Irish Golf News

Gavin Moynihan with the Titleist Footboy Leinster U13 Series Trophy in 2008

School's almost out and anyone who’s got boys aged 8 to 13 knows the summer can be a challenging time. So even if they’ve never touched a golf club in their lives, they can try the game and still check out the talent on show in the Titleist Leinster Boys U13 Series - four events scheduled for Malahide, Greystones, Rathdowney and Wexford from July 2-14.

Leinster’s Provincial Coaches are always on the look-out for future talent with current Walker Cup star Gavin Moynihan the first winner of the Leinster Final at Hollystown Golf Club in 2008.

Titleist Footjoy have been sponsors since the start and supply the prizes for the qualifiers and final.
 
The good news for those with golfers in the family is that the closing date has been extended to next Tuesday, 23rd June and entries can be made on line here 

Titleist Footjoy Leinster U13 Series 2015 - Dates & Venues

• Thursday 2nd July – Malahide GC 
• Monday 6th July – Greystones GC 
• Wednesday 8th July – Rathdowney 
• Tuesday 14th July – Wexford 

In addition, Leinster Golf has teamed up with the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) who will provide free Taster Sessions at each venue.  The Taster Sessions are for Boys aged 8-13 years and equipment will be provided.  To book a place email info@cgigolf.org or contact CGI on 01 505 2070 for more information.

IAM MARTIN (PRESIDENT, GOLFING UNION OF IRELAND) PICTURED WITH THE VICTORIOUS MUNSTER TEAM AND SUPPORTERS AFTER THEIR VICTORY IN THE INTERPROVINCIAL MATCHES AT ISLAND GOLF CLUB (24/07/2014). PICTURE BY PAT CASHMAN

Muskerry's Niall Gorey has been left out of the Munster Senior Interprovincial team which will defend the title at Rosapenna Hotel and Golf Resort from July 6-8.

Munster

1. Pat Murray
2. Eanna Griffin
3. Ian O'Rourke
4. Gary O'Flaherty
5. John Hickey
6. Dave O'Donovan
7. Geoff Lenehan
8. Robin Dawson

Eanna Griffin comes into the side after some excellent performances over the past 12 months which included reaching the semi finals of the South of Ireland last year and the final of this year's West of Ireland Championships.

The team features two changes from the line up that won at The Island last year. With Gary Hurley unavailable due to international duty, the other newcomer is Dave O'Donovan, who came out best alongside Gary O'Flaherty in what is seen as a two from three choice from the selectors that went against Gorey.

Considering Gorey and O'Donovan were unbeaten as they won the Barton Shield with Muskerry last year, leaving one of them out might seem foolhardy.

However, it's still a strong line up and Munster will again be fancied to lift the trophy.

Gavin Moynihan. Picture by Pat Cashman

Irish interest in the British Amateur Championship ended on Thursday when The Island's Gavin Moynihan fell to world No 382 Alexandre Daydo of France by 4 and 3 in the second round.

Matchplay results - Round 2, Round 3

The only Irish survivor from the first round, the reigning Irish Open Strokeplay champion was two down after nine and never recovered and Daydo went on to face Iceland's Andri Bjornsson in the last 16 in the afternoon.

The third round featured five Frenchmen and just six players from Great Britain with Scots Greig Marchbank, Grant Forrest, Jack McDonald and Robert MacIntyre, and England's Ashley Chesters and Sean Towndrow all making it through.

One of the Frenchmen, Robin Sciot-Siegrist, has Irish roots and works under Irish coach Aaron O'Callaghan at the University of Louisville.

Sciot-Siegrist briefly considered declaring for Ireland but was awarded a French cap last year.

We love a good car crash

Europe's winning Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes the US Open will make interesting viewing — car crash TV for those thirsty for some Chambers Bay gore and glamour. Can Rory McIlroy tip toe through the wreckage? He's got the game to do it but whether he has the patience to avoid temptations and the maturity to shrug off the body blows remain to be seen.

"It's certainly the most difficult major to win. In terms of score, you generally need to aim for a winning score of level par," McGinley told the BeanBagSports Podcast.

"Chambers Bay is going to be a difficult test to what we usually have, almost like a British Open course with huge rolls and undulations on the greens and with different ways and different strategies of playing all the different holes. It will be like a car crash! Guys will make birdies, eagles and then make doubles, triples and quads as well. It will be very exciting tv!"

On Tiger Woods, he said: "He's had a really bad run, and his confidence is obviously down. A good week for Tiger would be a solid top 20 finish and use that as a base going forward. I thought he was going to do that having played so well at Augusta but with missing cuts, he hasn't made progress since. Like everything in this game, it's all about confidence and he doesn't seem to have much of it."

McGjnley believes Jordan Spieth will have a chance because he and his caddie know the course.

"There's never been a professional event there so nobody has real experience. Jordan Spieth's caddy used to caddy there before he used to caddy for Jordan. He'll certainly know the golf course well and be a big help to Jordan this week."

McGinley had yet to jet out of Heathrow when asked about European contenders and with Graeme McDowell lacking form despite that fact that he ticks all the boxes required to do well at Chambers Bay,  he feels England's Danny Willett is a player that could do well.

"Danny Willett is certainly a guy I'd keep an eye on," McGinley said. "He's coming through full of confidence and has a good track record on links golf courses. He played well in the Irish Open a few weeks ago and has a very stellar amateur record on links golf courses."

And then there's Phil:

"There's a huge onus on short game so you've got to look for somebody who's really on their short game and also who's patient. I think Phil Mickelson [could win]. It's the only major he hasn't won. He's really motivated to win a US Open and I think if he's going to win on any golf course, this is the one that's really suited to him"

Still, McIlroy is the world No 1 and playing with confidence despite missing his last two cut, as McGinley points out, because he got his schedule wrong.

While he won the WGC-Cadillac Matchplay and Quail Hollow, he could have skipped both or at least one of them and the BMW PGA.

He'll need to show a little more discipline at Chambers Bay where the role of his caddie JP Fitzgerald will be crucial. The stresses of majors bring players and caddies closer together at time but they also exacerbate flaws in a relationship and the number of break ups always rises after a major.

Mcllroy, like his mentor Jack Nicklaus, knows that most of his rivals will beat themselves because it's a major. 

Not becoming a victim himself is the key and while he has the advantage of length it will be interesting to see if he can putt well enough to keep the double bogeys off his card and remain in the hunt until Sunday afternoon.

McIlroy is feeling confident and he's got no qualms about missing those cuts at Wentworth or Royal County Down.

"Volatility in golf is actually a good thing," said McIlroy, who starts as favourite at Chambers Bay, with 21-year-old American Spieth second. "If your good weeks are really good, it far outweighs the bad weeks.

"I feel a lot better coming into this tournament than I did going into the last two. The two weeks off helped to refresh the mind a little bit. I had not played five weeks in a row for a long time.

"This is hugely important, a chance to win a second US Open and my fifth major. There was just so much hype and so much attention around Augusta."

Greg Norman reckons McIlroy's mental strength is going to be key, explaining: "His attitude as a person allows him to play the way he does. He'll make a mistake and he'll laugh about it, stand up to it, apologise for it.

"Rory believes in himself. He came back from two very interesting situations in his private life, with his fiancee and the lawsuit, and he managed those extremely well for a young kid. His personality is perfect for what the game of golf needs, and that's why golf is in a fantastic state."

McIlroy said he liked the links-style course at Chambers Bay and that there would be opportunities for players to post under-par rounds.

"This is the sort of golf course that if you're just slightly off, it will magnify that," he added.

“But it will reward people who are hitting good shots and are confident and their short games are sharp."

Darren Clarke knows patience will be key on an eight year old course that has more slopes than Everest.

"There are lots of roll-offs," he said. "One bounce that is a bit too firm and because of the speed of the greens, it rolls maybe one hundred yards back off the green. I like it.... it definitely has the potential to make us look stupid with some of the shots we're going to hit.

"You're going to hit some great shots that aren't going to be rewarded but you may hit one or two that gets a fortuitous bounce and go close.

