Aidan Williams moved into contention for the Hilary Golfing Society's gold medal after finishing three shots ahead of the field at Co Louth on Sunday. Williams' 68 left him three clear of Seamus McParland, Turlough Considine, Mark Coates and Martin Kelly on 71. Coates leads a quartet of Sutton members in the overall at one under par with Williams and Kieran O'Byrne next at level par and Simon Russell on three over par.
Williams won the nett prize from Kelly and Considine with McParland taking the gross. The team was won with an excellent 64 by Considine, Kelly and Royal Dublin's Stephen Prendergast.
Meath will be the Leinster representatives in the All-Ireland intercounty finals after their 3 1/2 - 1 1/2 win over Wicklow at Mount Wolseley. Portmarnock's Dermot Snow led the way with a one hole win over Pat McDonald while Meath's other winners were Joe Moore, who beat Pat Errity 4 and 3, and John McGinn, a 5 and 4 winner over Alan Condren.
The Millennium captain of Howth golf club, Bernie Dillon, is leading by example so far this year. Dillon showed his intent by winning one of the Winter Leagues and being runnerup in another.
Partnered by Jack Crookes, he ran out an easy winner of the first league, the final of which was played in St Helen's Bay. Things weren't so easy in the other League however, but a strong performance on the final day ensured a highly creditable second place for Dillon.
Understandably, Howth team mangers in search of in-form players have set their sights on their captain and have signed him up for a number of the inter-club teams.
Significantly, Dillon was missing from the recent annual `friendly' with close neighbours Sutton. Laid low by the demon flu he was sorely missed as, for the first time in the history of the event, the match was halved, thus ensuring that Howth would retain the Wooden Spoon for another year.
The Lady captain of Malahide, Carmel Lynch, was a proud spectator at the final of the Leinster Ladies Alliance Senior matchplay final when Malahide member Allison Taylor took the title for the second time last week. Allison beat Rosemary Hayes of Co Louth 3 and 2 in the final.
The first outing of the Leinster Alliance will take place at the European Club next Sunday. The time sheet runs from 10.00 a.m. to 1.0 p.m. and some times are available (Telephone 282797). Six outings are scheduled in the lead-up to the captain's prize at the Grange golf club on Sunday, June 25th.
