By SHAY KEENAN
McVeigh claims Munster title
ROYAL County Down’s Danielle McVeigh was victorious in the Munster Senior Championships at Shannon last Friday.
After four rounds of matchplay competition, McVeigh prevailed in the final against Ballybunion’s Emma O’Driscoll, playing some fine golf to win by a convincing 5 and 4 winning margin.
She had booked her place in the final after a 3 and 2 win over Sarah Cunningham from Ennis, while O’Driscoll had beaten defending champion Niamh Kitching of Claremorris one up in her semi-final. Kitching had won the title in Dooks twelve months ago.
Earlier McVeigh had beaten Karen O’Neill (Douglas) by 4 and 3 and Valerie Hassett 5 and 4 in the opening rounds of matchplay.
McVeigh had been equally impressive in the 36 hole strokeplay qualifying, shooting 154 – rounds of 81 and 73 – to lead home the quality field alongside O’Driscoll and Kitching.
Meanwhile, Julie Coyle of Youghal Golf Club was crowned 2009 Munster Junior Champion after she beat Adare Manor’s Brid Naughton one up in the final.
Two sisters, Kathleen Maher and Josie Burke – who both play out of Templemore – had reached the Junior semi-finals.
Meadow accepts offer from University of Alabama
STEPHANIE Meadow from Jordanstown, a third-year student at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, has agreed to attend the University of Alabama next year
Meadow won the Irish Girls’ Championship in 2006 and reached the final again in 2007.
Haney, Tiger Woods’ coach, says Meadow is, “a role model at the Academy, has a strong work ethic, is very poised and at ease in any situation and will be a great addition to the Crimson Tide (University of Alabama) team.”
She is ranked in the top 15 juniors in the world in the two junior golf rating systems for the class of 2010.
Meadow is ranked 12th in both the Golfweek rankings and those of the Junior Golf Scoreboard junior rankings.
Cassidy's impressive effort
RACHAEL Cassidy, a student at Stirling University and a member of The Island GC, finished eighth in the RA Foundation Scholars’ tournament, of which the first two rounds were played over the Eden Course, St Andrews and the third and final round over the Old Course.
Cassidy had rounds of 74, 73 and 84 in an event won by University of Birmingham student Sian James from Gloucester.
An excellent second round of 67 helped James to a final total of 219 to win the women’s title ahead of French students Laura Chemarin and Lucie Andre, both from Toulouse.
The men’s title went to Scotland’s Paul Betty from Stirling University with rounds of 73, 69 and 68.
Turner finishes fourth in Arizona
TEAM Ireland’s Niall Turner finished joint fourth in the Gateway Professional Tour in Scottsdale, Arizona, over the weekend.
Turner finished on nine-under-par 207 with rounds of 68, 70 and 69.
The event was won by Ryan Dillon on 16-under-par 200 after rounds of 67, 66 and 67, with Brady Schnell a further shot back on 201.
THE annual golf classic in aid of St Francis Hospice, Raheny, will take place at The Island GC on Monday, April 27th. The event is a four-person team – any combination – competition with two scores to count at each hole and the cost, to include meals is €400 per team. Timesheet at 01-8453148
Power in form for East Tennessee
SÉAMUS Power from West Waterford GC helped East Tennessee State University to a second place finish in the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course on Sunday.
Power, who finshed third in the individual event, posted a three-round score of eight-over-par 221 (72-73-76), three strokes behind champion Brad Wright of hosts Ohio State.
The Buccaneers have now won an event and posted two second place finishes in their last four tournaments, as the team finished two strokes back of team champions and Big Ten Conference representative, Northwestern.
Ulster bidding for five-in-a-row
ULSTER will be looking to capture their fifth successive under-18 Interprovincial title when the three -day tournament tees-off at Woodenbridge Golf Club in County Wicklow tomorrow.
The northern team once again looks the strongest of the four sides as they field the talents of Lisa and Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) as well as fellow Irish Girls International Sarah Lousie Winter (Carnalea). Newcomers include rising young stars Paula Grant (Lisburn) and Erin Connolly (Armagh).
Leinster retain four of their players from last year’s matches and will be looking to Girls’ International Patrice Delaney (Birr) to lead their title charge. The experienced Carla Reynolds (Seapoint), Ciara Sharkey (Enniscorthy) and Niamh O’Connor (Naas) are among their line-up.
Connacht will look to Sarah Helly (Enniscrone) and Julie O’Gara (Roscommon) to inspire a victory last captured in 2004 at Westport. Daryl Conroy (Castlebar), Aisling Hill (Roscommon) and Holly Robinson (Co Sligo) are also expected to impress.
Munster are well represented by the in form Emma O’Driscoll (Ballybunion), the Coyne twins, Edel and Julie, from Youghal and Laura McCarthy (Muskerry) who finished third in a class field at Cork last weekend. The southerners look like the strongest side to upset Ulster’s aspirations of five in-a-row.
This year each province will be represented by eight players instead of six, while three foursomes instead of two will precede the familiar six singles in the afternoon each day.