“Everyone is going to have a few funny ones this week, and it's part and parcel of it."

Shane Lowry will like the short game options at Chambers Bay and if he's putting well, he'll be in the higher echelons of the leaderboard. As for 2010 US Open winner McDowell, he's got the ambition and while his game is undercooked, he's keen. 

 “Over the last three or four months, I’ve decided that I want more of this stuff," McDowell said. "I want to win more Major Championships. I have the desire back to practise again and work harder, because I love being in contention in the biggest events in the world.

"My win at Pebble in 2010 was amazing for me but I don’t want it to define my career. I’d like to continue defining my career from here onwards.”

Nuremore

Joe Dillon celebrated his 23rd birthday in style by cruising to victory in the Irish PGA Assistants Championship at Nuremore Hotel and Country Club.

The Headfort GC assistant went into today's final 36-holes with a three shot lead and managed to extend his advantage, finishing the event five shots ahead of Iarlaith Keane (Balcarrick GC) and Ciaran McKenna (Mallow GC).

“It means a lot for me to win this title and get my name on the trophy alongside both Brendan McGovern and Damien McGrane,” said Dillon who turned 23 yesterday.

“They both look out for me and Damien was very good and helped sort out a pro-am team so I could get an extra practice round in.”

Dillon's only real wobble at the Monaghan venue came in yesterday's final round when he went to the turn in four over 39 but he steadied the ship on the back nine, coming home in level par 36 to finish with a 75.

“I was aware that a lot of the other lads were making mistakes as well so I didn't panic. The front nine is pretty tight at the Nuremore and I felt that anything around three/four over would be good enough,” added the Kells man who finished tied for sixth in this event last year.

“You kind of learn with experience what a winning score will be and with it being windy all day I knew I just had to be careful and not make big mistakes.”

His nearest challengers after the opening day, Keith Shannon, Chris Carvill and Matthew Dunmore all lost ground after the third round and failed to mount a challenge.

Keane grabbed the opportunity to move into second with a two under par 68 in round three, the best round of the day, but he was still five shots behind the leader and failed to close the gap over the final 18 holes, carding a four over 75.

Irish PGA Assistants Championship,  Nuremore Hotel and Country Club (Par 71)

Detailed scores

1 J Dillon (Headfort GC) +4

T2 J Keane (Balcarrick GC); C McKenna (Mallow GC) +9

T4 B McCormack (Edenderry Golf Academy); D Barry (Douglas GC) +10

T6 S Quinlan; M Dunmore (Bundoran GC) +11

T8 M Murphy (Rosslare GC); C Boggan (County Meath GC); C Carvill (Belvoir Park GC) +12

Brian Casey

Alps Tour — Carton House’s David Carey had six birdies in a one under 69 to share 35th in the 2015 Open La Pinentina 45km north of Milan.

Scores

He's six shots behind England’s Matt Wallace, who leads by a shot on seven under after a super 63 featuring seven birdies and just one bogey.

Carey, who turned professional in April, made two cuts as an amateur when the tour was in Egypt in February. Those 13th and sixth place finishes gave him enough points to be 61st in the Order of Merit but he has missed the cut in his first four Alps Tour starts in the paid ranks.

EuroPro Tour — Simon Ward and Brian Casey shot level par 71s to head the Irish challenge but found themselves six shots off the pace in the GRENKE Championship
at Cumberwell Park.England’s Steve Surry shot a six under 65 to lead by two strokes from Stuart Archibald with Warren Bennett and Marcus Armitage three off the lead after 68s.ScoresT19 Simon Ward  Unattached E 71 
T19 Brian Casey  Headfort Golf Club E 71 
T80 Jonathan Caldwell  BetMcLean +3  74 
T115 Richard Weldon  Killeen Castle Golf Club +5 76 
T115 Mark Whelan  Allied Pension Trustees +5 76

EPD Tour — Headfort’s Rory McNamara tied for fifth in the Pro Golf Tour’s CEEVEE Leather Open in Germany.

Antoine Schwartz of France beat his pal and compatriot Alexis Anghert with a birdie at the first extra hole after they had finished on eight under par at Glashofen-Neusaß Golf Club south of Frankfurt.

The winner earned €5,000 with McNamara earning €1,280 as he posted a one under 71 to finish four shots out of the playoff on four under. Scores

He’s now 38th in the money list with €3,311 from five events while Royal County Down’s Reeve Whitson, who finished tied 31st on five over after a closing 75, is 49th with €2,497 from 12 starts.

Lucan’s Richard O’Donovan, who missed the cut by one on Monday, is 47th in the Order of Merit with €2,588 from 14 starts.

Olivia Mehaffey. Picture: Pat Cashman

Take a breather Leona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey is leading this week's charge of the Irish women up the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

While Leona remains comfortably at No 1 in the R&A run list, 17-year old Olivia leapt 55 spots to a career high of 59th thanks to her run to the last four of the Ladies' British Amateur Open at Portstewart last weekend.

Lisburn's Paula Grant also made a massive move upwards, soaring 311 places to 149th as Skerries' Maria Dunne rose 104 places to 217th. Sinead Sexton and Jessica Ross also moved up the list.

Already a three time winner this year, Royal Co. Down Ladies‘ star Mehaffey also climbed into second place on the European Junior Solheim Cup Ranking, giving her a great chance of clinching a place in the European team for the match at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club on September 14-15.

The top six players on the European Ranking at the end of the qualification process all earn places in Iben Tinning’s team and Mehaffey earned 40 points for her performance at Portstewart which catapulted her into a share of second place in the Ranking alongside Sweden’s Elin Esborn and Germany’s Leonie Harm.

Esborn collected ten points at Portstewart after advancing to the third round before losing to Mehaffey’s countrywoman Paula Grant.

Mehaffey’s great run at Portstewart came to an end when she lost by 5 & 4 to future Arizona State team-mate and former PING Junior Solheim Cup player Linnea Ström from Sweden.

The top spot on the Ranking is currently held by France’s Agathe Laisne who moved into first place by reaching the final of this year’s French International Lady Juniors Championship at St. Cloud and then consolidated her position by finishing third behind Harm in the Allianz German Boys and Girls‘ Open at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club.

The Ladies‘ British Open Amateur Championship was the fourth qualifying event for this year’s PING Junior Solheim Cup.

Next up is  the European Girls’ Team Championship at Golf Resort Kaskada Brno, Czech Republic and the European Ladies’ Team Championship at Helsingør GC, Denmark (July 7-11) followed by the ANNIKA Invitational Europe at Bro-Bålsta GK, Sweden (August 4-6) before the qualification process is completed at the Girls’ British Open Championship at West Kilbride GC, Scotland, on August 10-14, 2015

As for the men's rankings. there were no major movers at the top end with Cormac Sharvin remaining as Ireland's highest ranked player in 26th.

John Ferriter (Chairman, Leinster Golf) presenting Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) with the 2015 Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship trophy after his victory at Charlesland Golf Club today (17/06/2015). Also in the picture are Brendan O'Brien (President, Charlesland Golf Club) and Tony Fitzpatrick (Captain, Charlesland Golf Club).

Galgorm Castle's Jordan Hood joined some of the legends of the game on the list of champions when he captured the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship at Charlesland in Co Wicklow.

The Ulster star, who was three strokes behind Galway's Ronan Mullarney at halfway, fired a 72 in the morning to take the lead and closed with a 77 to win by two strokes on 10 over par 298 from Mullarney and Blainroe's Colin Woodroofe.

Winner of the Irish Boys title when it was a closed event at Ardee in 2011, Hood joins Philip Walton, Paul McGinley (twice), Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell on the roll of honour.

Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship, Charlesland (Par 72)

Detailed scores

298 Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) 74 75 72 77

300 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe) 75 73 78 74, Ronan Mullarney (Galway) 72 72 80 76

301 Keith Murphy (Charlesland) 76 71 79 75

303 Jamie Dunne (Borris) 77 72 78 76

305 Max Thallon (Bangor) 79 76 75 75, Owen Crooks (Bushfoot) 72 75 76 82

306 Shane Mc Dermott (Co. Cavan) 76 77 80 73, Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 76 74 75 81, John Murphy (Kinsale) 76 71 85 74, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 75 77 81 73, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 75 77 77 77

307 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 79 74 77 77, Sam Lewis (Greystones) 79 73 81 74, Jack Walsh (Castle) 72 78 79 78

308 Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass) 77 77 77 77

309 Adam Mulhall (Ardglass) 75 75 78 81

310 Sean Desmond (Monkstown) 78 71 81 80, Conor Keown (Greystones) 77 74 80 79, Jack Blake (The Island) 76 76 77 81, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 76 73 80 81, John Bolger (Courtown) 75 78 77 80

311 Michael Ryan (New Ross) 82 73 80 76, Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall) 79 76 79 77, Sean Walsh (Carton House) 74 72 88 77, Colm Hughes (Galway) 72 75 85 79

312 Craig Bolger (Carlow) 82 72 79 79, Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 80 75 77 80, Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint) 80 75 77 80

313 Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park) 78 77 80 78

314 Mark MacGrath (Limerick) 78 75 83 78, Peter McKeever (Castle) 68 80 80 86

315 Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin) 75 78 78 84, Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock) 74 78 84 79

318 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 82 70 80 86

320 Ross Mohan (Balcarrick) 72 79 85 84

322 Matthew McGowan (Donegal) 78 77 83 84

323 Kevin Power (Kilkenny) 79 76 82 86

325 Matthew Grehan (Tullamore) 77 74 84 90

Non Qualifiers

155 Sean Doyle (Athlone) 78 77, Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) 77 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 77 78, Mark Healy (Kinsale) 76 79, Ross Steedman (Balcarrick) 76 79

156 Adam Price (Delgany) 80 76, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 77, Craig Melvin (Corrstown) 78 78, Rory Murphy (Dun Laoghaire) 77 79, Conor Coyne (Youghal) 76 80, Darragh O'Connor (Fota Island) 72 84

157 Eoin O'Hehir (Naas) 82 75, John McCarthy (Stackstown) 81 76, Erik Jonasson (Sweden) 75 82

158 Jamie Foley (Letterkenny) 84 74, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 76, Robert Williams (Cork) 82 76, Brian Murtagh (Gort) 81 77, Eoin Conway (West Waterford) 78 80, Oisin Fleming (Bray) 77 81

159 Paul Murphy (Rosslare) 77 82

160 Cameron Raymond (Newlands) 83 77, Mark Power (Kilkenny) 83 77, Sean Murphy (Charlesland) 81 79, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 80 80, William Small (Tandragee) 78 82, Conor Rice (Athlone) 77 83, Luke Robinson (Bundoran) 76 84, Jack Patton (Letterkenny) 74 86

161 Jack Brophy (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Marc McCormack (Ashbourne) 82 79, Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock) 82 79, John Corbett Jnr (Thurles) 82 79, Charlie Denvir (Milltown) 81 80, Paul Twohig (Fota Island) 80 81

162 Jamie Keenan (Woodbrook) 81 81, Marc Boucher (Carton House) 81 81, Eoin J O'Brien (Clontarf) 80 82

163 Darragh Hobbs (Courtown) 87 76, James Temple (Portmarnock) 85 78, Darragh Crawford (Bundoran) 84 79, Conor Mooney (Black Bush) 80 83

164 Mark Doogue (Baltinglass) 85 79, Oisin Devereux (Carton House) 85 79, Craig Foley (Cork) 85 79, Harry Duggan (Kilkenny) 83 81, Adam McCormick (Scrabo) 83 81, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 81 83, David Clince (Craddockstown) 79 85, Sean Kestell (Charlesland) 78 86

165 Paul Kelly (Glasson) 89 76

166 Luke Cummins (West Waterford) 86 80, Robert Moran (Castle) 83 83

171 Robert Browne (Castle) 84 87

DW/WD Gary Lawlor (Beaverstown) DQ, Daniel Curry (Coollattin) DQ, Marc Nolan (Delgany) 78 72 80 WD, Darragh Conlon (Athenry) 78 WD, Rory Williamson (Holywood) 79 WD, Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush) 83 WD, Roy O Neill (Borris) WD, Paul Tobin (Cork) 77 74 WD WD.

GAVIN MOYNIHAN. PICTURE: PAT CASHMAN

Jack Hume and Dermot McElroy bowed out but The Island's Gavin Moynihan came through the first round of the British Amateur Championship at Carnoustie.

Naas man Hume lost 3 and 1 to Finland's Miki Kuronen as Ballymena's McElroy fell to England's Jack Yule 5 and 3.

Reigning Irish Amateur Open champion Moynihan was out in the fourth match of the day and made sure of his place in the last 32 with a 2 and 1 win over the Isle of Man's Tom Gandy.

Results | Round 2 Draw

Moynihan is already considered a certainty to play in his second Walker Cup in September but he's still keen to rack up the silverware before he turns professional in the autumn and having won his second Irish Amateur Open Strokeplay title last month as well as last season's Scottish Open Strokeplay at nearby Panmure.

It's far to early to predict an Amateur Championship win for Moynihan but a place in the next year's Masters and US Open, not to mention The Open at St Andrews next month, would be reason enough to delay a move into the pro ranks.

Moynihan plays Alexandre Daydo of France in Thursday morning's second round with the winner to face Italy's Michele Cea, who beat the leading qualifier Craig Howie of Scotland, or Iceland's Andri Bjornsson.

Elsewhere, Lytham Trophy winner Marcus Kinhult of Sweden, the highest ranked player in the field at world No 3, lost by one hole to Norway's Vetle Maroy while Spain's Mario Galiano fell by two holes to Germany's Yannik Paul.

Reigning European Individual champion Ashley Chesters beat Australia's Taylor MacDonald 3 and 2 while in an all-Scotland clash, Grant Forrest thumped Dunbar's Alexander Culverwell 6 and 4.

Welsh Amateur winner Jimmy Mullen had a 2 and 1 win over Jeremy Gandon of France though Gandon's compatriot, the impressive Romain Lanquesque, was a 3 and 2 winner over Rico Hoey of the United States.  

Gavin Moynihan. Picture: Pat Cashman

It was a bad week for Walker Cup hopefuls Cormac Sharvin and Paul Dunne as they failed to make the 64 qualifiers for the matchplay but there are high hopes that Gavin Moynihan, Jack Hume or Dermot McElroy can become the eighth Irishman to win the Amateur Championship at Carnoustie this week.

All three have Walker Cup ambitions and while Dunne and Sharvin are still considered likely picks for September's matches, Hume and McElroy can make a serious claim for a place in Nigel Edward's 10-man side if they go far this week.

Both have testing first rounds draws with Hume facing Finland's Miki Kuronen and McElroy taking on England's Jack Yule, who was tied third in the qualifying on five under.

Moynihan faces an equally tough task against the Isle of Man's Tom Gandy, a regular contender in the Irish Amateur Open. But the Walker Cup star from The Island is clearly playing with confidence as he showed when  coming back from an early double bogey at Carnoustie's third with five birdies for a three under 69 that qualified him comfortably in a share of 14th on two under par 140.

Hume striggled to a three over 73 at Panmure but still made it easily in joint 20th on 141, one stroke ahead of McElroy, who shot a three under 67 at the same venue.

There was frustration all round for the other 16 Irish in Scotland as exactly 64 players finished on one over 143 or better to make Wednesday's first round draw.

Belvoir Park's US-based Gareth Lappin missed out by one shot after disappointing, three over 73 at Panmure where Sharvin had three birdies and two bogeys in a 69 to miss the cut by two.

Dunne's over over 73 at Carnoustie left him three shots off the pace while Tullamore's Stuart Grehan was left to lament two poor swings on the back nine that led to five dropped shots at Panmure, where he missed out by five. 

Scotsman Craig Howie and New Zealander Ryan Chisnall finished as the leading qualifiers in what is the 120th Amateur Championship.

