Irish Golf News

Colm Campbell. Picture by Pat Cashman

Warrenpoint international Colm Campbell shot a second successive 71 to grab a share of the lead entering Sunday’s final round of the EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup.  

The former East of Ireland winner shares top spot on two under 142 with Newcastlewest’s Andrew McCormack, the recent winner of the Mid-West Alliance series at Dromoland Castle.

Jamie Fletcher and Robin Dawson shot afternoon 70s to share third on 143 with first round leader Colin Woodroofe adding a 75 to his morning 69 to slop to fifth on level par.

The cut for the top 30 and ties fell at eight over 152 and with the top 15 covered by just six shots an exciting finish is on the cards.

EMC Lee Valley Senior Scratch Cup (Par 72)

1 Colm Campbell Jnr 71 71 142

2 Andrew McCormack 70 72 142

3 Jamie Fletcher 73 70 143

4 Robin Dawson 73 70 143

5 Colin Woodroofe 69 75 144

6 Jack Pierse 71 74 145

7 G Smyth 75 71 146

8 Darragh Coghlan 72 74 146

9 Tiarnan McLarnon 70 76 146

10 Gary O’Flaherty 77 70 147

11 Mark Collins 75 72 147

12 Greg O’Mahony 73 74 147

13 John Hickey 73 75 148

14 James Sugrue 72 76 148

15 Cillian Moloney 70 78 148

16 Conor O’Rourke 79 70 149

17 Ben Murray 74 75 149

18 Ian Spillane 72 77 149

19 Alan Thomas 72 77 149

20 Geoff Lenehan 78 73 151

21 John Murphy 78 73 151

22 Bill Murray 77 74 151

23 Paul Flynn 76 75 151

24 David Reddan Jnr 76 75 151

25 Mark Ford 74 77 151

26 Ian Bohane 78 74 152

27 Paul Tobin 77 75 152

28 David O’Donovan 77 75 152

29 Jack Howard 77 75 152

30 Joe McCleane 75 77 152

31 Shane Hogan 75 77 152

CUT

32 Mark Morrissey 77 76 153

33 Daniel Hallissey 73 80 153

34 Padraig O’Connor 75 79 154

35 Brian O’Connell 80 75 155

36 Cathal Butler 79 76 155

37 Nick Moore 78 77 155

38 Ronan Curran 78 77 155

39 John O’Neill 77 78 155

40 John Waldron 76 79 155

41 Pat Power 82 74 156

42 Dave McCarthy 81 75 156

43 Ian Bermingham 79 77 156

44 Mark Shanahan 78 78 156

45 Adam McSweeney 78 78 156

46 Eoghan Long 79 78 157

47 Conor Riordan 78 79 157

48 Cian Healy 78 79 157

49 Declan King 78 79 157

50 Richard Knightly 77 80 157

51 Tristan O’Rourke 81 77 158

52 Mark Healy 80 79 159

53 James Murray 80 79 159

54 Eamon Hurley 79 80 159

55 Eoghan O’ Donovan 79 80 159

56 Edwin Hannon 78 81 159

57 Cian Hourihan 82 78 160

58 Kieran Murphy 81 79 160

59 Lewy Halpin Jnr 81 79 160

60 Craig Foley 78 82 160

61 Gareth Mann 76 84 160

62 Peter Hannon 80 81 161

63 Jason Galway 82 80 162

64 Cian Kidney 80 82 162

65 Jamie Cronin 76 86 162

66 Peter Duane 81 83 164

67 Barry Egan 82 84 166

68 Gerard Hallissey 81 85 166

69 Alan Riordan 76 — 76

70 Keith Bermingham 79 — 79

71 Gary Ward 79 — 79

72 john O Brien 80 — 80

73 Philip Spratt 81 — 81

74 Edward Stack 82 — 82

75 James O’Mahony 83 — 83

76 Paul Twohig 83 — 83

77 David O’Sullivan 89 — 89

– Kieran Hurley 78 NR NR

– Peter O’Keeffe NR — NR

– Seamus Stack NR — NR

(Scores courtesy Cork Golf News).

Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) driving at the 7th tee in the 2015 Irish Women's Open Strokeplay Championship at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club. Picture by Pat Cashman

The bid for five Irish wins on the trot is still alive after Annabel Wilson shot a second round 73 to go into the final round of the Irish Girls’ U18 Open Stroke Play Championship just a shot off the lead at Roganstown

The Lurgan talent is tied for second on two over 144 with Iceland’s Ólöf María Einarsdóttir (73) and Sweden’s Pi-lillebi Hermansson (74), one behind Norway’s Celine Borge (72)

Wilson’s solid second round earned her a place in the final group alongside Borge and Einardottir as overnight leader Sara Kjelker dropped six shots on the back nine, carding a 77 to trail by three on 146.

Germany’s Christin Eisenbeiβ  stole the show with a 3 under 68 today bringing her right back into contention

Ireland’s Valerie Clancy (73) and Niamh McSherry (71) are still very much in the running for the title as they lie five and six shots behind the leader respectively. 

Rachel Thompson, Elisa Corcoran, Clodagh Jones, Maeve Rooney, Mairead Martin, Anna Foster, Rebecca MacLaren and Clodagh Walsh all made the cut. 

Sweden Team A are still leading the Nations Cup by, however their lead has been cut from 11 shots to 6.

For all Championship information, including live scoring please click here.

Irish Girls’ U18 Open Stroke Play Championship, Roganstown

1. Sunday’s tee times – 17th April 2016 
2. 08:00 Tara Bettle (Germany) Katja Mueller (Germany)
3. 08:10 Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough/Ireland) Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) Lea-Anne Bramwell (Wales)
4. 08:20 Caroline Zolg (Germany) Ellen  Andersson (Sweden) Johanna Wollenhaupt  (Germany)
5. 08:30 Claire Robertson (Scotland) Mairead Martin (Killarney) Anna Foster (Elm Park)
6. 08:40 Magdalena Cervinkova (Czech Republic) Martha Lewis (England) Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo)
7. 08:50 Nicola Fall (Finland) Hannah Leonie Karg (Germany) Marija Luїze Jučmane (Latvia)
8. 09:00 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) Clodagh Jones (Roscrea) Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden)
9. 09:10 Rachel Thompson (Cork) Amelie Sigemar (Sweden) Maja Stark (Sweden)
10. 09:20 Loїs Lau (France) Anna-Maria Diederichs (Germany) Hanna Ãhlander (Sweden)
11. 09:30 Jessica Hall (England) Lily Hürlimann (Germany) Rebecca Earl (England)
12. 09:40 Mimi Rhodes (England) Matilde Stenqvist (Sweden) Joanne  Free (Scotland)
13. 09:50 Cloe Frankish (England) Shannon Stevie McWilliam  (Scotland) Louise Henningsson (Sweden)
14. 10:00 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (Sweden) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan)
15. 10:10 Petronella Hjort (Sweden) Andrea Lignell (Sweden) Christin Eisenbeiβ (Germany)
16. 10:20 Madelene Stavnar (Norway) Sara Kjellker (Sweden) Sofia Lundell (Sweden)
17. 10:30 Pi-lillebi Hermansson (Sweden) Linn Grant (Sweden) Karoline Lund (Norway)
18. 10:40 Celine Borge (Norway) Ólöf María  Einarsdóttir (Iceland) Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)

 

R1 Par 71 SSS 73 CSS 73 R2 Par 71 SSS 73 CSS 73

143 Celine Borge (Norway) 71 72

144 Ólöf María  Einarsdóttir (Iceland) 71 73 Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 71 73 Pi-lillebi Hermansson (Sweden) 70 74

145 Linn Grant (Sweden) 73 72 Chloe Frankish (England) 73 72 Karoline Lund (Norway) 72 73

146 Madelene Stavnar (Norway) 76 70 Sara Kjellker (Sweden) 69 77

147 Sofia Lundell (Sweden) 73 74 Petronella Hjort (Sweden) 73 74 Andrea Lignell (Sweden) 72 75

148 Christin Eisenbeiβ (Germany) 80 68 Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 75 73 Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (Sweden) 72 76

149 Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) 78 71 Shannon Stevie McWilliam  (Scotland) 76 73 Louise Henningsson (Sweden) 74 75 Mimi Rhodes (England) 72 77

151 Matilde Stenqvist (Sweden) 79 72 Joanne  Free (Scotland) 76 75 Jessica Hall (England) 74 77

152 Lily Hürlimann (Germany) 78 74 Rebecca Earl (England) 77 75 Loїs Lau (France) 72 80 Anna-Maria Diederichs (Germany) 72 80

153 Hanna Ãhlander (Sweden) 74 79 Rachel Thompson (Cork) 81 72 Amelie Sigemar (Sweden) 76 77 Maja Stark (Sweden) 76 77 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) 74 79

154 Clodagh Jones (Roscrea) 79 75 Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden) 75 79 Nicola Fall (Finland) 75 79 Hannah Leonie Karg (Germany) 73 81

155 Marija Luїze Jučmane (Latvia) 81 74 Magdalena Cervinkova (Czech Republic) 80 75 Martha Lewis (England) 78 77 Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) 78 77 Claire Robertson (Scotland) 75 80

156 Mairead Martin (Killarney) 78 78 Anna Foster (Elm Park) 76 80 Caroline Zolg (Germany) 76 80

157 Ellen  Andersson (Sweden) 75 82 Johanna Wollenhaupt  (Germany) 74 83

158 Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough/Ireland) 81 77

159 Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) 80 79

160 Lea-Anne Bramwell (Wales) 83 77 Tara Bettle (Germany) 81 79 Katja Mueller (Germany) 78 82

Missed the cut

161 Marietta Ruhl (Germany) 81 80 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) 80 81

162 Ella Stromfelt (Sweden) 85 77 Sara Ericsson (Sweden) 82 80 Ellie Metcalfe (Laytown 

& Bettystown) 80 82 Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden) 78 84 Rhian Barton (Wales) 78 84

163 Aine Donegan (Woodstock) 88 75 Nora Klintheim (Sweden) 83 80 Sarah Burke (Mullingar) 83 80 Nicola Wainwright (Wales) 78 85

