IN ANY career sport or pastime, one of the greatest achievements anyone can rise to is to play for your country in an international competition. Quite incredibly a week ago that honour was bestowed on me when I was asked by the Australian Golf Writers Association executive to represent Australia at the 2009 International Media Masters tournament in Ireland next month. The event will be played at the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course at Killeen Castle in County Meath about 40 minutes from Dublin from the 11-15 May.

Killeen Castle will be the host club for the 2011 Solheim Cup, which is played between women’s teams from Europe and the United States. Not only was I asked to play, but I was also named as captain of the two-man Australian team and to say that I am over the moon at this honour would have to be the understatement of the year. Graeme Ryan, the managing director of Ryan Publishing here, will accompany me in Melbourne and we are determined to do well as the tournament, which is conducted every two years has been won on the last three occasions by Australian teams. There will be a lot practice required before we leave for the Emerald Isle but hopefully it will be worthwhile in the long run.

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WITH no Victorian Golf Association pennant last Sunday owing to the Easter break it seems an appropriate time to look at where some of our local teams are. With only three rounds to go several are going to be promoted and others seem destined for relegation. In Division Two, Northern is sitting at number three and with some strong results in the next three rounds they may find themselves in the top section next year.

Kooringal are sitting in fourth spot and are also a possibility to be promoted but they will have to win every game comfortably from here. Gisborne has struggled in Division Two and they seemed destined to slip back a section for the 2010 season.

In Division Three, Melton Valley is in seventh position out of the eight clubs and they too might be relegated for next year. Sanctuary Lakes, who are on top of Division Four undefeated, look a certainty to play in Division Three in 2010 and with only three rounds left and one a home game, their promotion seems assured.

In that same division Sunshine are four, Medway are fifth and Goonawarra are sixth and those three will need to consolidate to avoid going back to Division Five next season.

Gisborne and Sanctuary Lakes who are first and second respectively in Division Three seem destined to step up a division at the end of the season. Both teams will meet next weekend at Peninsula in Frankston.

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ONE senior pennant captain did not do his club or himself any favours recently with his petulant display of foul language and club throwing when things did not go his way. What he has to learn is that it is only a game. A very senior person in amateur golf was nearby and so too was a lady supporter from his club when he let fly on both occasions with his mouth and his throwing arm and from what I was told it was not good to see.

The official that saw him was thinking of taking the matter before the VGA; he was that upset and who could blame him? The club should have words with the culprit and counsel him. Efforts like this can only do harm to the game and all concerned.

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THE 2009 Women’s Golf Victoria pennant season has begun and this week (17 April) Sunshine will host Section Three where the home side will meet Keysborough. Werribee Park will host Section Seven on Friday also and they will meet neighbours Kooringal with Sunshine playing against Cheltenham. Kooringal will play host on 24 April with Sunshine the hosts on 15 May. Medway will host the teams in Section Nine on Friday with the home team having the bye and Kooringal meeting Chirnside Park.

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YOU had to feel sorry for Sanctuary Lakes pennant player Travis Sharpe over the Easter weekend. He made the journey to Alice Springs to play in the Australian Boys Amateur Championship and after leading the field by three strokes at the completion of two rounds; he was disqualified at the completion of round three for taking what was ruled to be an incorrect drop. It was a shame that he had to finish off that way but the hard learned lesson is, if you are not sure about the interpretation of a rule; seek a ruling from a rules official first.

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IF YOU have any news or information about your club or individuals golf exploits, I can be reached at 9749 2481 phone/fax, 0409 381 192 or by email beggolf@optusnet.com.au

www.sanctuarylakes.com.au