Howie, 22, posted a five-under-par 67 at Carnoustie, which included an eagle at the par four 11th, to qualify for the match play stage for the first time. A team mate of Sharvin's, the Stirling University Sports Studies student is in fine form following a tied-third place finish at the recent St Andrews Links Trophy.

Chisnall managed three birdies on the front nine at Panmure on his way to a two-under-par 68 to finish tied for the lead.

Spain’s Ivan Cantero shot a remarkable six-under-par round of 64 at Panmure, which featured an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys, to finish on two-under-par and secure his place in the match play stage of the Championship.

Amateur Championship 2015Matchplay draw Round 1

(9.00) Gavin Moynihan v Tom Gandy

(10.25) Jack Hume v Miki Kuronen

(10.35) Jack Yule v Dermot McElroy

Strokeplay qualifying  

(Detailed scores)

Panmure/Carnoustie (Par 70 72)
Carnoustie/Panmure (par 72 70)

Qualifiers

• 140 Gavin Moynihan (The Island) 71 69
• 141 Jack Hume (Naas) 68 73
• 142 Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) 75 67

Non-qualifiers

• 144 Gareth Lappin (Belvoir Park) 71 73
• 145 Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) 76 69
• 145 Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock) 71 74
• 146 John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) 73 73
• 146 Paul Dunne (Greystones) 73 73
• 146 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock) 72 74
• 147 Robin Dawson (Faithlegg) 78 69
• 147 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) 70 77
• 148 Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo) 78 70
• 148 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) 73 75
• 148 Alex Gleeson (Castle) 72 76
• 148 Conor O’Rourke (Naas) 70 78
• 151 Daniel Holland (Castle) 76 75
• 152 Paul McBride (The Island) 75 77
• 153 Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 83 70
• 156 Stephen Watts (Cairndhu) 72 84

Fun times at British Am. Course was amazing. Couple of mistakes from playing tomorrow, will be better next time. What a tournament #JLfest15

— Geoff Lenehan (@kingratom) June 16, 2015

Two bad swings for 36 holes cost me making the cut...

Joe Dillon

Headfort's Joe Dillon has a three shot lead heading into Wednesday 36-hole finale of the Irish PGA Assistants Championship at Nuremore Hotel and Country Club.

Dillon produced two steady rounds of 70 and 69 at the Co Monaghan venue on Tuesday to take command of the event on three under par.

Keith Shannon followed up his opening round 76 with a superb second round 66 that included back-to-back eagles at the par five 14th and 15th to move into second place.

Defending champion Chris Carvill from Belvoir Park shot rounds of 70 and 73 and Bundoran's Matthew Dunmore 73 and 70 to leave them well-placed, four shots off the pace on one over par.

Irish PGA Assistants Championship, Nuremore Hotel & Country Club (Par 71)

Detailed scores

139 J Dillon (Headfort GC) 70 69

142 K Shannon 76 66

143 C Carvill (Belvoir Park GC) 70 73; M Dunmore (Bundoran GC) 73 70

145 C Boggan (Co Meath GC) 71 74

146 C McKenna (Mallow GC) 75 71; D Hinds (City of Derry GC) 69 77

147 N Murray (Massereene GC) 72 75

149 B Carroll (Elm Park GC) 77 72; C Lyall (Donaghadee GC) 75 74; F Holly (Charleville GC) 75 74.

An archive picture of Galway's Ronan Mullarney. Picture: Pat Cashman

Just four players in the 98-strong field broke par as Galway international Ronan Mullarney hit the front at the halfway stage of the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship at Charlesland in Wicklow.

The flame-haired Connacht talent made his fourth birdie of the day at the 18th for a second successive 72 and a two stroke lead over Carton House's Sean Walsh on level par.

Overnight leader Peter McKeever, who had three eagles in a first round 68, followed up with an eventful 80 but remains well in touch on four over.

The cut fell at 11 over 155 with five of the 13 players on that mark missing out on count back.

Carton House's Darragh Flynn had a best of the day 70 (12 shots better than his first round) to move up to 21st on eight over while Charlesland's Keith Murphy and Kinsale's John Murphy carded one under 71s to share third on three over 147 with Bushfoot's Owen Crooks (75) and Mullarney's Galway clubmate Colm Hughes (75).

Leinster Youth Amateur Open 2015

Charlesland Golf Club (Par 72) CSS R1 74 R2 73

Detailed scores

144 Ronan Mullarney (Galway Golf Club) 72 72

146 Sean Walsh (Carton House) 74 72

147 Keith Murphy (Charlesland) 76 71, John Murphy (Kinsale) 76 71, Owen Crooks (Bushfoot) 72 75, Colm Hughes (Galway Golf Club) 72 75

148 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe Golf Club) 75 73, Peter McKeever (Castle) 68 80

149 Sean Desmond (Monkstown Golf Club) 78 71, Jamie Dunne (Borris Golf Club) 77 72, David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown) 76 73, Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle) 74 75

150 Marc Nolan (Delgany) 78 72, Liam Grehan (Mullingar) 76 74, Adam Mulhall (Ardglass Golf Club) 75 75, Jack Walsh (Castle) 72 78

151 Matthew Grehan (Tullamore) 77 74, Paul Tobin (Cork Golf Club) 77 74, Conor Keown (Greystones) 77 74, Ross Mohan (Balcarrick) 72 79

152 Darragh Flynn (Carton House) 82 70, Sam Lewis (Greystones) 79 73, Jack Blake (The Island) 76 76, Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire) 75 77, Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu) 75 77, Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock Golf Club) 74 78

153 Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.) 79 74, Mark MacGrath (Limerick Golf Club) 78 75, Shane Mc Dermott (Co. Cavan Golf Club) 76 77, Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin) 75 78, John Bolger (Courtown) 75 78

154 Craig Bolger (Carlow Golf Club) 82 72, Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass Golf Club) 77 77

155 Michael Ryan (New Ross Golf Club) 82 73, Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint) 80 75, Ryan Corry (Clandeboye) 80 75, Kevin Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 79 76, Max Thallon (Bangor Golf Club) 79 76, Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall Golf Club) 79 76 , Matthew McGowan (Donegal Golf Club) 78 77 

Non Qualifiers

155 Sean Doyle (Athlone) 78 77, Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park) 78 77, Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire) 77 78, Evan Farrell (Ardee) 77 78, Mark Healy (Kinsale) 76 79, Ross Steedman (Balcarrick) 76 79

156 Adam Price (Delgany) 80 76, Dylan Brophy (Castleknock) 79 77, Craig Melvin (Corrstown) 78 78, Rory Murphy (Dun Laoghaire) 77 79, Conor Coyne (Youghal Golf Club) 76 80, Darragh O'Connor (Fota Island) 72 84

157 Eoin O'Hehir (Naas) 82 75, John McCarthy (Stackstown) 81 76, Erik Jonasson (Sweden) 75 82

158 Jamie Foley (Letterkenny Golf Club) 84 74, Jake Whelan (Newlands) 82 76, Robert Williams (Cork Golf Club) 82 76, Brian Murtagh (Gort Golf Club) 81 77, Eoin Conway (West Waterford) 78 80, Oisin Fleming (Bray) 77 81

159 Paul Murphy (Rosslare) 77 82

160 Cameron Raymond (Newlands) 83 77, Mark Power (Kilkenny Golf Club) 83 77, Sean Murphy (Charlesland) 81 79, Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud) 80 80, William Small (Tandragee Golf Club) 78 82, Conor Rice (Athlone) 77 83, Luke Robinson (Bundoran Golf Club) 76 84, Jack Patton (Letterkenny Golf Club) 74 86

161 Jack Brophy (The Royal Dublin) 85 76, Marc McCormack (Ashbourne) 82 79, Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock Golf Club) 82 79, John Corbett Jnr (Thurles) 82 79, Charlie Denvir (Milltown) 81 80, Paul Twohig (Fota Island) 80 81

162 Jamie Keenan (Woodbrook) 81 81, Marc Boucher (Carton House) 81 81, Eoin J O'Brien (Clontarf Golf Club) 80 82

163 Darragh Hobbs (Courtown) 87 76, James Temple (Portmarnock) 85 78, Darragh Crawford (Bundoran Golf Club) 84 79, Conor Mooney (Black Bush) 80 83