164 Emma Adolfsson (Sweden) 80 84

165 Jan Browne (Kilkenny) 82 83 Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 80 85

166 Anne Micke Compo (Netherlands) 84 82 Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) 83 83 Talisa Brinker (Germany) 82 84 Sara Byrne (Douglas) 81 85

167 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 88 79

168 Vivien Rösner (Germany) 86 82 Lea Becker (Germany) 83 85

170 Cara Owin (Germany) 87 83

171 Cay-Marie Müller (Germany) 87 84

172 Frowe Gräsel (Germany) 91 81

173 Malú Brinker (Germany) 86 87 Laura Cody (Balbriggan) 82 91

174 Kate  McElroy (Faithlegg) 87 87 Ellie Docherty (Scotland) 85 89 Laetitia Veeser 

(Germany) 85 89

176 Flera Robina Sprude (Latvia) 87 89 Lorna McClymont (Scotland) 81 95

177 Katie O'Hart (Arklow) 93 84

178 Georgia Carr (Milltown) 86 92

180 Dezirae Wojciehowski (Germany) 90 90 Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) 88 92

182 Emma Henningsson (Sweden) 92 90

183 Patrizia Schfer (Germany) 95 88

192 Natalia Michaś (Poland) 101 91

WD Isabella Holpfer (Austria) 86 WD

WD Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park) 92 WD

 

Nations Cup Sweden Team A – 287

• {73} 74 Sofia Lundell 
• 70 74 Pi-Lillebi Hermannsso 
• 69 {77} Sara Kjelker

Ireland Team A - 293

• {78} 71 Niamh McSherry 
• 78 {78} Mairead Martin 
• 71 73 Annabel Wilson

Sweden Team C - 293

• 74 75 Louise Henningsson 
• 72 {76} Ellen Hutchinson-Kay 
• {79} 72 Matilde Stenqvist

England - 294

• 73 72 Cloe Frankish 
• {78} 77 Martha Lewis 
• 72 {77} Euphemie Rhodes

Sweden Team B – 297

• {76} 77 Maja Stark 
• 73 72 Linn Grant 
• 75 {79} Ingrid Lindblad

Scotland - 299

• {76} 73 Shannon McWilliam 
• 75 {80} Claire Robertson 
• 76 75 Joanne Free

Ireland Team B - 302

• 75 73 Valerie Clancy 
• {80} {82} Ellie Metcalfe
• 79 75 Clodagh Jones

Kevin Knightly, CEO RaboDirect, looks on as Martin Kelly presents Clem Walsh with his gold medal

Dundalk’s Clem Walshe captured the 2016 Rabo Direct sponsored Hilary Golf Society gold medal at Royal Dublin on Friday.

His four under par total for the best three net scores of the series edged out Corrstown’s Alan Doherty on a tie break. 

The Royal Dublin’s Barry Anderson was the clear winner of the gross section with an overall score of two under par.

As for Friday’s play, Forrest Little’s Ciaran Gregan posted a fine 67 in cold and windy conditions to win by five shots over Naas Gus Fitzpatrick and The Island's Rob Hutton.

Doherty shot 72 to win the gross while Gregan was joined by Howth’s Eugene O’Neill and the Royal Dublin’s  Shane Darby in winning the team event with 62.

L-R: Kevin Knightley, CEO RaboDirect and Barry Anderson.

Headfort’s Rory McNamara will tee it up in the European Tour’s Trophée Hassan II next month thanks to his victory in a mini Order of Merit on the EPD Tour.

Despite running up a quadruple bogey eight and shooting 75 to finish tied for 28th in the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia 2016 on Saturday, the 26-year old topped a mini money list for the six EPD Tour events played in Morocco this year.

His maiden professional win in last month’s Open The Tony Jacklin made the difference and McNAmara will now be at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco from May 5-8 for the €1.5m European Tour event.

As for this week,  Ben Parker successfully retained the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedi, the 28-year-old closed with a five under 66 to win by one from Austria’s Manuel Trappel

The EDP Tour will continue in Czech Republic with the Ypsilon CUP 2016 in May. Before this the Challenge Tour’s “Red Sea Egyptian Challenge presented by Hassan Allam Properties” will take place from April 20 to 23 in Ain Sokhna.

McNamara as well as Gavin Moynihan, David Carey, Brian Casey and Alan Dunbar have received invitations to join Chris Selfridge from April 20-23. 

Mike Lorenzo-Vera. Picture: Getty Image

Valderrama doesn’t rhyme with drama for nothing. If it wasn’t France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera (he of the magic underpants of a few years ago) chipping in at the 12th and then holing his third for eagle at the 17th, it was the scorecards of Paul Dunne and Peter Lawrie.

Lawrie had his coach Brendan McDaid on the bag and one wonders what kind of chat was had as he made zero birdies and six bogeys in a 77 that actually moved him up one place to 59th on 15 over par in the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.

Rookie Dunne had five bogeys, including one at the 18th and while he also had two birdies, he hit  just three of 14 fairways and found only six greens in regulation. 

The only number that counts is the score on the card and it was a three over 74 for Dunne, who shares 30th on 10 over, just two shots outside the Top 20 and five outside the Top 10.

How I feel about my score every day walking off the last green in Valderrama! #OpendeEspana pic.twitter.com/pbM34znCk6

— Paul Dunne (@dunners11) April 16, 2016

With the greens firm and browning, Sunday promises to be a cracker for viewers and galleries and a major challenge for the field.

Lorenzo-Vera produced two moments of magic on the back nine of his third round to take a one shot lead into the final day.

The 31 year old chipped in from the greenside rough for an unlikely birdie on the 12th hole then earned the biggest roar of the day when he holed his third shot on the par five 17th hole for eagle. 

According to the European Tour, "Those celebrations were slightly tempered when his tee shot found the thick rough on the last hole and he had to chip out, but the 2007 Challenge Tour Number One made bogey which was enough for a level par round of 71 and the 54-hole lead on one over par.

"Lorenzo-Vera’s front nine had included a double bogey on the par five fourth hole, where four of his compatriots, including captain Raphaël Jacquelin, had earlier this week set a new world Guinness World Records™ title for the ‘Fastest hole of golf by a team of four’. But Lorenzo-Vera’s back nine fireworks mean he now has the chance to become the first Frenchman to win the Open de España since Jacquelin triumphed in an epic nine-hole play-off in 2013.

"He is one stroke clear of two-time Major Champion Martin Kaymer, who posted four birdies in his level par round of 71 to stay on two over par. German Kaymer is joined on that mark by Englishman Andrew Johnston, who signed for a 74, and Dutchman Joost Luiten, who battled to a superb one under par round of 70 on another tough day for scoring at Real Golf Club Valderrama.

"Sweden’s Alex Noren, playing in the fifth group out, produced the round of the day with an impressive 68 to surge into the top ten, birdieing both of the closing holes to sit just four shots off the pace on five over par. Also in a share of ninth position is Denmark’s Thomas Bjørn, a member of the 1997 European Ryder Cup team at Real Club Valderrrama, who returned his second consecutive round of 71.

Mike Lorenzo Vera – 71 (level par total)The wedge was very hot today. I hit two chip in shots, which is pretty cool. I thought the chip in on 12 was the best shot of the week and then an hour later I holed it on 17.  But I think the shot on 12 was still probably better. It was magic.On the 17th, when we hit the drive, my caddie (Pierre Labedan) is one of my best friends and he has never been to a European Tour event before and when we got to the top of the hill he saw the public, and he said that could be messy if we do anything here, and that was pretty messy. That was really fun to see.I’m very excited for tomorrow, I’m going to take a big nap because it takes so much energy to stay patient out there. And I’m going to relax and try to enjoy tomorrow.Joost Luiten – 70 (+2 total)It was just a very tough day today. Valderrama is a very tough course in no wind, and today it was really blowing. So you just try to make pars and a couple of birdies, but you know you are going to make a couple of bogeys as well. I was one under for the day and I’m very happy because any score around par is a good score.Martin Kaymer – 71 (+2 total)I really, really enjoyed the golf course. If there is one course I can play for the rest of life it would be this one – it’s so pretty – it was very hard to play the last couple of days – so therefore if you shoot level like I did today then was brilliant and makes it even more enjoyable.Andrew Johnson – 74 (+2 total)It was very hard fought out there. I just tried to dig in on every shot and not make any bogeys or doubles. It went alright for me. I just tried to keep it in play. I was disappointed with a couple of wedges into the greens, but I hung in there and just kept going. It is tough and others are dropping shots as well.I’m kind of use to a hard course now. I’ll just keep it the same for tomorrow, expect the same, and if it’s playing easier, then it would be good, but if it’s not then I’m prepared for it. Complete third round scores

214 M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 73 70 71,

215 A Johnston (Eng) 67 74 74, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 75 71, J Luiten (Ned) 70 75 70,

216 R Fisher (Eng) 70 74 72, J Morrison  (Eng) 67 75 74,

217 P Angles  (Esp) 72 71 74, P Larrazábal (Esp) 68 71 78,

218 T Bjørn (Den) 76 71 71, A Cañizares  (Esp) 67 75 76, A Noren  (Swe) 75 75 68, R Bland (Eng) 71 72 75,

219 T Pieters  (Bel) 73 72 74, C Lee (Sco) 71 72 76, N Bertasio (Ita) 74 72 73, R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 74 73 72,

220 S Garcia  (Esp) 74 71 75, J Carlsson (Swe) 72 76 72, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 77 72,

221 A Otaegui  (Esp) 74 76 71, R Gouveia (Por) 72 74 75, P Hanson (Swe) 75 70 76, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 69 75 77, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 79 72,

222 N Elvira  (Esp) 72 78 72, R Ramsay  (Sco) 69 76 77, J Quesne  (Fra) 73 75 74, P Edberg (Swe) 75 74 73, S Manley (Wal) 67 79 76,

223 T Fleetwood  (Eng) 71 78 74, J Robinson (Eng) 73 73 77, A Levy (Fra) 66 76 81, B Dredge (Wal) 73 78 72, T Linard (Fra) 73 75 75, A Sullivan (Eng) 71 78 74, G Storm  (Eng) 74 73 76, Paul Dunne (Irl) 73 76 74, E Molinari  (Ita) 74 73 76, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 78 74,

