Compiled by Shay Keenan and Kevin McKenna
Riordan off to flyer
Marian Riordan, the 23-year-old Ireland international from Tipperary, and Mary Ann Plunkett from Locanto, Florida, who met for the first time just three weeks ago, won the 59th Women's International Fourball Championship at Orangebrook Country Club, Hollywood, in Florida last week.
Riordan's preparations for the 2005 season, in which she hopes to regain her Irish team place, saw he hone her game on the Florida Orange Blossom Tour for women amateurs in January.
Riordan finished 10th in the opening event, the Harder Hall Invitational at Harder Hall Country Club, Sebring, and it was there she met fellow competitor Plunkett. The pair decided to team up for the fourball championship, the last event on the Orange Blossom Tour.
Riordan and Plunkett were the leading qualifiers by a four-stroke margin, and in the matchplay they did not have to play the 17th and 18th holes at all and the 16th only once in winning the three matches that took them to the title won last year by two of the most famous names in North American women's amateur golf over the past few decades, Carol Semple Thomson and Marlene Streit from Canada.
In Friday's final, Riordan and Plunkett won by 4 and 3 over local Ronnie Hall from Hollywood, Florida, and Melissa Pucciarelli (Argentina).
Irish pair 12th in NSW
Ireland's Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) and Seán McTernan (Co Sligo) tied for 12th place in the Lake Macquarie Amateur Championship in New South Wales, Australia, last week.
The event was won by Marc Leishman (Warrnambool), who shot a leisurely final round of 68 to win by nine shots, with a four round total of 20-under-par 268. Leishman's score equals the previous lowest tournament total by Chris Campbell in 2002.
Crowe had rounds of 67 75 72 and 69 for his 283 total while McTernan shot 70 70 74 and 69.
Bowler joins Wexford
Wexford Golf Club have appointed Liam Bowler as club professional following the departure of Damien McGrane, who is now concentrating full time on the PGA European Tour. Bowler was professional at the St Helen's Bay Club but achieved his PGA qualifications as assistant at Wexford prior to leaving for the St Helen's Bay job in 2002. A native of Kells, Co Meath, he learned his golf at Headfort.
Bowler had a top 10 finish in last year's Irish Professional Championship won by Pádraig Harrington.
O'Leary back to France
Stephen O'Leary (Douglas) will defend his Association Française des Golfs Pitch and Putt (AFGPP) at the Club de la Grande Motte, near Montpellier on April 16th-17th. O'Leary beat fellow Irishman Alan Hanlon (Collinstown), who will also travel again this year, on the fourth extra hole, after a tie on 108 last year.
Prolific Scratch Cup winner and 2003 runner-up in the French International Open, Hanlon has twice reached the National Matchplay semi-finals, at Ryston in 2001 and at Lucan in '03. He lost the 2000 Leinster matchplay final to Mark Millar at CPM.
Another Irish player competing in France will be Karl Maxwell. Maxwell played on the Dublin team that won the 1985 National Juvenile Inter-County. Dublin totalled 400 to triumph by five shots over Meath at Shandon.
It's still not too late to file an entry for the French Open. Send entries to John Hudson: john.hudson@wanadoo.fr Tel : 00 334 73 38 13 54. Play will be over 54 holes strokeplay.
Hilary returns to action
Mark Collins and Gary Cullen will defend their overall titles when the BMW sponsored Hilary Golf Society opens its 2005 season at Laytown and Bettystown on Sunday next. Collins won the gold medal for the best nett individual over the season in 2004 while Cullen won the Niall O'Brien silver medal for the best gross overall.
Now in its 52nd season, the Hilary Society have scheduled other outings for Portmarnock Hotel and Links, St Anne's, Seapoint, Co Louth and the final outing is in Sutton Golf Club.
Byrne best in Boyne
Shane Byrne from Hermitage showed excellent early season form in the Bank of Scotland sponsored Boyne Links Alliance at the Portmarnock Hotel and Links last week. Byrne shot a 70 gross to win by three shots from Zak Roulier (Beech Park) with Pádraig O'Rourke (Black Bush) next on 74 and Ger Burke from the Curragh a shot further back on 75.
The amateur nett went to the K Club's Tom Freeman with 35 points on a countback from Peter Nugent (Hermitage), Johnny Bridges (Moate) and Peter Ennis (Hermitage). Michael Jordan won the visitors' section with 35 points while Edmondstown members James Nash, Brendan Madden, Rod Wood and Brendan McCarthy scooped the team award with 44 points. The next outing is scheduled for Carton House on March 1st.
Tsunami efforts
Sutton golf club are doing their bit for the tsunami fundraising effort, which is being encouraged by the Golfing Union of Ireland. Clubs are being encouraged to organise an event to help with the fundraising effort and with this in mind Sutton have organised theirs for Friday, February 11th. The object of their efforts is to purchase a boat for the Asian Tsunami Fund. The boat comes complete with outboard motor and fishing nets and will be given to those who not only suffered bereavements but also the loss of their livelihoods.
A timesheet at the club will run from 8.30 to 12.30 and there will be a shotgun start at 2.30pm. The format is a team of four, any gender. Anyone wishing to put a team in the shotgun start should contact: michaelhealy@suttongolfclub.org
Of course, the GUI have already done their bit and have made a donation of €50,000 to the Aid Agencies, while GUI president Albert Lee has written to the captains of all 413 affiliated clubs to either make a donation or organise an event.
European youth policy
The European Club at Brittas Bay are playing their part in trying to introduce young golfers to the wonders and thrills of links golf. The club have set aside 90 minutes each Sunday afternoon during February, March and April for adults to bring up to three juniors each to play at hugely discounted rates. From 12.30p.m. to 2p.m. on each nominated Sunday an adult may play for just €75 and introduce 1, 2 or 3 juniors, aged 12-to-18 and holders of handicap certificates, at a fee of €15 each. This is a great chance to play one of the country's most famous links and get the opportunity to play from deep bunkers, play on marram grass and try your golf in testing sea breezes. To avail of the special offer, bookings are necessary and this can be done by phoning the club at 0404-47415 or else by email at info@theeuropeanclub.com.