164 Mark Doogue (Baltinglass Golf Club) 85 79, Oisin Devereux (Carton House) 85 79, Craig Foley (Cork Golf Club) 85 79, Harry Duggan (Kilkenny Golf Club) 83 81, Adam McCormick (Scrabo Golf Club) 83 81, Daniel Brennan (Shannon) 81 83, David Clince (Craddockstown) 79 85, Sean Kestell (Charlesland) 78 86

165 Paul Kelly (Glasson Golf Club) 89 76

166 Luke Cummins (West Waterford) 86 80, Robert Moran (Castle) 83 83

171 Robert Browne (Castle) 84 87

DW/WD Daniel Curry (Coollattin Golf Club) DQ, Gary Lawlor (Beaverstown Golf Club) DQ, Darragh Conlon (Athenry) 78 WD, Rory Williamson (Holywood Golf Club) 79 WD, Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush) 83 WD, Roy O Neill (Borris Golf Club) WD

 

Rory McNamara

Headfort's Rory McNamara is just four shots off the pace entering today's final round of the CEEVEE Leather Open on the EDP Tour at Walldürn-Neusaß near Frankfurt.

The former North of Ireland and West of Ireland champion followed an opening 70 with a 71 at Golfclubs Glashofen-Neusass to share fifth place behind Germany's Benedict Staben (67-70) on three under. Scores

Royal County Down's Reeve Whitson (75-71) is tied for 19th on two over but Lucan's Richard O'Donovan (69-80) missed the cut by one.

Quinlan wins Irish PGA Assistants Championship Pro-AmSteven Quinlan fired a brilliant five under par 66 to win the Irish PGA Assistants Championship Pro-Am at Nuremore Hotel & Country Club on Monday.Quinlan's round was peppered with six birdies and just one dropped shot at the County Monaghan venue as he cruised to a four shot victory.Graham Donohoe (Rosslare GC) grabbed second place with a one under par round of 70.Brian McCormack (Edenderry GC) guided his amateur partners to success in the pro-am event with a team score of 101 points.The two-day Assistants Championship gets underway tomorrow (Tuesday) with Chris Carvill (Belvoir Park) hoping to defend the title he won last year.Irish PGA Assistants Championship Pro-Am, Nuremore Hotel & Country Club (Par 71)66 S Quinlan72 G Donohoe (Rosslare GC) 70 T3 G Hall (Edenderry Golf Academy); J Dillon (Headfort GC)74 A Staunton (Hollywood Lakes GC); B Doheny (Rathsallagh GC)75 M Murphy (Rosslare GC); D Carroll (Seapoint GC)76 S O'Donoghue (Carlow GC)77 B McCormack (Edenderry Golf Academy); D Barry (Douglas GC).Treacy wins Waterford Senior Scratch Cup

Carrick on-Suir's Kieran Treacy with his replica of the Waterford Scratch Cup

Carrick on-Suir's Kieran Treacy added his name to the list of winners of the prestigious TopGolfer Tour sponsored Waterford Senior Scratch Cup on Saturday.

The famous Waterford Scratch Cup is too heavy to be moved

The winner shot rounds of 72 and 71 to triumph by a stroke on one over 143 from Richard Walsh.

As Philip Reid reported in The Irish Times back in 2003, it's one of the most iconic trophies in Irish golf.

Waterford's association with producing trophies for golf goes back to 1956 and, appropriately enough, it all started locally in Waterford Golf Club. At a time when Waterford was establishing a worldwide name, some workers in the factory wanted to showcase the craft on a new trophy for the Waterford Scratch Cup. A trophy - to be won by among others Joe Carr, Philip Walton and John McHenry over the years - was created and it remains the largest ever made. it stands four feet high and is far too heavy to be lifted, remaining on permanent display in the club.It was to be a couple of decades later before Waterford really broke into the American golf trophy market, and the input of singer Bing Crosby was a significant one. Playing in a Pro-Celebrity Golf Tournament organised by the BBC, Crosby was so taken with the prizes that he commissioned the company to create a trophy for the Bing Crosby Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Results of the TopGolf Tour sponsored Waterford Senior Scratch Cup (Par 71)

143 Kieran Treacy (Carrick-on-Suir) 72 71 

144 Richard Walsh 70 74

146 Denis Sinnott 72 74, Anthony Feicks 76 70

148 Sean Ally 74 74

149 Colin Woodroofe     73 76, Luke Cummins 74 75, David McDonald 76 73, Dan Murphy 79 70

150 Paul O’Hara 74 76, Kevin Collins 78 72

151 Padraig Connolly  77 74

152 John Fanning 77 75, Thomas Martin 78 74

153 Eoin Conway 77 76, Lee McMillan, Glaisne McKevitt 80 73

154 Gerry O’Keeffe 77 77, Ian Murphy 77 77, Michael Stewart 78 76

156 Ross Powell 77 79, Eoin Cantwell 77 79, Stephen Finlan 77 79, Ronan Twomey 77 79, Cillian Maloney 79 77, Tom Crotty 81 75.

DUBAI DUTY FREE IRISH OPEN WINNER SOREN KJELDSEN WITH RORY MCILROY AND THE HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL TROPHY. PICTURE Getty Images

All that’s needed is the okay from Dubai Duty Free but we hear from two reliable sources that the Irish Open will be played at The K Club from May 19-22 next year. 

Scarifying of the back tees at Palmer Course has already begun, another little bird informs us and with the 70-room extension to the hotel due to be completed in time, it appears that Dr Michael Smurfit’s parkland gem will once again play host to the best players in Europe.

if that date is confirmed, it would mean sandwiching the Irish Open between The Players at Sawgrass and the BMW PGA at Wentworth in what is an already congested golfing calendar because of August’s Olympics Games in Brazil.

What that means for the field is unclear but while Rory McIlroy will tee it up, as expected, it remains to be seen if he makes as big a commitment to 2016 given the huge demands made on his time this year and the number of favours he now owes a host of big names.

Having already handed the European Tour a sponsor on a plate  — Dubai Duty Free are waiting for the results of their review of Royal County Down before extending their one-year deal —  it’s time for the event to promote itself without putting the burden of responsibility on one of our busiest stars. who already does his bit for Irish golf as world No 1.

It’s the job of Failte Ireland to promote our great golf courses to the wider world, especially considering the importance of golf to the irish and European economies.

According to Sports Marketing Surveys Inc., the golf industry in Great Britain and Ireland contributed c€6.2 billion to the economy of Europe in 2012 at a time when State investment in golf promotion has clearly fallen well below par here

Subsequent studies concluded that England contributed 65% of that €6.2 billion, which means that Ireland, Scotland and Wales contributed €2.2 billion.

Proportionally speaking, Irish golf is edging closer to become a €1 billion industry. Isn’t it time we had an Irish Open that can stand on its own two feet? And if that’s not possible, shouldn’t Failte Ireland be doing everything in their power to push the event?

Darren Clarke at Royal County Down with the winners of the Irish Open Skills Challenge

Junior Golf - Is it accessible enough?

A reader recently asked if the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) was ready to step up its efforts to increase participation in the game by taking a leaf out of the GAA’s book when it comes to summer camps.

The answer is yes, but you’re going to have to be patient. Very patient.

The Kellogg's GAA Cúl Camps have been a great success but there is no equivalent in golf and costs vary wildly from one professional or part of the country to the other, especially if you are not a member of a golf club

Prices of between €70 and €100 for a four day camp are frequent south of the border, whereas in Northern Ireland there appears to be no shortage of golf camps for non-club members for £40-£45 for similar if not longer times.

Which clubs/pros are running Junior golf camps this summer? Reply with links, dates, prices please. #JuniorGolf #Summer2015

— Brian Keogh (@IrishGolfDesk) June 11, 2015

Soccer and GAA camps are far better value right now, which means that golf is losing ground at a time when parents and children are keen to get involved.

John Roche, the CGI’s Director of Golf and Business Development, is keen to get going but time is marching on.

