A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Countback counts against Leona in St Rule Trophy
LEONA MAGUIRE lost out on a countback as southerly winds gusting up to 50mph at St Andrews made a little bit of golfing history in the prestigious St Rule Trophy women’s international amateur tournament over the weekend.
Only 11 players in the field of 59 completed their second rounds before play was suspended.
Eventually, with the gale showing no sign of decreasing, it was decided to abandon Sunday’s play and declare the prize winners on the basis of the first round scores returned over the New Course on Saturday.
And so the 28th staging of the St Rule Trophy became the first to be decided over 18 holes. Four players had shared first place on two under par 73 at the end of the first round. A countback decreed that Australia’s Ashley Ona, seventh last year, was the 2011 St Rule Trophy winner by virtue of having the best back nine of the quartet – 34 strokes.
The three others all came home in 35 over the New Course on Saturday, with another Australian, Breanna Elliott, placed second with the best last six holes, Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom third and Maguire fourth.
Leona, however, won the Lawson Trophy for the best performance by a competitor under 18 years. Australia’s Ashley Ona, Breanna Elliott and Whitney Hillier won the international team event with a best two from three total of 146.
Local know-how pays for Prenderville
LOCAL knowledge proved beneficial last week as the North Dublin Golf Club Captains’ Association held their Captain’s Prize at Beaverstown GC.
Taking Pádraic Melvin’s prize was 13-handicapper Tom Prenderville from the host club, who fired an impressive 40 points.
Making it a Beaverstown 1-2 was his fellow club member John McKenna, playing off seven, who was two points back on 38 points, after edging our Eddie Maher from Skerries on a countback.
The Malahide duo of Denis Malin and Joe O’Neill, as well as The Island’s Lorcan Redmond were all on 37 points. Hollywood Lakes’ Paddy Kelly was the seniors winner, Paudge Dolan (Rush) took the veterans’ prize, while The Island’s Jim McBride was the senior veterans’ winner. The Association are next in action at Hollywood Lakes on Friday, September 9th.
- DOOKS was the venue for the recent annual match between the Irish Golf and Club Managers and their English counterparts, The UK Club Managers Association. An event which has been going since 1974 once again produced a very keenly fought contest over two days.
The visitors took the spoils on day one by 3½-2½ and on the second day the scores were reversed, with Ireland winning 3½-2½ to leave the scores tied at 6-6 and Ireland retained the trophy as holders.
Rathbeggan boys and girls double up
RATHBEGGAN National School won on the double at Black Bush Golf Club last week when they claimed both the Boys and Girls Team trophies in the inaugural Meath Primary Schools Cup.
In extremely windy conditions, the boys team of Jonathan Browne, Aaron Mee, Jack Gillen and Shane McGoldrick handled the conditions best to claim their trophy.
Rathbeggan’s commitment to the programme over the winter months, which included three visits by Junior Golf Ireland (JGI) to the school and regular visits to their local club, Black Bush, where they received coaching from Fintan Bonner, paid off when they also claimed the girls title.
The girls team of Dearbhla Murphy, Ellen Gillespie, Roisín Crehan and Rebecca McCabe produced very fine scores on the day to narrowly claim the trophy.
The individual awards went to Mark Phelan, from St Andrew’s National School in Curragha, and Jennifer Hoey from Whitecross Primary School in Julianstown.
Smyth clinches Seniors Open
HUGH SMYTH from the Mourne Club made a birdie at the final hole at Rosslare GC to clinch the Irish Seniors Amateur Open title by a one shot from Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow.
Morrow had made a final day charge and needed a birdie at the long 18th and a 71 which would have seen him take the lead with Smith waiting to play his second shot.
But his birdie putt failed to drop and Smith finished off what had been a difficult round in clinical fashion by finding the green and making two putts for a 75.
Smyth shots rounds of 78, 75 and 75 for a three-round total of 228, with Morrow carding 84, 73 and 72 for 229.
Tony Smith from The Island finished third on 231 after rounds of 81, 74 and 76.
Tralee’s Michael Coote, who led Smith by one going into the final round, faded with an 80 to finish in fourth place on 232.
- Living Golf, CNN's monthly golf show presented by Shane O'Donoghue gets ready for the US Open with a special preview which airs this Thursday. He visits defending champion Graeme McDowell at his home in Orlando, and the world's number one woman Yani Tseng as she prepares for the US Women's Open.
Beisiegel earns place on men’s tour
ISABELLE BEISIEGEL became the first female player to earn a playing card on a men’s professional golf tour, tying for ninth place last week in the Canadian Tour’s Spring Qualifying School to take one of the last two non-exempt spots.
Beisiegel, a 32-year-old Montreal native who played at the University of Oklahoma, had a four-under 68 in the third round, then added a 75 in rainy conditions to finish at eight-over-par 296 at Morningstar.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s a little overwhelming,” Beisiegel said. “I went into today just trying not to get ahead of myself. I focused on thinking about where I was and not what could happen. I was assured in the fact that no matter what happened it was going to be okay.”
Beisiegel opened with rounds of 75 and 78. Australia’s Andrew Kelly won the event to earn the first of five full exemptions, also closing with a 75 to finish at one-under 287. American Phil Telliard (70) was a stroke back.
Burke returns to defend her title
ENGLAND’S Hannah Burke will defend her Irish Women’s Open Strokeplay Championship when competitors tee off on Saturday, June 18th at Elm Park.
Hannah was crowned 2010 champion after a three-shot victory over Australia’s Justine Lee last June at Newlands.
This year, she will be joined by Ireland’s Lisa Maguire and Elia Folch of Spain for the first 36 holes on the Saturday, while the top 40, plus ties, from the starting 72 players will compete in the final round on Sunday.
* ENTRIES for the 2011 Four Nations Pairs Golf Challenge close today. Further details on www.fournationsgolfchallenge.co.uk