224 B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 73 77 74, S Chawrasia (Ind) 73 74 77, E Pepperell (Eng) 77 74 73, S Webster (Eng) 72 77 75, J Lara (Esp) 72 75 77, J Fahrbring (Swe) 76 73 75,

225 G Bourdy (Fra) 70 74 81, P Uihlein  (USA) 75 75 75, T Olesen (Den) 74 75 76, M Ilonen  (Fin) 75 72 78, M Kinhult (Swe) 73 78 74, D Drysdale (Sco) 72 76 77,

226 D Dixon (Eng) 72 77 77, B Åkesson (Swe) 75 76 75, M Siem  (Ger) 74 77 75, C Wood  (Eng) 72 75 79,

227 G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 73 76 78, S Gros (Fra) 73 77 77, J Knutzon (USA) 75 73 79,

228 C Shinkwin (Eng) 75 75 78, B Evans  (Eng) 74 72 82, R Paratore (Ita) 75 76 77, R Sterne  (RSA) 74 75 79, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 77 74 77, P Lawrie (Sco) 73 76 79,

229 A Quiros  (Esp) 77 73 79, D Brooks (Eng) 77 74 78, S Benson (Eng) 75 76 78,

232 K Broberg (Swe) 78 73 81, R Kakko  (Fin) 73 76 83.

Guinness World Record holders, France

Tournament host Sergio Garcia led a three-team, international challenge ahead of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, as the Guinness World Records™ title for the ‘Fastest hole of golf by a team of four’ was broken in spectacular fashion.

The official attempt, which was held on the iconic par five fourth at the Andalucia venue, involved a trio of four-man teams from host country Spain, plus France and Denmark, vying to complete the hole – which played at 500 yards – in the fastest time possible as a relay.

Garcia led a Spanish squad featuring compatriots Rafa Cabrera Bello, Pablo Larrazábal and Nacho Elvira, while Thorbjørn Olesen captained a Danish team completed by Lucas Bjerregaard, Morten Ørum Madsen and Lasse Jensen.

But it was the French team led by Raphaël Jacquelin and featuring Alexander Levy, Grégory Havret and Romain Wattel, which set the fastest time in a blistering 34.87 seconds to smash the target time for this Guinness World Records title – which had been set at 68 seconds.

Jacquelin said: “I mean, 34 seconds, that’s unbelievable! It’s the best feeling ever and very cool to have the Guinness World Records title and hopefully get in that famous book. It was a big drive from Romain and an incredible three iron from Alex and then the putts from Grégory and me were very fast too, so it was a big team effort and the whole thing was a lot of fun. We knew it was fast but not quite that fast!”

Tournament host Garcia, added: “It was very close and we gave it a very good go but France deserved the record – that was amazing. The whole experience was exciting and all of us had a great time competing against each other and the clock!”

Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator Anna Orford said:  “As the official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, I was able to witness the three teams from Spain, France and Denmark giving it their all to bring home the title, however Alex Levy's superb shot which landed perfectly on the green secured the French team their Guinness World Records title for the fastest hole of golf in a very impressive 34.87 seconds. An officially amazing record breaking moment!"

English Grand National winning jockey David Mullins pictured at the Radisson Blu (St Helen's Hotel) and Killiney Golf Club Photo Call to announce detail of the 40th Annual Invitation Mixed Foursomes Golf Week. Pictured (from left) Neil Lane (General Manager, Radisson Blu, St Helen's Hotel), Claire Blake (Lady Captain, Killiney Golf Club), Yvonne McNamara (Director of Sales, Radisson Blub, St Helen's Hotel) and Brendan Pigott (President, Killiney Golf Club). Picture by Pat Cashman

David Mullins stepped out to mark the recently agreed sponsorshipby Radisson Blu Hotel, Dublin of the 40th Annual Invitation Mixed Foursomes week at Killiney Golf Club from May 15-20.

Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel is also the headquarter Hotel for the upcoming prestigious Curtis Cup, which will be staged for the 38th time this year at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club when the top amateur women representing Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) and the United States(USA) face off.

Killiney Golf Club was established in 1903 and the club's invitation week is one of the longest running mixed events in Leinster and a premier fixture on the club calendar.

David Mullins, 19, is the 2016 English Grand National winner and a nephew of Willie Mullins.

“A day I’ll never forget.......”

Stuart Grehan during last year's Irish Amateur Close at Tramore. Picture: Pat Cashman

Maynooth University’s Paddy Harrington Golf Scholarship scheme has been a huge success and there was more good news on Friday with reigning East and South of Ireland champion Stuart Grehan was called up represent Europe in the Palmer Cup match with the USA at Formby from June 24-26.

Maynooth University golf scholars have now represented Team Europe in three of the last four Palmer Cup matches with Grehan following in the footsteps of Gary Hurley, who played in 2013 and ’15. UAB's Paul Dunne also played in 2015.

The Europe side, which is coached by Janice Moodie and her assistant Dean Robertson, is as follows:

• Sam Horsfield, Florida - England;
• Matthias Schwab, Vanderbilt - Austria;
• Adrian Meronk, East Tennessee State - Poland;
• Lars van Meijel, Memphis - Netherlands;
• Robin Petersson, Augusta - Sweden;
• David Boote, Stanford - Wales.
• Committee Selections:  Stuart Grehan, Maynooth - Ireland; Antoine Rozner, UMKC - France.
• The R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament, Mathias Eggenberger, Stirling - Switzerland.
• Coach’s Pick: Robin Sciot-Siegrist, Louisville - France.

The United States

• Arnold Palmer Cup Ranking Selections: Maverick McNealy, Stanford; Charlie Danielson, Illinois; Zach Wright, LSU; Rico Hoey, Southern California; Michael Johnson, Auburn; Nahum Mendoza III, San Diego State.
• Commitee Selections: Derek Bard, Virginia; Alistair Docherty, Chico State; Will Zalatoris, Wake Forest.
• Coach’s Pick: Will Gordon, Vanderbilt
• Coaches Head Coach - Mike Cook, Coastal Georgia; Assistant Coach - John Handrigan, Florida.

Pictured at The Royal Dublin Golf Club at the announcement of Flogas as Irish Amateur Open sponsors are Cormac Sharvin, with Pat Finn (CEO, GUI) and John Rooney (Managing Directpr, Flogas). Picture: GUI/Golffile.

Flogas has ended the Golfing Union of Ireland's six-year search and become the new title sponsor of Ireland's premier men's amateur golf championship, the Flogas Irish Amateur Open Championship.

The GUIs oldest event, this championship has seen some of the greatest names in amateur golf during its 124-year history with Open winner John Ball and Harold Hilton winning it in the early day.

It takes place at Royal Dublin from 5-8 May this year and boasts a stellar international field and a roll of honour that includes Major champions such as Padraig Harrington and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.

Flogas have agreed a three-year sponsorship deal, beginning with this year's tournament at Royal Dublin and continuing into 2017 and 2018, when the Irish Amateur Open Championship will be staged at the world famous links at Royal County Down.

As an added incentive for this year's winner at Royal Dublin, a place in the DDF Irish Open at The K Club awaits from May 19-22

Pat Finn, CEO of the Golfing Union of Ireland, welcomed the announcement, saying: "We are delighted to welcome Flogas on board as the new sponsor of Ireland's leading amateur golf Championship. The Irish Amateur Open Championship has gone from strength to strength since its re-introduction in 1995 and the support of Flogas will help the GUI to build on that success.”

John Rooney, Managing Director for Flogas Ireland said: "We are excited to come on board as title sponsor for this great Championship. Flogas has a long and rich tradition of supplying golf clubs and their members with LPG or Natural Gas requirements, so it felt right that we should invest something back in this great game.

"We operate on an all-Ireland basis, just like the Golfing Union of Ireland, and we are the only energy company that can offer all the benefits of gas to our commercial customers, whether they are on or off the Natural Gas grid.”

Flogas also recently announced their sponsorship of touring professional Cormac Sharvin, a former Ireland international who was runner-up at last year's Irish Amateur Open. The Flogas PGA Pro-Am, now in its second year, is supported by Flogas and run by the PGA Irish Region. This year's event is set for the Lough Erne Golf Resort on 30 May.

Holywood's Rory Williamson

Rory McIlroy won the Faldo Series at under 15, under 17 and under 18 level. Now another Rory from Holywood is on the scene and capturing silverware — Rory Williamson.

The talented County Down man won the 2016 Faldo Series Ireland Championship by a single shot over the Faldo Course at Lough Erne last week, firing rounds of 71 and 69 to hold off Cavan’s Shane McDermott and Warrenpoint’s Jamie Fletcher.

No fewer than 96 golfers played at Lough Erne Golf Resort with the five category winners qualifying for the 20th Faldo Series Grand Final. 

Williamson showed true grit at then, coming home in 32 thanks to birdies at the 17th and 18th to win the Boys’ Under-21 title by a single stroke. 

The Boys’ Under-18 event saw Kurgan’s Peter Cummins shoot rounds of 75 and 70 to win by four strokes while Dundalk’s Eoin Murphy was the victor in the Boys’ Under-16 division from Glasson’s Conor Gleeson.

In the Girls’ Under-21 category, The Heath’s Mary Doyle won by five shots in wire-to-wire fashion from Maeve Cummins thanks to rounds of 74 and 77. 

The Girls’ Under 16 division was a closer affair as Elm Park’s Anna Foster edged out Rossmore’s Kate Dwyer by a single shot. Both Doyle and Foster qualified for the Grand Final later this year.

Recognised as the only global amateur series for boys and girls, the Faldo Series was established in 1996, expanding to Asia in 2006. Past winners include Major champions McIlroy and Tseng Ya-ni.