“Many of the PGA professionals working both in clubs and outside offer summer camps and the Confederation offers them the opportunity to promote these on the activity map on our website, www.cgigolf.org,” Mr Roche writes.

“We are looking at best practise in other countries that promote golf camps from a central body and indeed we are looking at what other sports do in Ireland in this important area. 

“So for 2015 our role is to promote the work of clubs and PGA pros who are offering camps and also to study what else can be done to help push golf in the summer camp market. 

“Our recent [Irish Open] Skills challenge along with our club and school taster days and get into golf programmes have all proven very popular so the development of a summer camp offering with the PGA would seem logical.”

Here are a few of the many many offers. Feel free to add more in the comments section below:

Shane O'Grady Golf Academy Online

SOG Golf Academy online (www.soggolf.com) Designed for parents who have kids starting to play golf and don't know how to get them started. Step by step guides with online video swing checks by Shane O'Grady, coach to world amateur No 1 Leona Maguire.

Chris Jelly, SNAG Golf at Dungannon GC

Monday  29th June - Wednesday 1st July   10:30 am – 12:30 pm! Max of 16 per class
Tuesday 12th August - Thursday 13th August  10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Included in sessions: Chipping and putting; Pitching; Full Shots; Basics of golf swing including grip, aim, posture, backswing, downswing and through swing; Athletic skills and fitness

Cost £40 per child which includes 6 hours coaching from PGA Professional and ILGU and GUI Regional= Coach Chris Jelly. Each child will receive prizes on the last day. Places are limited and will fill up fast so please do not hesitate to ring Chris on 07703724424 or visit www.chrisjellygolf.com 

Killymoon Golf Club - Michael Gallagher

Future Stars Junior Golf Academy Camp's at Killymoon Golf Club are on the following dates and times:

• Wed 8th to Fri 10th July: 9.30am to 12.30pm
• Mon 10th to Fri 12th August: 9.30am to 12.30pm

www.mgprogolf.com for more information

Celbridge - Michelle CarrollCelbridge 4 day golf summer camps are enrolling now. Learning golf through fun games with Michelle Carroll PGA. Dates: July 7-10, July 20-23, August 10-13 and August 18-21, at 10am-1pm Contact Michelle for further information or to book on 0868702284 or michellecarrollpga@gmail.com Cost €95 per child.

Better Golf 

"Better Golf provided hugely successful Junior Summer Camps in 2014, this year we aim to improve the tuition and increase the fun! Suitable to children from 6 - 14 years of age and with or without golfing experience. The Junior Summer Camps are a chance to learn more about golf in a relaxed, safe and fun environment.

"The camps run each week from June 29th - July 3rd until August 24th - August 28th. Each Summer Camp consists of five days (Mon-Fri) with three hours of golf in each day (9am-12pm). Golf clubs, golf balls, water, fruit and snacks are provided each day. Days will be filled with advice, fun games and friendly competition. 

With our highly experienced coaches, each participant will leave with an improved knowledge and golfing game! Costs: 

• 1 child €125
• 2 children €225
• 3 children €330

Email kenny@bettergolf.ie or call 01 505 4040 for more details."

Brendan McDaid Academy - Spawell

Junior Golf Camp at The Spawell Golf Centre, Dublin 28th 29th & 31st July 9.30am - 12.30pm 3 Hours of fun filled golf tuition for your little McIlroy €60 per child - Book Now Text or Call 087 2436805 e-mail click here - Please have your child bring along a healthy packed lunch. 
 
Three hours of golfing activity per day will have them hungry & better at golf! We will cover long game, short game & putting. I'm sure we will meet a future pro too.Call or text 087 2436805 or click here to book your child in for these three fun filled days of golf tuition.

 

1996 Mullingar Scratch Trophy winer Peter Lawrie pictured with Brian Reidy (President, Mullingar Golf Club), Peadar Conlon (Sponsor, Mullingar Electrical) and Michael Duffy (Captain Mullingar Golf Club). The 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup takes place on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd August. Picture by Pat Cashman

Mullingar Scratch Trophy

Few tournaments in Irish golf command as much goodwill as the Mullingar Scratch Trophy which will be played on Sunday August 2nd and Monday 3rd at the famous James Braid track thanks to the largesse of sponsors Mullingar Electrical.

As usual around this time, Mullingar’s indefatigable Albert Lee makes sure that one of the illustrious past winners poses for a picture with the officers of the club to help promote what has become an institution in the Irish game. 

On this occasion, 1996 winner Peter Lawrie and 1991 winner Paul McGinley, did the honours alongside President Brian Reidy, Captain Michael Duffy and Peadar Conlon from sponsors Mullingar Electrical during the recent Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Royal County Down.

The event is a crucial one for the best amateur golfers in Ireland as the 72 holes stroke play format provides them with a chance to test themselves and escape the frustration of matchplay for a few days.

Thanks to the efforts of men like Albert and Joe Healy before him, players are made to feel especially important. And while it no longer attracts overseas stars in the era of the modern amateur schedule and even finds if tough to get all the top Irish players to tee it up, it retains a special place in the hearts of all the great past winners from Des Smyth, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington to Rory McIlroy.

Paul McGinley, Winner of the 1991 Mullingar Scratch Trophy pictured with Peadar Conlon (Sponsor, Mullingar Electrical), Brian Reidy (President, Mullingar Golf Club) and Michael Duffy (Captain Mullingar Golf Club). The 2015 Mullingar Electrical Scratch Cup takes place on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd August. Picture by Pat Cashman

The K Club

The Irish Open appears to be heading for The K Club next May but it remains to be seen if Rory McIlroy will maintain his high profile backing for the event after a busy week at Royal County Down did little for his chances.

According to two sources close to the venue, the main points of the agreement between the European Tour and the resort's owner Dr Michael Smurfit are in place with the week between The Players and the BMW PGA, May 19-22, believed to be the agreed date.

That's a week earlier than this year but given the condensed world golf calendar and Rory McIlroy's ever-shrinking schedule, it could be a good week for all concerned. All that’s needed is now is the okay from sponsors Dubai Duty Free to extend their one-year deal to 2016.

That will depend on the results of a review by consultants of last month's championship at Royal County Down, but the indications are that the UAE giant are happy to carry on.

With the 2017 Irish Open earmarked for Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, it is believed that The K Club hoped to secure a return staging in 2018 as part of the North-South dynamic that now fuels the event.

The K Club

However, the potential interest of Mount Juliet's owner Tetrarch Capital, which has just committed to hosting a Challenge Tour event at Mount Wolseley for the next three years, does not help The K Club.

As for McIlroy, the European Tour are hopeful that his Rory Foundation will host again and while that's likely, nothing has been decided definitively.

As Irish Open Championship Director Antonia Beggs said in Newcastle: “We have always said that this is the first time and when he dust has settled we will sit down and chat about the future strategy.

“We very much hope that Rory will be involved in the Irish Open in some shape or form next year because he is the world No 1 and he is from Ireland.

“We can’t say any more for now but this isn’t a one-off as such. It’s just the first time we’ve done it so while we can’t say we are doing it for 10 years (with Rory hosting), the feedback has been very positive.”

Olivia Mehaffey. Picture: Pat Cashman

Irish women’s golf has gone through many ups and downs over the years but there has nearly always been a big star to keep things ticking over from a Philomena Garvey or Clarrie Reddan to a Mary McKenna or a Maureen Madill.

Now, it seems, we have a plethora of top players including the world’s No 1 amateur in Leona Maguire. But it doesn’t stop there.

The future looks bright and thanks to the efforts of the ILGU’s High Performance panel, we head into the height of the summer season with high hopes of making a winning impact on the international scene for the first time since McKenna, Madill, Clare Hourihane and Eavan Higgins were joined by the Wickham sisters Phil and Carol in winning the 1983 European Ladies Team Championship at Royal Waterloo.

Thirty-two years is a long time ago, but there are compelling reasons to believe that Ireland’s women golfers can match the recent brilliance of the men, who won the Home Internationals last year and finished second in the Europeans to Spain.

