The seven holes in the "back field" (6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) were fully in play after lengthening, deepening of bunkers and the introduction of sweeping contours to the greens. Apart from giving some thought to pin-positions Fanagan had the greens suitably groomed to bring their speed over ten on the stimpmeter!

This is a new world for the Milltown golfers and there was much excitement as 38 points was the winning score for Donald Hickey as against the 42 points or 43 points normally required.

Fanagan's also located a silver dish dated 1907 to give as his prize.

Most appropriate in the club's centenary year and an indicator that this golfer's brain functions sharper than most!

MOLONEY PAYS TRIBUTE AFTER TIPPERARY WIN

There was a lot of emotion in the air at County Tipperary Golf Club on Sunday last as Michael Moloney accepted the prize and then paid tribute to Denis Fogarty who had proved a wonderful companion in the qualifying round the previous week but had died suddenly during the week.

Moloney had to remain calm all day as he was chased by Larry Shanahan and, in fact, it was scoring for the last-nine which saw him prevail. The crisis point came at the eleventh where he drove out-of-bounds but still managed a "professional" bogey.

It was happy days in the lady captain's prize for Pauline Fitzgerald as it was also her birthday and her third win in this event. Her 70 won despite the fact Helena Farrell had a best-ofthe-day 65 but was not eligible for the top-prize under the three-card rule.

SLIGO GIRLS TO REPRESENT CONNACHT

Happy days for the girl golfers at the County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point as three of them have made it onto the Connacht Under-15 panel and they have been impacting mightily in competitions.

Niamh Carty, Megan O'Hara and Holly Robinson are the girls being picked-up on the selectors' radar as is Shauna Brady who is on the reserves panel.

Meantime, 15-year-old Amy Gaynor is enjoying a great release from school as she won the June Cup on the break-of-a-tie with Eithne McSharry, placed third in the captain's (Michael McNamara) prize, won by Deirdre Connolly, and placed second in a 36-hole girls' tournament at Loughrea.

It's amazing how venues like The Point continue to churn-out good players and it will be interesting to see if they are on their way to producing a fine lady champion in the next decade.