By SHAY KEENAN
Connacht call up two new caps
THE Connacht senior team to compete at the Interprovincial Championships in Co Sligo from July 19th-21st includes two new caps.
Current Munster Youths champion Steffan O’Hara (Co Sligo) and in-form Loughrea 19-year-old Seán Cannon shall pull on a senior sweater for the first time, both having represented the province at boys level in the past.
CONNACHT: Barry Anderson (Co Sligo), Seán Cannon (Loughrea), Michael Durcan (Co Sligo), Joe Lyons (Galway), Eddie McCormack (Galway), Gary McDermott (Co Sligo), Kelan McDonagh (Athlone/NUIM), Steffan O’Hara (Co Sligo).
LEINSTER: Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little), Brian Casey (Headfort), Paul Dunne (Greystones), John Greene (Carlow), Rory McNamara (Headfort), Craig Martin (Kilkenny), Richard O’Donovan (Lucan), Stephen Walshe (Baltinglass).
PROFESSIONAL golf heads to Cork over the next few days as the latest event on the PGA EuroPro Tour takes place at Cork’s Fota Island Golf Club for the Audi Cork Irish Masters.
The Audi Cork Irish Masters will start tomorrow and run through to Friday, in association with O’Leary Insurances, Ballyburden Meats and Beringer.
Fota Island’s Belvelly Course will stage the three-day event, with players competing in two rounds before the top 50, plus ties, progress to compete for the €11,000 first prize in the decisive third day.
Headfort's Casey wins Irish Youths
HEADFORT’S Brian Casey fired a superb course record 66 in round four to capture the Irish Youths Amateur Close Championship at Tramore Golf Club last Friday.
Having been 10 shots adrift of overnight leader Stephen Barry from Laytown and Bettystown, at the halfway stage, a third round of three-under-par 69 saw Casey close the gap to five as Barry faltered, dropping four shots over the last two holes on his way to 74.
Casey covered the last nine of his third round in a remarkable 31 strokes and equalled that feat in the afternoon to run out a two-stroke winner as Barry closed with a 73 to take the runner-up spot.
One for the record books – North West GC in Donegal had the unique experience of having three holes-in-one during Sunday’s competition.
Kevin McGeough holed out on the eighth as did Paul Doherty Jnr, while Don Coyle managed his feat on the 16th.
Golf With Stars for Bothar
GOLF With Stars (GWS) is a fundraising event which is held annually for the development aid agency, Bóthar. This year’s event takes place at The K Club, Co Kildare, on Saturday, July 16th.
Golf with Stars gives you (and two friends) a chance to tee off with some of Ireland’s sporting legends.
Amongst those already confirmed to take part include rugby stars Tommy Bowe (Ireland, Ospreys), Tomás O’Leary (Ireland, Munster), Frankie Sheahan (Munster, Ireland), Mick Galway (Munster, Ireland), Anthony Foley (Munster, Ireland), and 10-times Irish Champion jockey Charlie Swan.
Entries to the Golf With Stars draw can be purchased online at golfwithstars.com. Tickets cost € 20 for one entry, three entries cost € 50 or seven cost € 100. Draw entries close on July 8th 2011, winners will be notified by email.
Not only will winners play with one of the stars but teams will also be treated to a gourmet barbecue.
Bowe, a long-time supporter of Bóthar and regular with Golf With Stars said: “Most of us who have signed up to take part in Golf With Stars would consider ourselves to be able golfers who enjoy a round or two.”
Bóthar enables families and communities worldwide to overcome hunger and poverty and to restore the environment in a sustainable way.
McElroy claims third Irish Senior Women's Close event
DEFENDING champion Sheena McElroy from the Grange, won her third Irish Senior Women’s Close Championship in four years at Adare Manor Golf Club when beating Headfort’s Pauline Walsh in last week’s final.
McElroy raced to an early lead over Walsh and, at one under par, held a five-hole advantage at the turn. McElroy continued her dominance of this event in recent years and closed out the match on the 13th green.
Earlier in the day, McElroy got off to a flying start in her semi-final with Pat Doran from Donabate and never looked back after turning into the back nine with a two-hole advantage.
Doran holed out solidly on 15th to reduce the gap to one hole but McElroy responded by winning the 16th and a two-putt par on the 17th closed out the match.
In the other semi-final, Irish Open Strokeplay champion Helen Jones, from Straban, struggled to continue the impressive form she found earlier in the week and Walsh won on the 13th.
Meanwhile, in a much closer affair, Gertie McMullen from The Island defeated ILGU chief executive Sinead Heraty from the Castle 3 and 2 to win the Senior’s Plate final at the same venue.
In the semi-finals Heraty saw off the challenge of Mary Madden from Ballinasloe while McMullen was a 3 and 2 winner over Gemma Butler from Birr.
Ballyliffin Pro-Am
THE Ballyliffin Pro-Am takes place over both links at Ireland’s most northerly links on July 23rd and 24th with practice rounds available on July 22nd.
The largest pro-am in Europe, with 104 teams, brings golfers from all over Ireland, Britain and USA together for one of the best weekends in the Irish PGA calendar.
Contact the Irish PGA or Ballyliffin GC for entry forms.
Ballyliffin Youth Summer Camp runs from July 11th-13th from 10 am-2pm. The fee of €70 includes tuition, meals, gift and competitions. The event is open to all children of eight years and older – non members welcome. Details at 074-9378100.
Ryan claims Ulster Girls event
CHLOE Ryan from Castletroy won the Ulster Girls Championship (Fred Daly Trophy) when she defeated Lisburn’s Paula Grant, the defending champion, on the 17th at Farnham Estate on Thursday.
Forty one players from all over Ireland had competed in the event with the top eight competitors progressing to the matchplay stage of the championship.
Ryan had led the qualifiers on the opening day, being the only player to break par with a superb two-under-par round of 70, five clear of her closest challenge Jessica Carty from Holywood.
In the matchplay after an opening win over Mary Doyle (The Heath), Ryan accounted for Jessica Boal (Larne) in the semi-finals, before edging Grant 2 and 1 in the final to land the title.
In the Plate event there was victory for 12-year-old Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) who beat Olivia Mehaffey from RCD Ladies 4 and 2 in the final.