At least that’s the feeling Olivia Mehaffey has about her Irish team mates and the great strides made over the past 12 months and as she counts down to the European Ladies Team Championship at Helsingør Golf Club in Denmark from July 7-11.

Quite apart from the obvious brilliance of Leona Maguire, Mehaffey has emerged as the next big thing thanks to three early season wins and last week’s run to the semi-finals of the Ladies’ British Open at Portstewart, where she fell to her future US college team mate, the Swede Linnea Strom.

With seven of the 10 Irish entrants making the matchplay stages and three going as far as the last 16 —Ireland was the only “Home” nation to make that stage of the competition — we are clearly doing something right.

"We have got a strong team this year - the Irish ladies, we’ve really stepped it up, and a lot of that is down to our High Performance programme,” says Olivia, who is destined for Arizona State University at the end of next year.

“And it’s great to have Leona back. She is going to be an absolutely massive asset to our Europeans team.”

The 15-strong ILGU High Performance panel now meets every six weeks with manager David Kearney and his team of expert coaches from fitness and nutrition specialist Robbie Cannon to psychologist Dr Lee-Ann Sharpe, physiotherapist Sharon Morris, short game and long game coach Chris Jelly and putting guru Donal Scott.

Mehaffey has certainly reaped the benefits, winning the Irish Girls Under 18 Open Strokeplay for the third year in a row and then going on to complete a hat-trick of victories with wins in the prestigious Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play and the Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championships in successive weeks.

She puts a lot of her success down to the fitness work she’s done with Cannon and that bodes well for the rest of the Irish team as we head into the meat of the season. .

The same could be said for her fitness, which has improved so much under Cannon that she’s now hitting the ball high for the first time in her life.

“Robbie is great and I honestly think that’s made the difference this year,” Mehaffey says of her fitness. “My ball striking is so much better. I am hitting it higher when it was low before and it’s make such a big difference to by ball flight.

“I have been able to get on the inside and play a draw instead of always being over the top and low. Before I always hit over the top and I literally spent four years trying to stop and I couldn’t do it.  

“My angle of attack was really steep as well but just working this year it has come down and I stopped looking at it. Then I just noticed that with all the work I had done, it had come down naturally without doing anything to my swing.”

Certain now to make the world’s Top 100 when the World Amateur Golf Ranking is updated at midday tomorrow (Wed), she’s determined to push and finish the season strongly for a change.

“I always seem to start my season well and not finish it as strongly, so I am going to stay in top of everything and keep up with my practice and be more consistent this year," she vows.

As for Portstewart, she says: “I think I’ll look back and I’ll be really happy. Right now I am disappointed because I was so close. But I went way beyond my expectations and Linnea is so good, I knew I had to play really well to beat her. She had a lot of birdies and she was really impressive. She was at a different standard really. 

“Playing with her at Arizona State is going to work wonders for my game when I join her there in another couple of years.”

The irish Ladies Close Championship at magnificent Rosapenna is next on the agenda for Mehaffey followed by the Vagliano Trophy match with Continental Europe at Malone.

With Lisburn’s Paula Grant making it into the quarter-finals at Portstewart and with so many talented teenagers on the rise, including Junior Vagliano Trophy bound Mairead Martin from Killarney and Lurgan’s Annabel Wilson, the future looks bright for irish women’s golf.

Jack Hume (Naas) made a great start at Carnoustie. Archive picture by Pat Cashman

Naas' Jack Hume knows all his season lacks is a win and he made a great start in the biggest event of them all with a four under 68 at Carnoustie leaving him alone in fourth after the first round of strokeplay qualifying for the Amateur Championship.

The race to make the top 64 who qualify for Wednesday's matchplay stages requires the field to play one round each at Carnoustie and Panmure.

England’s Alfie Plant, 22, stormed to the first round lead with a course record-breaking seven-under-par 63 at Panmure to lead by two from Scotland’s Grant Forrest and New Zealander Ryan Chisnall, who both posted five-under-par 67’s at Carnoustie.

Belvoir Park's Gareth Lappin shot a 71 at Carnoustie to be tied 25th while Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint) and Conor O’Rourke (Naas) who shot level par 70s at Panmure to lie tied 44th, the other 15 Irish players in the field are outside the cut mark.

The strugglers include the in-form Cormac Sharvin from Ardglass, a Walker Cup aspirant, who is tied for 161st following a four over 76 at Carnoustie. 

Greystones' Paul Dunne, another player with ambitions of selection for the Walker Cup, is tied 129th after a three over 73 at Panmure. 

Hume, 22, is nicely place after a 68 that featured an eagle three at the 12th as well as five birdies and three bogeys in an eventful round at Carnoustie.

“I’m very happy with one-over through eight holes and five-under-par for the last ten,” Hume said. “I had a strange start, birdie, bogey, birdie but hit some nice iron shots and can hopefully carry that on tomorrow.

"It’s meant to be windy tomorrow so it was definitely a scoring day today.  I have had a consistent season so far, so I’m hoping for a win or two over the rest of the season.”

A clutch of players finished on three-under-par, including Englishmen Ashton Turner, Jimmy Mullen, Leon Fricker and Harry Hall.

A field of 288 players, representing 30 different countries, will play two qualifying rounds of stroke play at both Carnoustie and Panmure before the leading 64 and ties take part in the match play stages at Carnoustie. The 36-hole final will be played on Saturday.

The second stroke play round gets underway at 7am tomorrow. For live scoring from the championship please click here.

Amateur Championship, Carnoustie and Panmure (Top 64 after 36 holes to qualify)

Detailed scores

Carnoustie (par 72)

68 Jack Hume (Naas) 4th
71 Gareth Lappin (Belvour Park) T25
73 Stuart Grehan (Tullamore) T73
75 Dermot McElroy (Ballymena) T129
76 Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) T161
78 Robin Dawson (Faithlegg); Sean Flanagan (Co Sligo) T229
83 Richard Bridges (Stackstown) T280

Panmure (Par 70)

70 Colm Campbell (Warrenpoint), Conor O’Rourke (Naas) T44
71 Gavin Moynihan (The Island), Alexander Wilson (Portmarnock) T73
72 Geoff Lenehan (Portmarnock); Alex Gleeson (Castle); Stephen Watts (Cairndhu)  T104
73 Paul Dunne (Greystones); John-Ross Galbraith (Whitehead) T129
75 Paul McBride (The Island) T195
76 Daniel Holland (Castle) T229

Charlesland Golf Club

Castle's Peter McKeever made a sensational start to the Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship when he blasted three eagles in a four under 68 to grab massive four-shot lead after the opening round at Charlesland Golf Club in Co Wicklow.

Runner up to James Sugrue in last year's Munster Youths at Dungarvan, McKeever birdied the par-three second but then followed bogeys at the third and fourth with an eagle three at the 479-yard fifth and an eagle two at the 275-yard sixth.

He parred the next three to turn in 33, double bogeyed the par-four 12th and bogeyed the 409-yard 14th to go back to level par but then eagled the 441-yard, par-five 15th and birdied the 17th and 18th for what was clearly the round of the day.

A Senior Cup winner with Castle in 2012, McKeever's sensational round gave him a commanding lead over a six-man group on level par 72s — Castle clubmate Jack Walsh, Balcarrick's Ross Mohan, Bushfoot's Owen Crooks, Galway's Ronan Mullarney and Colm Hughes and Fota Island's Darragh O'Connor.