Leading final scores: Boys’ Under-21: 140 – Rory Williamson (Holywood) 71-69; 141 – Shane Mcdermott (Cavan Golf Club) 72-69, Jamie Richard Fletcher (Warrenpoint) 70-71.  Boys’ Under 18: 145 – Peter Cummins (Lurgan) 75-70; 149 – Paddy Culhane (Galway G.c) 74-75, Robert Moran (Castle) 75-74.  Boys’ Under 16: 144 – Eoin Murphy (Dundalk) 74-70; 148 – Conor Glennon (Glasson) 72-76.  Girls’ Under 21: 151 - Mary Doyle (The Heath) 74-77; 156 – Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) 79-77.  Girls’ Under 16: 169 – Anna Foster (Elm Park) 93-76; 170 - Kate Dwyer (Rossmore) 85-85.

For full scores and results from the Faldo Series Ireland Championship visit http://www.faldoseries.info/tic/tmtic.cgi.  

European Tour — Paul Dunne shot a 76 and easily made the weekend as Peter Lawrie had to sweat blood to survive the nine over cut in the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.

Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal leads his national open by two shots at the halfway stage courtesy of a level par second round of 71 on a horrific day for scoring at the classic Sotogrande design.

The notoriously tough Real Club Valderrama bared its teeth with only two players - France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Sweden’s Peter Hanson – posting under par rounds.

After opening with a three under par 68 on Thursday, Larrazábal predicted that three subsequent level par rounds would win the tournament because of tougher conditions. 

The four-time European Tour winner achieved the first of those by carding four birdies in the opening ten holes of his second round, before a bogey on the second – his 11th hole – and treble bogey on the third meant he dropped back to level par for the day to remain at three under par for the tournament.

Andrew Johnston is the only other player under par after 36 holes, the Englishman posting a three over par round of 74 to trail Larrazábal by two strokes on one under par.

First round leader Alex Levy, of France, is a further shot back on level par following a round of 76, and he is joined in a share of third place by Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares and defending champion James Morrison,  both of whom signed for rounds of 75.

Tournament host Sergio Garcia carded a credible level par round of 71 and is six shots back going into the week at Real Club Valderrama, where he won the Andalucía Masters in 2011.

#R2@OpenEspana2016 carded 74 and inside cut! Better today despite wind and looking forward to weekend #thanks @BMcDaidGolf @NewstalkFM

— Peter Lawrie (@PLawrieGolf) April 15, 2016

Meanwhile, Finland’s Roope Kakko aced the par three 12th hole with a seven iron from 208 yards, making the 16th hole-in-one on the European Tour this season.

But it was a day for battening down the hatches for the Irish with Dunne’s birdie at the ninth for a 76 helping him make the cut with two shots to spare on seven over par.

The Greystones player opened with birdies at the 10th and 11th but then made two double bogeys and four bogeys before that late birdie gave him a comfortable cushion in the end.

Lawrie, who has coach Brendan McDaid on his bag this week, began the afternoon a shot outside the projected cut mark on six over par but had enough in the end with a three over 74 to make it on the mark.

Down to 710th in the world from a high of 105th in 2010, it’s the first cut Lawrie has made on the European Tour since he was 14th in the Italian Open last September.

Pablo Larrazabal –72 (-3 total)To shoot level in these conditions is a great feeling and to have a chance on the last to go into the red figures is something really special. I only missed one shot today really bad, and I made triple bogey. I made so many great saves – like on 17th the putt I made from the back of there was great. I didn’t play my best golf, but on another golf course I would have gone six, seven under par because of the way I fought, so I’m very pleased.If the wind blows like this, a level par, or more, total will win this. If I shoot level par, level par over the weekend I will be in the fight.Andrew Johnston – 74 (-1 total)I’m fairly happy with the score, I chipped, putted and drove the ball well, but disappointed with the way I hit my irons. I’m in a good position, I tried to play hole by hole really and make pars – if I made birdies then that was a bonus. I had to keep it on the fairways, and not get greedy. You can’t afford to get annoyed – I made double bogey on the third, and I walked off like nothing had happened and not worry about it and just carry on, because that is what the course can do to you.Alex Levy – 76 (level par total)It is one of the best five over par rounds I have played in my life. I played good today but it was really, really tough. I’m exhausted now. It’s cool to play in these conditions and see how you do. It’s nice to shoot fiver over today. I did a few bad things but it is good to shoot a score like that and be around the leader. I fought a lot on the course today. I started very badly and was three over after three holes but I stayed patient. Not all the time but I tried and I had a good back nine. It’s part of maturity.James Morrison – 75 (level par total)I think is about level par isn’t it?! That was a hard round out there today, wind was up first thing, it’s a hard golf course when there is no wind, let alone when there is a breeze and it was quite cold this morning. I didn’t play great, but I scrambled pretty well, had an average finish, but pretty happy with it.Sergio Garcia – 71 (+3 total)I’m definitely happy with a 71. Every day is tough at Valderrama, but today was very testing. The wind was blowing, and it was a little bit gusty. I’m a little disappointed with the three putt on the last. I saw Chris Wood hit it a little short, and thought I needed to give it a bit. Other than that I thought it was a pretty good day. I am obviously not feeling 100%, but I’m trying my hardest. I’d love to shoot under par round here, because under par on this course the way it is playing is always great.It is playing the toughest I’ve seen, because since the early 2000s when we were here, the rough is definitely thicker than I’ve seen I before – it makes chipping even tougher, which is usually always difficult round here. It’s no surprise there are only two players under par – I said at the beginning of the week that the way the weather is, under par or around par is going have a chance of winning.Complete second round scores (par 71)

• 139 P Larrazábal (Esp) 68 71,
• 141 A Johnston (Eng) 67 74,
• 142 J Morrison  (Eng) 67 75, A Cañizares  (Esp) 67 75, A Levy (Fra) 66 76,
• 143 C Lee (Sco) 71 72, R Bland (Eng) 71 72, P Angles  (Esp) 72 71, M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 73 70,
• 144 J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 69 75, R Fisher (Eng) 70 74, M Kaymer (Ger) 69 75, G Bourdy (Fra) 70 74,
• 145 R Ramsay  (Sco) 69 76, J Luiten (Ned) 70 75, P Hanson (Swe) 75 70, S Garcia  (Esp) 74 71, T Pieters  (Bel) 73 72,
• 146 B Evans  (Eng) 74 72, R Gouveia (Por) 72 74, N Bertasio (Ita) 74 72, J Robinson (Eng) 73 73, S Manley (Wal) 67 79,
• 147 M Ilonen  (Fin) 75 72, G Storm  (Eng) 74 73, R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 74 73, S Chawrasia (Ind) 73 74, C Wood  (Eng) 72 75, J Lara (Esp) 72 75, T Bjørn (Den) 76 71, E Molinari  (Ita) 74 73, 
• 148 J Quesne  (Fra) 73 75, D Drysdale (Sco) 72 76, S Kjeldsen (Den) 71 77, J Knutzon (USA) 75 73, J Carlsson (Swe) 72 76, T Linard (Fra) 73 75,
• 149 A Sullivan (Eng) 71 78, R Kakko  (Fin) 73 76, S Webster (Eng) 72 77, G Fdez-Castaño  (Esp) 73 76, P Lawrie (Sco) 73 76, P Edberg (Swe) 75 74, Paul Dunne (Irl) 73 76, M Kieffer (Ger) 70 79, T Fleetwood  (Eng) 71 78, R Sterne  (RSA) 74 75, T Olesen (Den) 74 75, J Fahrbring (Swe) 76 73, D Dixon (Eng) 72 77, R Jacquelin (Fra) 71 78,
• 150 N Elvira  (Esp) 72 78, S Gros (Fra) 73 77, C Shinkwin (Eng) 75 75, A Noren  (Swe) 75 75, B Virto Astudillo (Esp) 73 77, A Quiros  (Esp) 77 73, P Uihlein  (USA) 75 75, A Otaegui  (Esp) 74 76,
• 151 M Kinhult (Swe) 73 78, B Åkesson (Swe) 75 76, Peter Lawrie (Irl) 77 74, D Brooks (Eng) 77 74, R Paratore (Ita) 75 76, S Benson (Eng) 75 76, K Broberg (Swe) 78 73, M Siem  (Ger) 74 77, B Dredge (Wal) 73 78, E Pepperell (Eng) 77 74,

CUT

• 152 G Havret  (Fra) 72 80, M Warren (Sco) 75 77, J Lagergren (Swe) 69 83, F Aguilar (Chi) 76 76, L Slattery (Eng) 71 81, D Lipsky (USA) 75 77, R Wattel  (Fra) 75 77, R Davies (Wal) 70 82, D Horsey (Eng) 78 74, E De La Riva  (Esp) 72 80, S Fernandez  (Esp) 75 77, A Wall (Eng) 76 76, D Gavins (Eng) 75 77, R Rock (Eng) 75 77, G Migliozzi (am) (Ita) 73 79,
• 153 C Pigem (Esp) 76 77, M Southgate  (Eng) 78 75, J Campillo (Esp) 78 75, B Stone (RSA) 74 79,
• 154 S Khan (Eng) 77 77, J Busby (Eng) 79 75, J McLeary  (Sco) 76 78, J Hugo  (RSA) 76 78, S Hend (Aus) 81 73, C Hanson (Eng) 72 82, S Jamieson  (Sco) 78 76, J Sandelin (Swe) 75 79,
• 155 N Colsaerts  (Bel) 76 79, M Carlsson  (Swe) 76 79, M Manassero (Ita) 79 76, O Wilson (Eng) 79 76, G Stal  (Fra) 78 77, D Im (USA) 81 74, N Fasth (Swe) 77 78,
• 156 X Guzman (Esp) 75 81, L Jensen (Den) 78 78, A McArthur  (Sco) 77 79, H Otto (RSA) 77 79, J Van Zyl (RSA) 77 79, J Winther (Den) 76 80, E España (Fra) 78 78, F Laporta (Ita) 80 76, M Madsen  (Den) 79 77,
• 157 C Del Moral (Esp) 78 79, R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 78 79, C Paisley  (Eng) 78 79,
• 158 M Baldwin (Eng) 78 80, J Walters (RSA) 77 81, H Porteous (RSA) 73 85, R Fox (Nzl) 72 86, G Boyd  (Eng) 79 79, W Ormsby (Aus) 78 80, R Evans  (Eng) 75 83, M Galiano Aguilar (am) (Esp) 80 78,
• 159 B Etchart  (Esp) 75 84, R Green (Aus) 75 84, M Nixon (Eng) 75 84,
• 160 S Hansen (Den) 82 78, N Ravano (Ita) 81 79, M Ford (Eng) 81 79, I Cantero Gutierrez (am) (Esp) 79 81,
• 161 O Fisher  (Eng) 78 83, F Zanotti (Par) 80 81,
• 162 R McEvoy  (Eng) 76 86, J Parry (Eng) 81 81,
• 163 L Nemecz (Aut) 81 82, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 81 82,
• 164 P Martin Benavides (Esp) 86 78, K Ferrie (Eng) 82 82,
• 165 C Berardo (Fra) 81 84, J Hahn (USA) 81 84,
• 170 L Canter (Eng) 81 89

