Compiled by SHAY KEENAN
Leave clubs at home for tournament in the Algarve
PAUL McGINLEY'S off-course business venture ClubstoHire.comhas launched a new pairs competition which will take place on three courses in the Algarve during May. The three-night, three-round event will see golfers play on Onyria Palmares; Quinta do Lago South; and Laranjal – while staying at the Crowne Plaza Vilamoura, from May 24th-27th.
And there is no need to splash out on airline charges to take your golf clubs to the event, as entry includes complimentary hire of a set of clubs – choose from TaylorMade (including R11), Callaway, Wilson or MD Golf – from the ClubstoHire.comoutlet at Faro Airport.
Entry, which costs € 495 per person, includes accommodation, three rounds of golf on three courses, transfers from the airport and to the courses each day and a gala dinner and prizegiving on the final night.
The tournament is just the latest initiative from the Ireland-based ClubstoHire.com– now open in seven airports in Europe – which is revolutionising golf travel in terms of baggage costs.
The service couldn’t be easier to use – you just order online ahead of travel and pick up the hire set at your destination.
For further information or an application form visit www.clubstohire.comor contact tournament@clubstohire.com.
Killiney’s Duke to captain Leinster Seniors
KILLINEY’S Nigel Duke will succeed Barry Reddan from Co Louth as Leinster Seniors team captain for 2012.
A scratch golfer himself, Duke brings a wealth of experience at competitive level to the role.
He is the holder of the Connacht Seniors title and was part of the Irish Seniors team that captured the European Team Championship title in 2007 and the Home Internationals in 2008.
Meanwhile, Kevin Raftery from Forrest Little takes over the mantle of Boys team captain from Aidan Marsden from Tullamore, with John McGrath (Royal Tara) assuming the role of team manager. The Interprovincial Championships will take place at Royal Co Down on July 24th-26th.
* PAUL O’HANLON from the Curragh won the Titleist Winter Series outing at The Links Portmarnock with a 70, with Tadhg Harrington (9) next on 72.
Dara Lernihan from the Castle took the gross honours with a 71 from Dundalk’s Leslie Walker.
Mallon triumphs at Portsalon
THE NORTH West Golfing Alliance resumed their season after their Christmas break when they visited Portsalon Golf Club on Saturday.
Fifty five golfers made the trip to the Co Donegal club where in the nett category it needed a countback over the closing holes to determine the eventual winner of the day’s golf after three players tied on 79.
But in the final analysis victory went to North West’s Garret Mallon, playing off a handicap of one, who edged out Clive Davison, playing off 15 and from Letterkenny GC and the host club’s Connor McGettigan, playing off 13.
That trio were well ahead of the rest of the field, with the next best placed golfer being Michael O’Donnell (13) of Letterkenny, who claimed fourth place three shots back on 82.
Meanwhile, in the gross section it was a little more clear-cut, with Rosapenna scratch golfer Enda Kennedy shooting the best score with 82, five better than Strabane’s Ben Corry (4), who edged out John McBride (scr) from Portsalon on a countback.
The next outing for the Alliance is on Saturday week, February 18th, when they travel to Rosapenna Golf Club.
Roganstown to host Lombard
ROGANSTOWN Golf Club in north Co Dublin will host the Irish section of qualifying for the 2012 Lombard Challenge, a PGA Pro-Captain tournament.
There will be 10 regional qualifiers in Britain and Ireland during August and September.
Roganstown host the Irish qualifier on August 20th.
The 36-hole Grand Final will be at the PGA Sultan Course at Antalya GC in Turkey, from December 7th-8th.
Kelly second in Spanish Seniors
* KILLEEN’S Maurice Kelly had to settle for second place at the Spanish International Senior Amateur Championship at Las Colinas Golf Country Club in Alicante over the weekend. The Championship was reduced to 54 holes due to inclement weather. Kelly recorded rounds of 78, 68 and 73 for a total of 219. The overall winner of the Championship was England’s John Ambridge, with a total of 210.
* THE City Matchplay Championship, which commenced last September and is held at Castle Golf Club, is now reaching the closing stages in both the men’s and women’s sections.
Through to the men’s quarter-finals are Michael Curran from Tulfarris, who plays Stephen Finlan from the Curragh; Castlewarden’s Declan Donnelly will meet local Michael Murray.
In an all-Castle battle Fred Shackleton meets Barry Keely, while Stackstown’s David McNamara takes on clubmate Brian Flanagan.
The women’s semi-finals draw sees the Castle’s Noelle Casey meet Joan Sheridan from Newlands, while Castle members Amy Jones and Helen Kinsella meet in the other semi-final.
Powerscourt’s Doran delivers two holes in one in a two-week period
* DES DORAN of Powerscourt GC delivered not one but two holes in one within a two- week period recently and also holed out with his second shot to the 18th on the East course the day after his first hole in one.
On January 18th in the Wednesday fourball he aced the second hole on the West Course. The next day he holed his second shot at the 18th East course again in a invitation competition.
Then on the February 1st he had a hole in one at the sixth hole on the West course bringing his total of aces to five.
* NIALL TURNER made a good start to his career on the Asian Tour when he finished in 20th place in the Myamar Open in Royal Mingeralton Country Club in Yangoon Burma, the first tournament on the tour.
Turner finished on 10-under-par following rounds of 69, 68, 72, 69.
He finished five shots behind the winner.
England’s Kieran Pratt, who carded a 15 under total of 273 with rounds of 70, 69, 66, 68.