Leinster Youths Amateur Open Championship 2015 at Charlesland GC (Par 72 CSS 74)

Detailed scores

68 Peter McKeever (Castle)

72 Ross Mohan (Balcarrick), Jack Walsh (Castle), Owen Crooks (Bushfoot), Ronan Mullarney (Galway), Colm Hughes (Galway), Darragh O'Connor (Fota Island)

74 Jack Patton (Letterkenny), Andrew Mulholland (Castlerock), Jordan Hood (Galgorm Castle), Sean Walsh (Carton House)

75 Colin Woodroofe (Blainroe), Robbie Hynes (The Royal Dublin), Erik Jonasson (Sweden), Ted Collins (Dun Laoghaire), Neil McKinstry (Cairndhu), John Bolger (Courtown), Adam Mulhall (Ardglass)

76 Mark Healy (Kinsale), Liam Grehan (Mullingar), Keith Murphy (Charlesland), Luke Robinson (Bundoran), Shane Mc Dermott (Co. Cavan), David Foy (Laytown & Bettystown), John Murphy (Kinsale), Ross Steedman (Balcarrick), Conor Coyne (Youghal), Jack Blake (The Island)

77 Jamie Dunne (Borris), Rory Murphy (Dun Laoghaire), Matthew Fitzsimons (Ardglass), Evan Farrell (Ardee), Matthew Grehan (Tullamore), Paul Tobin (Cork), Conor Rice (Athlone), Paul Murphy (Rosslare), Conor Keown (Greystones), Oisin Fleming (Bray), Conor Ryan (Dun Laoghaire)

78 Sean Desmond (Monkstown), Dominic Pollock (Belvoir Park), Darragh Conlon (Athenry), Craig Melvin (Corrstown), Mark MacGrath (Limerick), Eoin Conway (West Waterford), Marc Nolan (Delgany), Matthew McGowan (Donegal), Sean Kestell (Charlesland), William Small (Tandragee), Sean Doyle (Athlone)

79 Alastair McQuillan (Cushendall), Jack McDonnell (Forrest Little.), Dylan Brophy (Castleknock), Sam Lewis (Greystones), David Clince (Craddockstown), Max Thallon (Bangor), Kevin Power (Kilkenny), Rory Williamson (Holywood)

80 Brian Doran (Palmerstown Stud), Adam Price (Delgany), Ryan Corry (Clandeboye), Conor Mooney (Black Bush), Eoin J O'Brien (Clontarf), Jason Murphy (Warrenpoint), Paul Twohig (Fota Island)

81 Sean Murphy (Charlesland), Brian Murtagh (Gort), Marc Boucher (Carton House), John McCarthy (Stackstown), Daniel Brennan (Shannon), Charlie Denvir (Milltown), Jamie Keenan (Woodbrook)

82 Robert Williams (Cork), Jake Whelan (Newlands), Eoin O'Hehir (Naas), Daniel Cosgrove (Kilcock), Michael Ryan (New Ross), John Corbett Jnr (Thurles), Craig Bolger (Carlow), Marc McCormack (Ashbourne), Darragh Flynn (Carton House)

83 Harry Duggan (Kilkenny), Mark Power (Kilkenny), Robert Moran (Castle), Cameron Raymond (Newlands), Adam McCormick (Scrabo), Jamie Knipe (Royal Portrush)

84 Jamie Foley (Letterkenny), Robert Browne (Castle), Darragh Crawford (Bundoran)

85 James Temple (Portmarnock), Mark Doogue (Baltinglass), Jack Brophy (The Royal Dublin), Oisin Devereux (Carton House), Craig Foley (Cork)

86 Luke Cummins (West Waterford)

87 Darragh Hobbs (Courtown)

89 Paul Kelly (Glasson)

DQ Daniel Curry (Coollattin), Gary Lawlor (Beaverstown)

WD Roy O Neill (Borris)

Gary Hurley in action at Rich Harvest Farms

The United States defeated Europe 18-12  to reclaim the Palmer Cup at Rich Harvest Farms where Gary Hurley rounded off his second appearance in the event with a singles win.

The Americans now lead the all-time series 10-8 with one match halved following their 6-4 victory in the final singles session.

Team USA need only two points to win the Palmer Cup and Hunter Stewart’s 4 and 3 victory against Thomas Detry put the Americans one match away from reclaiming the cup.

Clement Sordet kept Europe’s hopes alive briefly with a 2 and 1 win over Anders Albertson before the United States clinched the Palmer Cup with near simultaneous victories by Beau Hossler and Ollie Schniederjans.

Hossler defeated Pep Angles, 2 and 1, while Schneiderjans beat Max Rottluff, 5 and 3. 

Stewart and Robby Shelton of Team USA became the 15th and 16th players to post a 4-0 record at a Palmer Cup and the first since Andrew Yun of the United States in 2012.

It was the first time that multiple players went undefeated and untied since Europe accomplished the same feat in 2006.

Matthias Schwab of Rohrmoos, Austria, and Hunter Stewart of Lexington, Ky., were named recipients of the Michael Carter Award which is presented to the Palmer Cup participant that best represents the qualities and ideals sportsmanship, integrity and upholding of the game.

Hurley lost 6 and 5 to Jack Maguire in Saturday's singles but gained some measure of revenge with a one hole victory on Sunday, leaving him with a 2-2-0 record overall. Full results

Palmer Cup, Rich Harvest FarmsUnited States 18, Europe 12Singles

1. Clement Sordet, Europe def. Anders Albertson, United States, 2 and 1
2. Hunter Stewart, United States def. Thomas Detry, Europe, 4 and 3
3. Beau Hossler, United States def. Pep Angles, Europe, 2 and 1
4. Maverick McNealy, United States def. Adrian Meronk, Europe, 3 and 2
5. Ollie Schniederjans, United States def. Max Rottluff, Europe, 5 and 3
6. Mathias Schwab, Europe def. Carr Vernon, United States, 1-up
7. Gary Hurley, Europe def. Jack Maguire, United States, 1-up
8. Rowin Caron, Europe def. Kyle Jones, United States, 2 and 1
9. Robby Shelton, United States def. Mathias Eggenberger, Europe, 4 and 3
10. Lee McCoy, United States halved Jon Rahm, Europe

PGA TourArgentina's Fabian Gomez  won his maiden PGA Tour title when he beat England's Greg Owen by four strokes to claim the FedEx St Jude Classic.Gomez, who had to win back his Tour card through the Web.com Tour last year, started the round tied for the lead with Owen on nine under and closed with a 66 for a 267 total for the win and $1.08 million.Phil Mickelson closed with a 65, rolling in a 25-footer on the last, to tie for third on eight under 272 with Seung-Yul Noh (65), Michael Thompson (66), Matt Jones (68) and Brooks Kopeka (70) before heading to the US Open in search of a win that would complete the career grand slam,Boo Weekley (65), Billy Horschel (65), Russell Knox (66) and Chad Campbell (68) all tied for seventh at 273.Web.com Tour

West Waterford's Seamus Power moved another seven spots up the money list to 68th thanks to his share of 24th in the Rust-Oleum Championship on Ohio.

The former international finished on eight under, 10 strokes behind Shane Bertsch (66). who won by one from Brazil's Lucas Lee (65).

Dunfanaghy Golf Club

Greenore's Robert Giles and Drive Golf Performance's Colm Moriarty carded identical rounds of 67 and 63 to share first place on six under at the Dunfanaghy Pro-Am.

The duo finished a shot ahead of Waterville's David Higgins at the two-day tournament with Elm Park's Dara Lernihan. Colin Park's Peter Martin and Keith Shannon tied for fourth on three under.

It was Moriarty's second win in succession following last week's success in the Dr William Flynn Memorial tournament at Shannon.

In contrast, the experienced Giles has played sparingly so far this season with a best-place finish of tied for third at The K Club in early May.  

Gary Wardlow guided his amateur partners of Odhran McGettigan, Clive Davison and Conor McGettigan to the team prize with 189 points.

Dunfanaghy Pro-Am (Par 68)

T1 R Giles (Greenore GC) 67 63; C Moriarty (Drive Golf Performance) 67 63 (130)

3 D Higgins (Waterville GC) 67 64 (131)

T4 D Lernihan (Elm Park GC) 67 66; P Martin (Colin Park) 70 63; Keith Shannon 67 66 (133)

T7 C McNamara (Monkstown GC) 68 66; S McMonagle (Dunfanaghy GC) 67 67; D Mortimer  (Galway GC) 69 65 (134)

10 G Dunlea (Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort) 68 67 (135)

Pro-Am scores

1. Gary Wardlow 97/92 (189)
2. Seamus McMonigle 97/89 (186)
3. Adam Dunmore 93/89 (182)