ALL-IRELAND WINNERS CROWNED INTERNATIONAL PAIRS WORLD CHAMPIONS

ALL-IRELAND Gaelic football players Mick Galvin and Jason Sherlock have turned their hands to another sport with great success after conquering the fairways in Scotland this week and claiming a dramatic victory at the 2011 International Pairs World Final.

Galvin and Sherlock held their nerve under intense pressure to beat Chile pair Gabriel Morgan Searle and Rodrigo San Martin Ribera at the second hole of a sudden death play-off at The Carrick on Loch Lomond.

The duo, winners of the All-Ireland title with Dublin in 1995, became the first Irish players to be crowned world champions in the competition’s history but it was a close run thing as Searle and Ribera pushed them all the way after both teams had finished with 53 Stableford points after 27 holes, three clear of South Africans Melville Muir and Willie Stokes.

Having halved the first hole of sudden death in par-fours, Galvin and Sherlock looked to be in pole position to close out victory as they played The Carrick’s 407-yard 18^th hole for a second time with their opponents in trouble off the tee.

Galvin, who is now manager of St Oliver Plunketts Gaelic football team with Sherlock one of his players, found the green in two but then proceeded to three-putt from 25 feet and their win was only confirmed when Searle’s three-foot putt for a bogey lipped out.

“That is the most nervous I have ever been on a golf course,” said 11-handicapper Sherlock, who also played for Shamrock Rovers and the Republic of Ireland’s under-21 football side.

“I have played in a lot of big sporting occasions but I preferred playing in front of 80,000 people at Croke Park than going through that.

“It’s a great honour to represent your country and to become the first Irish world champions is very special.”

Galvin and Sherlock were tied for the lead with Scotland’s Steven Hunter and Stephen Brown after the first round of the event - the world’s largest of its kind for club golfers - after scoring 17 points on a rain-affected first day that restricted the 21-team field to just nine holes.

The Dublin duo looked to be heading to victory as the Scots fell away in the final nine holes but in testing conditions, the Chileans, making their debut in the event, mounted a late charge to score an impressive 38 points in their second round and the final headed into overtime after Sherlock narrowly failed to birdie his last hole.

Galvin, who plays off six, added: “Jason and I have known each other for years and we played very well in the second round.

“We knew if we beat the Scottish guys we would stand a chance but the Chileans played some great golf and it was a bit of a struggle to finish things off at the end.

“It’s a humbling experience to play for your country on a world stage and it doesn’t get any bigger than this. It’s a great event and we’ve met some wonderful people from all over the world. We can’t celebrate too much, though, as we have a game at the weekend!”

The victory was extra sweet for Mark Creedon who only took over as Ireland’s International Pairs licensee less than two months ago.

“I have not been involved in International Pairs for very long so were limited in what we could do and this is the best possible start we could have made,” said Creedon, Managing Director of Golf Master.

“The lads played some tremendous golf to win, it was amazing to be involved in such a global event and I’m looking forward to expanding International Pairs in Ireland over the next 12 months.”

Competitors from 16 countries including America, South Africa, Nigeria, Spain, Canada, Portugal, Antigua, Romania, Czech Republic and United Arab Emirates took part in the tournament with the field based for the second year running at the venue’s spectacular hotel Devere Cameron House, while the Provost of Argyll and Bute, Councillor Willie Petrie, was on hand to formally open and close proceedings.

Cllr Petrie said: “International Pairs is a wonderful event and it’s a pleasure and privilege for our region to host so many people from all corners of the globe. It doesn’t get any better than this for amateur golfers and we look forward to welcoming everybody back very soon.”

Ross Honey, founder of International Pairs, added: “The weather tested everybody’s skills over the last few days and it never ceases to amaze me the standard of golf that is produced under such pressure.

“We’re delighted to welcome Mick and Jason as the first Irish world champions we’ve had and for Chile to do so well in their first year of competing was phenomenal.

“The Carrick on Loch Lomond provided an amazing location for some sensational golf, many new friendships have been forged during the course of the week and we are looking forward to attracting more countries and players to International Pairs in the future.

2011 INTERNATIONAL PAIRS WORLD FINAL RESULT

1.) Mick Galvin and Jason Sherlock (Ireland) - 53 points (17+36 - won on second extra hole)

2.) Gabriel Morgan Searle and Rodrigo San Martin Ribera (Chile) - 53 (15+38)

3.) Melville Muir and Willie Stokes (South Africa) - 50 (15+35)

If there is such a thing as the 'Luck of the Irish' then Chandresena  Menmend Arachchige has it by the bucket load!

Chandresena, a steady 14 handicapper from Grange Park Golf Club at St Helens, Merseyside, he played in the Daily Express qualifier at Wychwood Park, and managed what we all aspire to - A Hole-in-one on the 127yard 11th hole.

Deciding that scoring an ace on one of our competition rounds, we thought it would be a good idea to follow up with  Chandresena  just to get some background details on his round etc. What we weren't prepared for was his response.

