A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Castletroy in four national finals
THE finals of three of the regional deciders in the ILGU Private Home Care interclub Championships were held last weekend.
At County Sligo in the Connacht Regional finals, Westport won the Junior Cup, Tuam took the Intermediate Cup, Mountbellew were victorious in the Junior Cup, while Ballinrobe won the Challenge Cup.
Meanwhile, at Lisburn the Ulster finals were held and Malone made it through to two All-Ireland finals with Rockmount, Clandeboye, Dunmurry and County Armagh joining them.
In Munster, Castletroy GC hosted their regional finals and home advantage was certainly a key factor as the hosts qualified for four national finals, the senior foursomes, junior foursomes, Junior Cup and Challenge Cup.
Elsewhere the Intermediate Cup was won by Lee Valley, while the Minor Cup went to Killarney.
The two other regional finals take place next month with the Mid Leinster Finals being held at Enniscorthy on September 1st, while the East Leinster finals are in Malahide the following day.
All regional winners progress to the National Finals which this year are being held in Courtown GC from September 26th to 29th.
Captain's prize winners Roscrea-bound
ROSCREA Golf Club are hosting their invitational annual competition for winners of this year’s captain’s prizes nationwide.
The winners from around the country are invited to play 18 holes stableford in Roscrea GC.
The ladies event will be staged on Tuesday, September 11th with the men competing on Friday, September 14th.
The four best scores will qualify for finals which will be played in the Algarve in spring 2013. Entry fee for the event is €55 which includes breakfast or lunch.
Entry forms can be obtained by ringing (0505) 21130 while further information can be found on the club's website www.roscreagolfclub.ie
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THE North Dublin Golf Club Captains’ Association will hold their next outing in Skerries when they stage President’s (Stafford Stack) Prize on Friday September 7th.
The timesheet is open from 9am to 12.30pm and again from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.
Ireland win Pitch and Putt World Cup
IRELAND claimed the Pitch and Putt World Cup with victory over Australia at The Royal Meath Pitch and Putt Club in Clonee last weekend.
Ireland took command of the final early by winning the first two matches where Ray Murphy and John Crangle beat James Rogerson and Tom Rickit one up and John Walsh beat Brendan Underwood 2 up. Ireland went on to win all three singles matches to take the World Cup on a 5-0 score.
Holland stormed to a 4-1 victory over Norway to take third place while Catalonia took 2½ from the singles to take fifth place from Switzerland.
Final Placings: 1st – Ireland, 2nd – Australia, 3rd – Holland, 4th – Norway, 5th – Catalonia, 6th – Switzerland, 7th – Galicia, 8th – Britain, 9th – Andorra, 10th – Germany with Chile in 11th place.
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ENTRIES are now being accepted for the Kempinski Hotel Bahia Pro-Am which will be played over Three Costa Del Sol courses – Valderrama, San Roque (Old Course) and La Reserva, Sotogrande from November 15th-17th.
The six-day event includes five nights at the Kempinski Hotel, three rounds plus a practice round at San Roque or La Reserva is limited to 20 teams. The cost for the full package with hotel is €1,750 or golf only €1,050.
KPROAM@expectationsgolf.com
Castle pip Portmarnock to claim Leinster Senior Cup
CASTLE GC is celebrating a first Leinster Senior Cup pennant in their history after a 3-2 victory over defending champions Portmarnock at the Hermitage.
The final was a tight contest with Daniel Holland beating former South of Ireland champion John Greene to seal a much-celebrated Castle triumph.
Also winning their matches in the final were Alex Gleeson and Jack Walsh, while completing the team were Conor Deegan and Jim Mulready.
Castle had beaten Greystones 4-1 in the quarter-finals and then Malahide by a similar scoreline in the last four before their historic victory over Portmarnock (who had beaten NUI Maynooth and Kilkenny in previous rounds) in the final.
The Castle club, founded 99 years ago and situated between Churchtown and Rathfarnham, has been a growing force on the inter-club scene in recent times especially since the course was upgraded at the turn of the century with a six-hole short-game practice facility being added a few years ago.
This has been particularly popular with the juvenile members at the club and is clearly starting to bear fruit as, following on from their historic success in the Leinster Senior Cup at the Hermitage, they take part in the All-Ireland Fred
Daly Trophy finals at Loughrea GC later today with a squad headed by Irish underage international Gleeson.
Best Cup final goes to extra day
THE final of the Best Cup between Newlands and Donabate will go to a third day after the second leg of the final was disrupted by Saturday’s inclement weather at Donabate.
Newlands led 3-2 after the first leg but Donabate were 2½-1½ up with one match still on the course as darkness approached. After much consultation it was agreed that it was too dark to continue play particularly as the the final result depended on this last match. As per rule, the four players will now play a full 18 holes fourball match which is scheduled for a 1.30 start at Donabate today to decide the winner of the 2012 Cup.
East of Ireland mixed at the K Club
AFTER a seven-year lapse the East of Ireland Mixed Foursomes championship returns to the golfing calendar at The K Club (Smurfit course) over 36 holes on Sunday, September 16th.
There is no handicap limit but the field will be limited to the 36 pairs with the lowest combined handicaps. The cost is €60 per pair with a the closing date of Sunday, September 2nd available on line www.gui.ie/leinster.
The last time the Championship was played for was in 2003 and it was won by Paul McDonald and Selena Smyth. The Championship was first played for in 1974 and won by Brian Malone and Valerie Singleton. Other past winners include Pádraig Harrington with Eavan Higgins in 1992, Eddie Dunne and Mary McKenna, Eddie and Eileen Rose Power.
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THE Sutton Open Mixed Foursomes will be played next Sunday, September 2nd. Timesheet with Conor Russell 01-8321703.
