scheduled to meet Balbriggan in the 5th.

Interestingly, Dun Laoghaire are also doing well having reached the semi-finals of the Townsend and the Junior Cup, while the Island are through to the semifinals of the Junior Cup and the 4th. One of the big surprises of the competitions has been the performance of Powerscourt who, in their debut season, have reached the semi-finals of the 5th.

The finals of the Junior Cup, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Teams will take place at Malahide on November 3rd, while the Townsend Cup finals are scheduled to be held at Hermitage on November 6th.

DUBLIN diamond cutter Leo Russell showed no rough edges when he partnered Slade Valley club professional John Dignam in the Lombard Trophy pro-am at San Lorenzo in the Algrave last week.

Russell chipped in for a birdie two at the par three fifth hole then had a memorable eagle three (nett albatross) at the par five 15th, where he hit a three-wood approach to 20-feet and sank the putt. "That's the best score I've ever had," remarked Russell. The Irish team finished in 10th position. The tournament was won by Whitley Bay, from England.

Thomas Coffey, a junior member at Waterford Castle, discovered the winning formula last weekend.

On Saturday, Coffey accumulated 45 points (playing off a handicap of 19, being cut to 16 as a result) and, then, on Sunday, teamed-up with fellow-junior Michelle Walsh (11) to bring in 41 points and, again, make the winners rostrum.

John Glynn didn't let a hole-in-one at the ninth hole distract him from his primary aim in the Hennelly Trophy at Galway Golf Club. Glynn, an 11-handicapper, ace the hole on his way to compiling a winning score of 43 points in the competition.

What's in a name? The Winter League at Limerick Golf Club - which commenced last Sunday - has produced some interesting team names including "The Vice Squad", who are the first round leaders after a team score of 84 points, followed in second place by "Moxer's Mates" and "The Firm" on 83 points.