On asking Chandresena what it felt like scoring an ace he said "I've been playing golf last 10 years and this is my 3rd hole in one but this one is the most memorable as we all seen it one bounce and went in the hole wonderful feeling to get my 3rd hole in one in within 2 years specially event like Jamaica Doubles"

Luck or judgement - who knows? Whatever it is, we are thinking of asking Chandrasena for this weeks euro million numbers!

Well done, now lets see if you can make it four

30th April 2011

Competition was fierce as members of the famous Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club vied for a place in the inaugural Tech Access International Pairs National Final in May.  The Final will also be played at Dubai Creek so whichever team won this particular Qualifier will automatically be installed as favourites to go on to the International Pairs World Final in Scotland.

30th April 2011

The 14th Qualifier in the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac saw a comfortable victory for Charles Blincow and Kevin Perrins as members of the Emirates Golf Federation took to the picturesque Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa course on Thursday 28th April. 21 pairs started the day with the goal of winning a place in the inaugural International Pairs UAE National Final in May.

17th April 2011

For the sixth time in thirteen Qualifiers, a scorecard countback was required to separate the top two teams as members at Tower Links Golf Club in Ras al Khaimah took their turn to compete for an invitation to the inaugural Tech Access International Pairs UAE National Final. On this occasion, it was the father-daughter combination of Joe & Zenia Wivou who were left disappointed when their back-9 of 21 points fell one short of the 22 scored by Paul McCullough and Ray Labonte over the same stretch after both pairs compiled totals of 40 points.

16th April 2011

Roy Holmes and JW Choi had never met each other let alone played as partners before the Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club Qualifying event for the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac but it emerged as an unbeatable combination as they secured a place in the inaugural International Pairs UAE National Final at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in May. Despite the fact that Holmes had to play the first hole solo, the duo ran out winners by a solitary point from Normita Demesa and Golden Kim.

9th April 2011

After 9 events without a husband-wife combination winning an International Pairs UAE Qualifier, the 10th and 11th events have seen just that. A day after Gerard & Agnes Letier-Lacaze won the Yas Links event in Abu Dhabi, Phil & Karen Mallinson of Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras al Khaimah also secured their passage to the UAE National Final in May. Just as the Yas Links winners did, the Mallinsons were last to tee off and in similar circumstances, came home to narrowly pip long-time clubhouse leaders Blair Smith and Hermes Frare.

9th April 2011

It took 10 Qualifying events but the 2010-11 Tech Access International Pairs UAE series finally Gerard & Agnes Letier-Lacaze saw its first husband-wife combination secure a place in the inaugural National Final to be played at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in May. Gerard & Agnes are the latest winners in the series as they claimed top honours at Yas Links Abu Dhabi by the narrowest of margins – by scorecard countback.

20 March 2011

A classy birdie-birdie finish saw the steady pairing of Jatinder Chopra and Rabih Sfeila claim a narrow victory in the latest Tech Access International Pairs UAE Qualifier. A full field of Emirates Golf Club members took to the Majlis, home of the Dubai Desert Classic, all with the aim of securing a berth in the inaugural International Pairs UAE National Final in May. Competition was always going to tough but in the end, Chopra and Sfeila's better-ball score of 43 stableford points gave them a one point edge over the father and daughter pairing of Gerry & Katy Rutherford.

13 March 2011

Once again, a scorecard countback was required to separate the top two teams in a Tech Access International Pairs UAE Qualifier, this time at the prestigious Els Club in Dubai.

When husband and wife pairing Mercedes Sheen & Mark Siddorn posted a formidable score of 41 stableford points in the better-ball format, it seemed unlikely to be matched until Kevin Black and George Goulay, playing in the final group completed their round with exactly the same score.

Evolution Golf headed up by Shivas Nath and Amit Nigam will be launching International Pairs, the world’s largest club competition, across India.

Satnam Kaur and Sandeep Singh completed several 'firsts' for the Tech Access International Pairs UAE Presented by Cadillac when they won the latest Qualifying Event at The Address Montgomerie Dubai on Saturday 8th January. Not only are they the first all-family pairing to claim a berth in the UAE National Final to be played at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in May but Satnam and Sandeep are the first lady and junior qualifiers in the inaugural series.

They will travel to Scotland next week to represent Vietnam for the first time in an International Pairs World Final.


Top Nationals are Mr Loc and Mr Tu

St. John’s, Antigua –August 17, 2010: The success of the 2009 INET International Pairs Golf Tournament has attracted several local businesses to partner with Golf Experience Caribbean (GEC) to make this year’s event even bigger.
And Zorol Barthely, CEO of GEC is very thankful for their confidence: “The last 12 months has seen major challenges for our economy, however, the local business community have responded in a very positive way and we have more official partners than last year.”

We welcome Vietnam for the first time this year into the International Pairs competition. Below are the official event dates for the Vietnam qualifying events and their poster to promote these events.