A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Rosslare Alliance season nears end
NOW in its eighth successful season, the Rosslare Alliance has become very popular amongst players looking to keep their game sharp over the winter months.
It also offers competitors the chance to test their skills over the wonderful Rosslare links course, which is always in prime condition no matter what the time of year.
It also provides great value for competitors, with visitors just €25 and professionals €15. There is also a team event, though the main prize is a guaranteed first gross and first nett prize of €150.
Before the winter is complete there are four Alliance outings remaining.
The next one is next Monday, January 17th, with the other three on Monday, February 7th, Monday, March 7th and Monday, April 4th.
For timesheets and any further information players, both amateur and professional, contact Johnny Young at Rosslare Golf Club on 053 9132032.
Galgorm Castle on Europro schedule
THE Europro Tour schedule for 2011 will again include Galgorm Castle Golf Club in Ballymena.
After the success of the inaugural event in 2010, Galgorm Castle has confirmed the 2011 PGA EuroPro event will take place from June 27th-July 1st.
Last year England’s James Hepworth won at the first play-off hole against Australia’s Daniel Gaunt to secure his full playing rights on the European Challenge Tour.
Gaunt went on to win his main European Tour card and recently bettered Tiger Woods at the Australian Masters – where they finished third and fourth respectively.
The George Best Foundation will be involved through the pro-am and gala dinner to raise funds for its many ongoing projects.
“After the wonderful success enjoyed in 2010, we hope to build on the success and add even more to the event in 2011,” said Gary Henry, general manager Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Emerald Challenge for Hough Memorial Trophy
THE South West Florida 2011 Tipperary Crystal Emerald Challenge for the David Hough Memorial Trophy will take place in Fort Myers from April 23rd through to April 30th.
The event, which has proved highly popular in recent years, sees Irish golfers based in the Trianon Hotel in Naples and involves practice rounds at The Quarry and Pelican Marsh courses and then competition days at Miromar Lakes, Renaissance and Gateway.
The fees for the event – which do not include flights – range from €899 to € 1,099 and include the five rounds of golf, the seven nights accommodation in the four-star hotel and awards dinner, plus one rental car per two-man team.
The format of the event is a 54-hole handicapped two-man team event, while there will be individual daily and overall prizes.
The low four Irish teams compete against their American counterparts for the David Hough Memorial Trophy.
This will be the first staging of the David Hough Memorial Trophy. David, a former CEO of Circle Oil Plc, participated in the event every year since its inception, but sadly passed away last year just before the event.
Entries are limited to the first 30 teams, with 25 per cent of the fee required on booking and the balance due by March 1st.
Further details are available from Kevin McGrath on 086 2423009 or kjmcgrath@tigeregister.com
Leona Maguire sixth in US event
IRELAND’S Leona Maguire (16), from the Slieve Russell club, finished a creditable sixth on her debut in the Harder Hall Invitational, the first event on Florida’s Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs, at Sebring, while twin sister Lisa finished 17th.
Leona had rounds of 72, 69, 72 and 74 for 287 – nine shots off winner Ashleigh Albrecht who had a birdie-birdie finish to win by one stroke from Cheyenne Woods, a student at Wake Forest University and niece of Tiger Woods, and by two shots from defending champion Kyle Roig in third.
On the 17th, Woods went for the green but fell short in the water but got up and down to save par. Roig went for the green and ended up right of the target to fall two back of Woods.
Albrecht missed the green, but made a good chip and sank her short putt for birdie. At the last Roig and Woods two-putted for par and Albrecht sank her birdie putt to win.
Lisa Maguire had rounds of 74, 75, 76 and 72 for 297.
Hilary Golf Society restarts next month
The Hilary Golf Society restarts their annual series of competitions on Sunday, February 6th at Laytown Bettystown.
This year, the society will host top-class competitions at seven Links courses.
As before, the Hilary Gold Medal will be decided by the best three nett scores from a member’s five selected outings.
The Niall O’Brien silver medal will be decided by the best three gross scores from the five outings.
Gold and silver medals were won by Robert Giles and Derek Downie respectively last year. Information regarding renewal or new applications is available on www.hilarygolf.ie
Rottluff and Jutanugarn triumph
GERMANY’S Max Rottluff and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn were crowned Junior Orange Bowl International golf champions recently.
Jutanugarn cruised to a four-stroke victory from Slovenia’s Ursa Orehek, whose closing 69 was the best girls’ round of the day.
Rottluff won in a sudden death play-off, defeating USA’s Curtis Thompson at the first extra hole after they had tied with level-par totals of 280 for the 72-hole event.
Jutanugarn proved why she is GolfWeek’s top-ranked US girl, her solid final round of even-par 70 a masterful performance in which she played the final 10 holes in level par.
The boys’ championship was a tighter affair. Rottluff, finalist at the 2010 British boys’ championship, led for most of the day but over the closing holes he missed a series of short birdie opportunities.
Thompson, from Coral Springs, Florida, also missed several back-nine putts to take the outright lead, but a brilliant long par putt on the 71st hole kept his title challenge alive.
Thompson, brother of last year’s girls’ winner Alexis, carded a closing 68, Rottluff a 69, and they tied on even-par 280 for the championship.
In the play-off, Thompson three-putted the first extra hole while the 17-year-old Rottluff made no mistake.
Julien Brun, from France, finished third on 283 after rounds of 72, 66, 74 and 71.