McDowell cut at Hilton HeadPGA Tour — Graeme McDowell missed the cut by three strokes in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.The Portrush man added a 73 to his opening 74 to finish on five over par at Harbour Town Golf LinksKevin Chappell (68-68), world No 1 Jason Day (67-69) and Charley Hoffman (68-68) lead by one stroke on six under from Russell Knox, Luke Donald and Patton Kizzire.With more than 78 players advancing to the weekend a 54-hole cut will be needed on Saturday to reduce the field to the top 70 players and ties. Davis Love III (73-69) and Ryan Palmer (71-73) each made their 10th consecutive cut and are tied for the best current consecutive cuts-made streak on TOUR. Love has now made 21 cuts in 28 appearances at the RBC Heritage.Day is the first player ranked No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking to play the RBC Heritage since Luke Donald in 2012.There have been 10 international winners of the RBC Heritage:  McDowell (2013), Carl Pettersson (2012), Aaron Baddeley (2006), Peter Lonard (2005), Jose Coceres (2001), Nick Price (1997), Greg Norman (1988), Bernhard Langer (1985), Nick Faldo (1984) and Graham Marsh (1977).McNamara seven behind in MoroccoEPD Tour — Rory McNamara moved up five places to tied 23rd in the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia 2016 in Morocco.

The Headfort players carded a one over 72 to lie seven strokes behind Antoine Schwartz of France on one over par.

Schwartz added a 69 to his 77 to lead by one stroke on six under from Younes El Hassani and Faycal Serghini of Morocco.

Scores

Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson is the best of the Irish after the opening day of the Irish Girls Open Stroke Play Championship at Roganstown. 

The 15 year old matched the par with a steady start of 71 as Killarney’s Valerie Clancy slipped up late in the day but still posted a 75 to lie just outside the top 20/

A 74 for Elisa Corcoran and 78s for Niamh McSherry and Mairead Martin were not quite what they were looking for either on a day when Sweden’s Sarah Kjelker shot a two under 69 to lead by one from compatriot Pi-lillebi Hermansson (70). 

Wilson share third place with Iceland’s Olof Einardottir and Celine Borge of Norway while Laytown and Bettystown’s Ellie Metcalfe, Roscrea’s Clodagh Jones, Grange’s Eilsa Corcoran and Douglas’ Sara Byrne are all capable of fireworks over the weekend. 

Sweden Team A lead the Nations Cup by 11 shots from England.

For all Championship information, including live scoring please follow this link: Irish Girls U18 Open Stroke Play Championship.

Round 1 Scores

69 Sara Kjellker (Sweden)

70 Pi-lillebi Hermansson (Sweden)

71 Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) Ólöf María  Einarsdóttir (Iceland) Celine Borge (Norway)

72 Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (Sweden) Mimi Rhodes (England) Anna-Maria Diederichs (Germany) Andrea Lignell (Sweden) Karoline Lund (Norway) Loїs Lau (France)

73 Linn Grant (Sweden) Sofia Lundell (Sweden) Chloe Frankish (England) Hannah Leonie Karg (Germany) Petronella Hjort (Sweden)

74 Elisa Corcoran (Grange) Jessica Hall (England) Johanna Wollenhaupt  (Germany) Hanna Ãhlander (Sweden) Louise Henningsson (Sweden)

75 Nicola Fall (Finland) Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden) Ellen Andersson (Sweden) Claire Robertson (Scotland) Valerie Clancy (Killarney)

76 Amelie Sigemar (Sweden) Joanne  Free (Scotland) Madelene Stavnar (Norway) Shannon Stevie McWilliam  (Scotland) Anna Foster (Elm Park) Maja Stark (Sweden), Caroline Zolg (Germany)

77 Rebecca Earl (England)

78 Rhian Barton (Wales) Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo) Martha Lewis (England) Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden)

Lily Hürlimann (Germany) Niamh McSherry (Lurgan) Mairead Martin (Killarney) Katja Mueller (Germany) Nicola Wainwright (Wales)

79 Matilde Stenqvist (Sweden) Clodagh Jones (Roscrea)

80 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate) Christin Eisenbei (Germany) Maeve Cummins (Lurgan) Ellie Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) Emma Adolfsson (Sweden) Magdalena Cervinkova (Czech Republic) Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)

81 Lorna McClymont (Scotland) Marietta Ruhl (Germany) Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough/Ireland) Tara Bettle (Germany) Marija Luїze Jučmane (Latvia) Sara Byrne (Douglas) Rachel Thompson (Cork)

82 Sara Ericsson (Sweden) Laura Cody (Balbriggan) Jan Browne (Kilkenny) Talisa Brinker (Germany)

83 Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) Nora Klintheim (Sweden) Sarah Burke (Mullingar) Lea Becker (Germany) Lea-Anne Bramwell (Wales)

84 Anne Micke Compo (Netherlands)

85 Ella Stromfelt (Sweden) Laetitia Veeser (Germany)

85 Ellie Doherty (Scotland)

86 Vivien Rösner (Germany) Malú Brinker (Germany) Isabella Holpfer (Austria) Georgia Carr (Milltown)

87 Cara Owin (Germany) Flera Robina Sprude (Latvia) Kate  McElroy (Faithlegg) Cay-Marie Müller (Germany)

88 Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown) Aine Donegan (Woodstock) Kate Dwyer (Rossmore)

90 Dezirae Wojciehowski (Germany)

91 Frowe Gräsel (Germany)

92 Emma Henningsson (Sweden) Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park)

93 Katie O'Hart (Arklow)

95 Patrizia Schfer (Germany)

101 Natalia Michaś (Poland)

Round 2 Time Sheet

1. 08:00 Sara Ericsson (Sweden), Cay-Marie Müller (Germany), Rachel Thompson (Cork) 
2. 08:10 Ella Stromfelt (Sweden), Ólöf María Einarsdóttir (Iceland), Elisa Corcoran (Grange) 
3. 08:20 Marietta Ruhl (Germany), Loїs Lau (France), Emma Adolfsson (Sweden) 
4. 08:30 Talisa Brinker (Germany), Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden), Cara Owin (Germany) 
5. 08:40 Nora Klintheim (Sweden), Katja Mueller (Germany), Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden) 
6. 08:50 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore), Maeve Cummins (Lurgan), Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough/Ireland) 
7. 09:00 Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo), Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown), Anne Micke Compo (Netherlands)
8. 09:10 Sara Byrne (Douglas), Lea-Anne Bramwell (Wales), Sarah Burke (Mullingar)
9. 09:20 Starters Gap
10. 09:30 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate), Frowe Gräsel (Germany), Emma Henningsson (Sweden) 
11. 09:40 Aine Donegan (Woodstock), Marija Luїze Jučmane (Latvia), Jan Browne (Kilkenny) 
12. 09:50 Malú Brinker (Germany), Kate McElroy (Faithlegg), Katie O'Hart (Arklow) 
13. 10:00 Patrizia Schfer (Germany), Lorna McClymont (Scotland), Emma Forbes (Royal Portrush) 
14. 10:10 Anna Foster (Elm Park), Georgia Carr (Milltown), Ellie Doherty (Scotland) 
15. 10:20 Lea Becker (Germany), Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park), Laura Cody (Balbriggan)
16. 10:30 Dezirae Wojciehowski (Germany), Flera Robina Sprude (Latvia), Natalia Michaś (Poland)10:40 Chloe Frankish (England), Celine Borge (Norway), Niamh McSherry (Lugan)
17. 10:50 Sara Kjellker (Sweden), Shannon Stevie McWilliam (Scotland) 
18. 11:00 Linn Grant (Sweden), Karoline Lund (Norway), Mairead Martin (Killarney) 
19. 11:10 Maja Stark (Sweden), Hannah Leonie Karg (Germany), Mimi Rhodes (England)
20. 11:20 Sofia Lundell (Sweden), Anna-Maria Diederichs (Germany), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) 
21. 11:30 Pi-lillebi Hermansson (Sweden), Jessica Hall (England), Valerie Clancy (Killarney) 
22. 11:40 Claire Robertson (Scotland), Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden), Ellie Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown) 
23. 11:50 Madelene Stavnar (Norway), Johanna Wollenhaupt (Germany), Louise Henningsson (Sweden) 
24. 12:00 Nicola Fall (Finland), Rebecca Earl (England), Caroline Zolg (Germany) 
25. 12:10 Starters Gap 
26. 12:20 Martha Lewis (England), Matilde Stenqvist (Sweden), Tara Bettle (Germany) 
27. 12:30 Andrea Lignell (Sweden) ,Christin Eisenbei (Germany), Rhian Barton (Wales) 
28. 10:00/ 12:40 Ellen Andersson (Sweden), Amelie Sigemar (Sweden), Magdalena Cervinkova (Czech Republic) 
29. 12:50 Hanna Ãhlander (Sweden), Joanne Free (Scotland), Laetitia Veeser (Germany) 
30. 13:00 Nicola Wainwright (Wales), Vivien Rösner (Germany) Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (Sweden) 
31. 13:10 Lily Hürlimann (Germany), Petronella Hjort (Sweden), Clodagh Jones (Roscrea)

Nations CupSweden Team A – 212

• 73 Sofia Lundell 
• 70 Pi-Lillebi Hermannsso 
• 69 Sara Kjelker

England - 223

• 73 Cloe Frankish 
• 78 Martha Lewis
• 72 Euphemie Rhodes

Sweden Team B – 224

• 76 Maja Stark
• 73 Linn Grant
• 75 Ingrid Lindblad

Ireland Team A - 227

• 78 Niamh McSherry 
• 78 Mairead Martin 
• 71 Annabel Wilson

Scotland - 227

• 76 Shannon McWilliam
• 75 Claire Robertson
• 76 Joanne Free

Ireland Team B - 234

• 75 Valerie Clancy 
• 80 Ellie Metcalfe
• 79 Clodagh Jones

PGA Tour — Luke Donald overcame his recent putting troubles to fire a five under par 66 for a share of the lead with South Africa’s Branden Grace in the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.

The former world No 1 was upset to miss last week’s Masters for the first time since 2004, telling PGATour.com: “I don’t want to be sitting at home watching the majors on TV yet.”

Ranked 116th for strokes gained putting this year having led the statistics three years running from 2009 to 2011 and then finishing third, 13th, 7th and 38th from 2012 to 2015, Donald said: “I haven’t looked statistically at my putting, but it’s probably outside the top 100 right now."

Donald, who is a shot ahead of world No 1 Jason Day, added: “For five straight years I was No. 1. That’s a big difference.”

Scores

Donald has five top-3s in 10 starts at Harbour Town where Jason Bohn returned to action after suffering a mild heart attack at the Honda Classic last month, shooting a three over 74 that left him tied for 104th with former winner Graeme McDowell.

“I think, overall, my adrenaline was pretty good today, but I could tell the parts when you’re playing really good golf, you only see where your ball wants to go,” Bohn said. “You don’t see where you don’t want your ball to go.”

Having missed the cut at the Masters, McDowell was generally off his game in all departments, hitting just seven greens and only five fairways.

He didn’t hit his first fairway until the sixth and turned in 38 as he mixed bogeys at the first, third and ninth with a birdie two at the fourth.

Another birdie at the 11th set him up for a positive back nine but he missed the green the par-three 17th and bunkered his approach to the last and finished with two bogeys.

McNamara five back in MoroccoEPD Tour — Rory McNamara is tied 28th after the opening round of the Open Royal Golf Anfa Mohammedia 2016 on the EPD Tour Morocco.A winner already this year, McNamara carded an even par 71 featuring five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey five to find hiself five shots off the lead at Mohammedia Royal Golf Club.Scotland’s Ross Cameron shot a six under 65 to lead by one stroke from Antoine Schwartz of France, Morocco’s Faycal Serghini and Austria’s Bernard Neumayer.Scores

Alex Levy. Picture: Getty Images

The back nine at Valderrama is no place for the faint-hearted and it proved testing for Paul Dunne as he made four bogeys and posted a two over 73 in the opening round of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.

France’s Alexander Levy holds a one shot lead thanks to an impressive five under par round of 66 on a day of typically tough scoring in Andalucía.

Only 15 players finished under par at the former Ryder Cup and Volvo Masters venue where Dunne ended the day tied for 36th after following a front nine featuring eight pars and a lone birdie at the par-five fourth with a homeward nine of 39.

While he managed a birdie at the famous par-five 17th, Dunne hit just nine greens in regulation and bogeys arrived at the 11th, 12th, 15th and 18th.

On a day when Peter Lawrie, reunited with coach Brendan McDaid opened with a birdie at the 10th but made just one more in a six over 77, two-time European Tour winner Levy mixed five birdies with two bogeys on his front nine, then birdied his first two holes after the turn, as he returned his ‘best round since last year’.

Levy has a single stroke advantage from Spaniard Alejandro Cañizares, Englishman Andrew Johnston, Welshman Stuart Manley and defending champion James Morrison, all of whom carded rounds of 67, with Cañizares closing his round with consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal is a further shot back after an opening 68, while his compatriot Jordi Garcia Pinto, Swede Joakim Lagergren, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and two-time Major Champion Martin Kaymer a three shots off the pace on two under par.

Tournament host Sergio Garcia, who won the Andalucía Masters at Real Club Valderrrama in 2011, posted three birdies and six bogeys as he opened with a three over par round of 74.

Alex Levy It is a very tough golf course, in fantastic condition and I played really well today. I putted well and did everything well. I got a bit lucky two or three times, but it was a good 66. It is nice to shoot it on a course like Valderrama which is special.I like it when it is a tough course because it is not a putting contest. You need to play well tee to green and that’s the way I like to play.Today was my best round since last year. That is good for me and I stayed positive during the day. I’m really happy with how I played.Stuart Manley Anytime you beat par on this course is pretty good – I’d have taken 71 at the start. These sort of courses I tend to do quite well around. My distance control is quite good normally, I’m pretty straight off the tee, and I keep the ball in play. It reminds me of a Tour School course at PGA Catalunya, and I usually do quite well there.Andrew JohnstonI was very disciplined and I putted very well today. I hit a lot of three irons off the tee to hit the fairway then hit a lot of wedges trying to hit the greens and not be greedy. I tried not to be too aggressive. In the practice round I realised you just have to hit greens here and not make mistakes. I know the reputation of this course, sometimes you accept you are going to be 15 or 20 feet away. James Morrison I played here in 2010 and 2011 and I wasn’t mentally prepared for this course. I was two years on Tour and I was an angry man. I’m now mentally better to play this course and embrace it and play it for what it is. Coming here now, I feel like I am ready to play here and I look forward to playing it. Before I wanted to get home quickly. It is a beautiful place and it almost feels like the European Augusta. It’s the nearest I’ve got to playing Augusta so far anyway.Alejandro Canizares It was a great day. Not much wind and the course is in perfect shape and I played some very good golf. I didn’t make many mistakes and rolled some putts in so I’m happy. You’ve got to place the ball off the tee and make some birdie putts which aren’t easy. The greens are firm, so I’m happy to finish with two birdies in the last two and I’m very proud of my round.Complete round one scores

66 A Levy (Fra), 

67 S Manley (Wal), A Johnston (Eng), A Cañizares (Esp), J Morrison (Eng), 

68 P Larrazábal (Esp), 

69 R Ramsay (Sco), J Lagergren (Swe), M Kaymer (Ger), J Garcia Pinto (Esp), 

70 G Bourdy (Fra), J Luiten (Ned), R Davies (Wal), M Kieffer (Ger), R Fisher (Eng), 

71 R Jacquelin (Fra), C Lee (Sco), R Bland (Eng), A Sullivan (Eng), L Slattery (Eng), S Kjeldsen (Den), T Fleetwood (Eng), 

72 E De La Riva (Esp), D Dixon (Eng), R Fox (Nzl), R Gouveia (Por), P Angles (Esp), C Wood (Eng), J Carlsson (Swe), J Lara (Esp), N Elvira (Esp), S Webster (Eng), G Havret (Fra), D Drysdale (Sco), C Hanson (Eng), 

73 P Lawrie (Sco), G Fdez-Castaño (Esp), M Kinhult (Swe), T Linard (Fra), S Gros (Fra), P Dunne (Irl), R Kakko (Fin), S Chawrasia (Ind), T Pieters (Bel), B Dredge (Wal), B Virto Astudillo (Esp), M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), J Quesne (Fra), H Porteous (RSA), J Robinson (Eng), G Migliozzi (am) (Ita), 

74 R Cabrera Bello (Esp), B Stone (RSA), B Evans (Eng), E Molinari (Ita), N Bertasio (Ita), R Sterne (RSA), T Olesen (Den), A Otaegui (Esp), G Storm (Eng), S Garcia (Esp), M Siem (Ger), 

75 R Wattel (Fra), M Warren (Sco), R Green (Aus), M Nixon (Eng), R Evans (Eng), M Ilonen (Fin), A Noren (Swe), S Benson (Eng), X Guzman (Esp), J Sandelin (Swe), C Shinkwin (Eng), J Knutzon (USA), P Hanson (Swe), R Rock (Eng), S Fernandez (Esp), P Edberg (Swe), B Etchart (Esp), D Gavins (Eng), R Paratore (Ita), P Uihlein (USA), D Lipsky (USA), B Åkesson (Swe), 

76 A Wall (Eng), M Carlsson (Swe), J Hugo (RSA), F Aguilar (Chi), T Bjørn (Den), C Pigem (Esp), J Winther (Den),  J Fahrbring (Swe),  R McEvoy (Eng),  N Colsaerts (Bel),  J McLeary (Sco)

77 H Otto (RSA), A Quiros (Esp), P Lawrie (Irl), A McArthur (Sco), S Khan (Eng), E Pepperell (Eng), J Walters (RSA), D Brooks (Eng), N Fasth (Swe), J Van Zyl (RSA), 

78 E España (Fra), D Horsey (Eng), L Jensen (Den), C Paisley (Eng), W Ormsby (Aus), O Fisher (Eng), R Dinwiddie (Eng), G Stal (Fra), M Southgate (Eng), K Broberg (Swe), J Campillo (Esp), M Baldwin (Eng),  C Del Moral (Esp),  S Jamieson (Sco),

79 M Madsen (Den), J Busby (Eng), G Boyd (Eng), M Manassero (Ita), O Wilson (Eng), I Cantero Gutierrez (am) (Esp), 

80 F Zanotti (Par), F Laporta (Ita), M Galiano Aguilar (am) (Esp), 

81 C Berardo (Fra), T Levet (Fra), N Ravano (Ita), L Bjerregaard (Den), L Canter (Eng), J Hahn (USA), J Parry (Eng), M Ford (Eng), D Im (USA), L Nemecz (Aut), S Hend (Aus),

82 K Ferrie (Eng), S Hansen (Den), 

86 P Martin Benavides (Esp).

The @GUIGolf's @MarkPower68 holds the #McEvoyTrophy @CoptHeathGC alongside Peter McEvoy. pic.twitter.com/dXbrmT5bXz

— Golf Bible (@GolfBible) April 14, 2016

Kilkenny's Mark Power proved that good golfing genes don't do you any harm when he came from one stroke behind at halfway to win the Peter McEvoy Trophy by two strokes at Copt Heath Golf Club.

The 15-year old son of Eddie Power and Eileen Rose Power (née McDaid), both three-time Irish Close champions, carded an even par 71 in the morning round in the prestigious Boys event to share third spot with Nicholas Elmy on four under par, one stroke behind Matty Lamb and Callum Farr. 

.@MarkPower68 nails his approach on 17 and makes the birdie putt. He leads by 2 with 1-hole to play.

Damien McGrane

Damien McGrane might not have a tour card these days but he gave the aspirants some tough love for the second week running with a final hole birdie giving him the €1,000 pot in the Irish Tour Pro Series Shootout at Palmerstown Stud on Tuesday.

Players with ambitions to make it on the big tours — they hail from the Challenge Tour, the mini tours or the Irish Region of the PGA — each put €100 in the pot to tee it up against McGrane and a European Tour member in what is a competitive, winner-takes-all chance for up-and-coming players to test themselves and learn something new.

"I had to tell the boys, 'Listen lads, if you can't beat me, with all the effort you are putting in, you need to up your game," the 2008 Volvo China Open winner said of Tuesday's action. "You will have to start doing something slightly different." 

He added: "If I am only playing once or twice a week and I am able to go around Palmerstown Stud in two under and win the money without too much pressure, you need to analyse what your are doing. These guys are full time players and I am not being disrespectful, I am being honest with them."

And the reaction of the players? 

"They were amused by it," he said. "But that's the reason we got together, so we can be honest and frank with each other and hopefully stimulate each other to improve and shoot better scores. Whoever shoots the best score gets well paid and if you play average you go home with nothing. And that has hit home with a few of them. It is not my fault if they are underperforming." 

Tour players such as Shane Lowry, Paul Dunne and Michael Hoey have already given up their time to join McGrane and a selected group of invitees at a venue in the Dublin area over the past few weeks with Carton House, The Island and Royal Dublin.

With an invited "industry expert" regularly attending to give insights into their field, whether it be caddying, nutrition or even media relations at the post-golf sitdown, the event has become highly popular with players like Rory McIlroy and Paul McGinley commenting that it's a great idea.

It's surprising to hear that McGrane has had to deal with last minute defections every week when players have the chance to win great money for very little outlay and sharpen their competitive instincts against fellow pros.

There was no special guest this week but McGrane proved to be top dog for the second event running and given that he lost his card last year and hasn't played a Tour event since November's Q-School, the gap between the aspirants and the veteran leaves them with questions to answer. 

McGrane was joined a soft but "brilliantly presented" Palmerstown Stud by Brian Casey, Ger Hall, Chris Selfridge, David Carey, Ciaran Bogan, David Rawluk, Richard O'Donovan, Joe Dillon and Sean Denny. 

He came to the 18th tied  for the lead with Casey in a group that also featured Challenge Tour regular Selfridge ('a beautiful player") and Carey.  Selfridge had played well for the first 12 holes but a poor finish ended his hopes of winning the cash

With Ciaran Boggan (72) the only other player to shoot a score of par or better, it came down to a shootout between McGrane and Carey, who were both one-under playing the 18th.

McGrane's approach to 10 feet gave him a birdie chance and while Casey hit his approach inside him, McGrane rolled in the putt and walked away with the €1,000 pot. 

"I hit a good drive and an eight iron to 10 feet," McGrane said. "Brian was inside me but he failed to convert. I could see the hurt in his face. He will probably learn and get more out of it by not winning that had he coasted home. 

"He will come back stronger and better for it and that's what we are about. We are about trying to improve.

"And if you don't have €100 you either don't play or you turn up and play well and try and capitalise on it. If a touring pro tells me they don't have €100, it does't make any sense considering when you go to Dublin airport, it costs that to put a suitcase and a golf bag on a flight.

"There is no point in saying you can't afford to play. You have to invest in your future and what we are doing is a cheap learning curve. And if you have 10 guys who back their own ability, they should be able to win one of 10 outings to recoup their funds."

This was the last of the Irish Tour Pro Series Shootouts until the autumn, when more big-name Irish tour players are likely to turn up for the weekly shootout.

Aspiring tour players eager to play, venues keen to host, industry experts keen to speak to a group of 12 professional golfers or sponsors willing to explore a new opprotunity should email Damien at mcgranedamien@yahoo.ie

Mark Power (centre) at the Darren Clarke Champions weekend

Kilkenny's Mark Power added a three under 68 to his opening 70 to lie just a shot off the pace with two rounds to go in the Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath.

Frilford Heath's Nicholas Elmey (69 68) and Beeton Field's Jake Benson (67 70) lead on five under with Power tied for third with Hexham's Matty Lamb on four under.

Co Louth's Thomas Mulligan (67 74) is 15th on one-under with Rosslare's John Brady (144) and Cairndhu's Marc McKinstry (146) also making the six over par 147 cut for the top 40 and ties.

Bray's Alan Fahy (74 73) missed out by one with Carton House's Jack Doherty (149) also missing out.

Peter McEvoy Trophy 2016, Copt Heath Golf Club Solihull (Par 71)

Detailed scores

137 Nicholas Elmey (Frilford Heath Golf Club) 69 68, Jake Benson (Beeston Fields Golf Club) 67 70 

138 Mark Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 70 68, Matty Lamb (Hexham Golf Club) 69 69 

139 Max O'Hagan (West Hill Golf Club) 70 69, Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society Ltd) 68 71, Benjamin Jones (Northamptonshire County Golf Club) 67 72 

140 James Cooper (Cumberwell Park Golf Club) 69 71 

141 Charlie Thornton (Fulford Golf Club) 73 68, Jack Ainscough (Hartlepool Golf Club) 73 68, Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club) 72 69, Luke Northwood (Kenilworth Golf Club) 71 70, Callum Pipe (Braintree Golf Club) 70 71, Sam Bairstow (Hallowes Golf Club) 69 72, Thomas Mulligan (Co. Louth Golf Club) 67 74 

142 Tom Cleaton (Rugby Golf Club) 75 67, Charlie Strickland (Ham Manor Golf Club) 71 71, Rory Franssen (Inverness Golf Club) 71 71, Thomas Forster (Oundle Golf Club) 69 73, Barclay Brown (Hallamshire Golf Club) 66 76 

143 Coby Cartwright (Cosby Golf Club) 75 68, Harry Goddard (Hanbury Manor Golf Club) 74 69, Callum Farr (Priors Hall Golf Club) 73 70, Toby Briggs (Dunston Hall Golf Club) 73 70, Jack Cope (Minchinhampton Golf Club) 72 71, Timo Vahlenkamp (Germany) 71 72, Daniel O'Loughlin (Ruddington Grange Golf Club) 70 73, Kristian Tannum Donaldson (Buckinghamshire Golf Club) 70 73 

144 Thomas Plumb (Sherborne Golf Club) 73 71, Charlie Daughtrey (Rotherham Golf Club) 73 71, John Brady (Rosslare Golf Club) 69 75 

145 Matthew Osborn (Abbey Hotel Golf & Country Club (The)) 74 71, Jordan Whitehouse (Blackley Golf Club) 73 72, Danny Daniels (Essendon Country Club) 71 74, John Gough (Stoke Park Club) 71 74, Rhys Nevin-Wharton (Sandiway Golf Club) 70 75, Conor Richards (Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club) 69 76 

146 Daniel Bradbury (Wakefield Golf Club) 79 67, Taylor Stote (Burnham & Berrow Golf Club) 75 71, Marc McKinstry (Cairndhu Golf Club) 73 73, George Clarke (Druids Heath Golf Club) 73 73, Rene Schwenk (Germany) 73 73, Matthew Harris (St Mellons Golf Club) 73 73, Oliver Clarke (Hillside Golf Club) 72 74 

Missed the cut

147 Jamie Stewart (Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club Ltd) 76 71, Josh Oddy (Ryde Golf Club) 75 72, Alan Fahy (Bray) 74 73, Joshua Taylor (Mill Green Golf Club) 74 73, Michael East (Burnham Beeches Golf Club) 72 75

148 Mats Markovits (Netherlands) 75 73, Arrun Singh Brar (Foxhills Golf Club) 74 74, James Broadbent (Fairhaven Golf Club) 74 74, Cameron Wallace (Seaton Carew Golf Club) 74 74, Elis Lewis (Borth & Ynyslas Golf Club) 73 75 

149 Olly Huggins (Frilford Heath Golf Club) 77 72, Cameron Bell (Woodcote Park Golf Club) 76 73, Harry Bigham (Porters Park Golf Club) 76 73, Jack Doherty (Carton House Golf Club) 76 73

150 Harvey Byers (Walton Heath Golf Club) 77 73, Luke Kelly (Ashton-under-Lyne Golf Club) 77 73, George Burnett (St Pierre Golf Club) 76 74, Charlie Wilkinson (Cheshunt Park Golf Club) 75 75, Nathan Longley (Worthing Golf Club) 74 76, Anton Albers (Germany) 74 76, Conor White (Bridgnorth Golf Club) 73 77

152 Darren Howie (Peebles Golf Club) 80 72 

154 Lewis Reid (Craigielaw Golf Club) 79 75, Tom Froom (Nefyn & District Golf Club) 78 76

155 Nicholas Sowerby (Appleby Golf Club) 76 79

156 Luke Hynes (Porters Park Golf Club) 80 76

158 Jake Craddock (Sleaford Golf Club) 79 79, Joshua Curtis (Ringway Golf Club) 77 81

161 Callum Burns (Balmore Golf Club Ltd) 82 79, Ross Callan (Bathgate Golf Club) 81 80 

Niamh McSherry

Following in the footsteps of Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey won't be easy but Ireland's new wave of talented stars will be bidding to make it five Irish wins in a row in the Irish Girls’ U18 Open Stroke Play Championship at Roganstown.

The action runs from Friday to Sunday, 15-17 April with 91 competitors — including 60 from overseas — playing 18 holes qualifying on Friday and Saturday with the top 50 players progressing to the final round on Sunday.

Some of Ireland's top U18 golfers will be vying for the title after Royal County Down Ladies' Olivia Mehaffey won for the third year in a row last year.

These include 2015 Junior Vagliano players Mairead Martin (Killarney) and Annabel Wilson (Lurgan) and Irish Internationals Valerie Clancy (Killarney) and Niamh McSherry (Lurgan).

Scottish player and Junior Vagliano team member Shannon McWilliam will be an overseas favourite alongside England's Chloe Frankish and Austria's Isabella Holpfer.

The Girls Open has been held at Roganstown since 2012, where current world No 1 amateur Leona Maguire first captured the title. 

The late Christy O’Connor Junior created and designed the golf course, which is set amongst beautiful lakes and hills, presenting a challenge for every golfer that plays it.

For all Championship information, including live scoring please follow this link: Irish Girls’ U18 Open Stroke Play Championship.

 Irish Girls’ U18 Open Stroke Play Championship, Roganstown

Live scoring

Tee-times Fri 15th / Sat 16th

1. 08:00/10:40 Chloe Frankish (England), Celine Borge (Norway), Niamh McSherry (Lugan)
2. 08:10/10:50 Isabella Holpfer (Austria), Sara Kjellker (Sweden), Shannon Stevie McWilliam (Scotland)
3. 08:20/11:00 Linn Grant (Sweden), Karoline Lund (Norway), Mairead Martin (Killarney)
4. 08:30/11:10 Maja Stark (Sweden), Hannah Leonie Karg (Germany)
5. 08:40/11:20 Sofia Lundell (Sweden), Anna-Maria Diederichs (Germany), Annabel Wilson (Lurgan)
6. 08:50/11:30 Pi-lillebi Hermansson (Sweden), Jessica Hall (England), Valerie Clancy (Killarney)
7. 09:00/11:40 Claire Robertson (Scotland), Ingrid Lindblad (Sweden), Ellie Metcalfe (Laytown & Bettystown)
8. 09:10/11:50 Madelene Stavnar (Norway), Johanna Wollenhaupt (Germany), Louise Henningsson (Sweden)
9. 09:20/12:00 Nicola Fall (Finland), Rebecca Earl (England), Caroline Zolg (Germany)
10. 09:30/12:10 Mimi Rhodes (England), Ellen Hutchinson-Kay (Sweden)
11. 09:40/12:20 Martha Lewis (England), Matilde Stenqvist (Sweden), Tara Bettle (Germany)
12. 09:50/12:30 Andrea Lignell (Sweden) ,Christin Eisenbei (Germany), Rhian Barton (Wales)
13. 10:00/ 12:40 Ellen Andersson (Sweden), Amelie Sigemar (Sweden), Magdalena Cervinkova (Czech Republic)
14. 10:10/12:50 Hanna Ãhlander (Sweden), Joanne Free (Scotland), Laetitia Veeser (Germany)
15. 10:20/13:00 Julia Lind (Sweden), Nicola Wainwright (Wales), Vivien Rösner (Germany)
16. 10:30/13:10 Lily Hürlimann (Germany), Petronella Hjort (Sweden), Clodagh Jones (Roscrea)
17. 10:40/08:00 Sara Ericsson (Sweden), Cay-Marie Müller (Germany), Rachel Thompson (Cork)
18. 10:50/08:10 Ella Strmfelt (Sweden), Ólöf María Einarsdóttir (Iceland), Elisa Corcoran (Grange)
19. 11:00/08:20 Marietta Ruhl (Germany), Loїs Lau (France), Emma Adolfsson (Sweden)
20. 11:10/08:30 Talisa Brinker (Germany), Lauren Walsh (Castlewarden), Cara Owin (Germany)
21. 11:20/08:40 Nora Klintheim (Sweden), Katja Mueller (Germany), Clodagh Walsh (Castlewarden)
22. 11:30/08:50 Kate Dwyer (Rossmore), Maeve Cummins (Lurgan), Rebecca MacLaren (Wellingborough/Ireland)
23. 11:40/09:00 Maeve Rooney (Co. Sligo), Ellen O'Gorman (Milltown)
24. 1:50/09:10 Sara Byrne (Douglas), Lea-Anne Bramwell (Wales), Sarah Burke (Mullingar)
25. 12:00/09:20 Anne Micke Compo (Netherlands), Sophie Faulkner (England), Ellie Doherty (Scotland)
26. 12:10/09:30 Nicole McGavisk (Donabate), Frowe Gräsel (Germany), Emma Henningsson (Sweden)
27. 12:20/09:40 Aine Donegan (Woodstock), Marija Luїze Jučmane (Latvia), Jan Browne (Kilkenny)
28. 12:30/09:50 Malú Brinker (Germany), Kate McElroy (Faithlegg), Katie O'Hart (Arklow)
29. 12:40/10:00 Patrizia Schfer (Germany), Lorna McClymont (Scotland), Emma Forbes Royal (Portrush)
30. 12:50/10:10 Lilly Marie Köster (Germany), Anna Foster (Elm Park), Georgia Carr (Milltown)
31. 13:00/10:20 Lea Becker (Germany), Leah Temple Lang (Elm Park), Laura Cody (Balbriggan)
32. 13:10/10:30 Dezirae Wojciehowski (Germany), Flera Robina Sprude (Latvia), Natalia Michaś (Poland)

The Golfing Union of Ireland has appointed its first board with former President of NUI Galway  Iognáid (Iggy) O Muircheartaigh its first Chairman and solicitor Keith McGarry and senior executive John Power as independent members.

The new Board was appointed at a Special General Meeting of its Central Council, replacing the Executive Committee as a key move in the implementation of the Union's Strategic Plan, adopted in 2015.

Following an open recruitment process, the Nominations Committee, established at the GUI's AGM last February selected the three candidates and all were unanimously accepted by the meeting.

According to the GUI:

O Muircheartaigh is President Emeritus of NUI Galway: he also holds a position as Adjunct Professor in the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University and continues to be involved in community and pro-bono activities.McGarry a scratch golfer, is the senior partner in a firm of solicitors based in Lisburn, Co Antrim.  He was appointed as legal advisor to the Ulster Branch of GUI last November, a post he steps aside from upon joining the Board.Power spent most of his working life in senior management positions with ESB.  He then became Director General of Engineers Ireland, a position he held until 2015. As such, he led the recovery and transformation of the organisation through the development and implementation of a new strategic direction, reversing a serious decline in membership numbers.  The three independent members will serve a term of three years and will be eligible for re-appointment for a further term.

In addition to these independent members, the Board will comprise the four Union Officers and four appointments on the nomination of the Union's Provincial Councils.

Speaking about the appointments, the Union's CEO Pat Finn said: "The appointment of the Board is an important change in the way the Union is governed. It is a major step in enabling the Union to drive forward with its strategic objectives. In addition to the extensive knowledge of the game of golf which the Union's officials will continue to bring to bear on its decision-making, the new Board will also benefit from the expertise of the independent members."

The Board members in full:

• Chairman: Iggy O Muircheartaigh
• Union Officers:  Kevin McIntyre (President), Peter Sinclair (President Elect), Albert Lee (Hon. Secretary), Rollo McClure (Hon. Treasurer)
• Branch Nominees: Jim McGovern (Chairman, Connacht), John Ferriter (Chairman, Leinster), John Moloughney (Chairman, Munster), John White (Hon. Secretary, Ulster)
• Independent Members: Keith McGarry, John Power

According to a profile of O Muircheartaigh (Moriarty as Bearla) published by The Irish Times in 2001, the new Chairman preferred to be called Iggy rather than President, when he was in the top post in NUI Galway. In his youth, he was a talented 400m runner and later had academic postings with strong golfing connections to Tiger Woods' former alma mater Stanford University and to the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, not far from Pebble Beach Golf Links and Cypress Point.

O Muircheartaigh may have spent most of his formative years in Dublin, and more than 30 years in Galway, but he remains at heart a Kerryman. Kerry is where he spent all of his childhood holidays and it's where his parents come from. The family were Irish-speaking and the young O Muircheartaigh attended Colaiste Mhuire, in Dublin's Parnell Square. After UCD and a stint at the Central Statistics Office, he took himself off first to the University of Manchester and then to the University of Glasgow, where his PhD topic was computer-aided medical diagnosis. Ground-breaking stuff then, what took him three years to develop could be done, today, in just one-and-a-half seconds on a laptop, he says. A major regret for Galway's new president is that he missed qualifying for the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 by just point-four of a second. He ran his 400-metre race in 47.8 seconds. During his undergraduate and postgraduate years, however, he managed to represent Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish and even British universities at international athletic events. Unsurprisingly, he's a bit of a sports fanatic, but these days confines his participation to golf, tennis and daily gym workouts.It was during his time in Scotland that he met Rosaleen, his wife. They came to Galway in 1970, simply because he'd got a job lecturing in statistics there. It was, he says, one of the best moves he ever made. Galway proved a great place to live, the university was small, with only 3,000 students (there are now 11,000), had a long tradition of scholarship and excellence and, according to O Muirearchtaigh, he particularly appreciated the Irish language's special place in the UCG ethos. In 1972, O Muireachtaigh helped to established the UCG teachers' section of the Workers' Union of Ireland (now SIPTU) in the college. By 1980, he was an elected staff representative on the UCG governing body, "working for change in the structures of the university but making little progress", he says. It was his years on the governing body that encouraged him to stand for election as registrar in 1998. His platform? "Changing structures to give people greater involvement in decision-making and supporting the primacy of the academic mission." It proved a good move. Being registrar "taught me about the academic operation of the college. The two years I spent as registrar were a tremendous preparation for becoming president," O Muircheartaigh says.The Galway president has worked abroad on two occasions. In the early 1970s, he won a Fulbright Scholarship to Stanford University and, a decade later, an Academy of Sciences research associateship to the US Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. The O Muircheartaighs nearly didn't come back from the last assignment. "If I'd been younger, I would have stayed. Everything was brilliant. The research was exceptional, the people were friendly, the climate was outstanding and the place was beautiful." As president, O Muircheartaigh says, his aim is to enhance the university's standing in research and scholarship, which in turn will benefit the quality of teaching. "What distinguishes universities from other colleges is their commitment to research and scholarship," he says. That's what makes working in a university special. It's not just about teaching and passing on knowledge - although that's important. It's also about searching for boundaries and going beyond them."