Mountain man Ciaran McMonagle sent out an urgent reminder to tournament organisers this week ­ I'm still alive!

The Donegal battler doesn't want to become Ireland's forgotten pro before he's even started.

Irish Close champion in 1999 and South African strokeplay champion two years ago, he turned to the paid ranks last year with high hopes after turning his back on the Walker Cup squad.

Isolated in Donegal with no tour card, McMonagle might be frustrated and impatient, but he's not giving up.

He admits that although he isn't as special as his ex-Ireland team mates Michael Hoey and Graeme McDowell, he has enough heart to go all the way.

"What I don't have in talent I make up for in determination," he said. "That's the way I am. I won an Irish Close title simply because I wanted it badly ­ pure determination. There are better players, better swingers out there but hopefully determination and a little talent will see me through the pro game."

Unable to play on the Irish PGA circuit because he hasn't served a long club apprenticeship, the 26 year old has had to trek to South Africa and Florida over the past six months just to keep his game in shape.

He even worked on a New York building site last year to finance some warm weather competition in Florida before Christmas.

Said Ciaran: "I was going back to America again in April to try for the Canadian tour qualifying but didn't go because I got a surprise invitation into the Tessali Open in Italy.

"It was a Challenge Tour event so I stayed in Europe, went to Italy and finished 19th. So here I am up here in the Derryveagh mountains, waiting for the mobile to ring."

McMonagle's home course of Dunfanaghy is a superb links where Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley come to practice in peace.

But for McMonagle the problem is that it's 170 miles from Dublin and out of the loop.

Without a Tour card of any kind, he's relying on Challenge Tour invitations to the to help him gain some sort of tour status.

"The toughest thing isn't the actually playing of the game itself," he confessed. "It's just getting into tournaments. As an amateur you are sent to all over the world but as a pro you have to beg to get into a tournaments until you get established.

"My game has improved a lot now I just want the opportunity to play but I haven't played for over a month so it's tough to stay sharp."

McMonagle's prayers were answered with an invite to the lowly ¤90,000 Galeria Kaufhof Pokal Challenge at Rittergut Birkhof GC next week.

"I nearly need to win it ­ or get a top ten ­ to get a category and play the following week," he admitted. "Hopefully I can take advantage of the opportunity anyway.

"It had six weeks of solid golf on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, which was great. Just to be with the other guys, to feel part of the scene and to play six weeks in a row was wonderful."

So far McMonagle has made just ¤1,800 in prize-money but he feels that he can make a living if he can get a few starts.

"I've put a lot of effort into my golf. Okay, I've tried the tour school twice and missed out but the first time was when I was an amateur and then last year I played a lot better but missed by three. But I'm a better player since Christmas and South Africa boosted my confidence because I realised that that I can beat these guys.

"Without a card I don't expect anyone to sponsor me and I'm not crying about that. I got a ¤7,000 grant from the government which is a help but for the moment I'm just sending out my CV trying to get into tournaments."

McMonagle now admits that he may have made a mistake in dropping the Walker Cup squad place to turn pro.

"Maybe I should have waited but I just wanted to get stuck in to the pro game. Who's going to pay the bills when you're paying amateur golf? I just couldn't hang around. I had to try and make it."

With that kind of attitude McMonagle is surely in the right road.

As a famous English statesman once said: "Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it."

Murphy's Former Ryder Cup hero Philip Walton could miss this year's Murphys Irish Open.

Graeme McDowell looks likely to pick up one the two remaining sponsor's invitations which means Walton, Gary Murphy, Stephen Browne and Eamonn Brady will have to wait sweat it out.

Michael Hoey, Richie Coughlan, Eamonn Darcy, Raul Ballesteros, Emanuele Canonica, Fred Funk and English amateur Farren Keenan have all been invited so far.

The Golfing Union of Ireland will also nominate two amateurs.

Doonbeg Only 750 lucky fans will get to see next month's exhibition between Padraig Harrington and Greg Norman at Doonbeg.

The Dubliner and the Shark will play a match to officially open the Aussie's spectacular Co Clare design on July 9.

The course is located in an environmentally sensitive area and numbers are being restricted to prevent damage to the unique wildlife.

Ladies Ireland's top women golfers have a problem for the Lancôme Irish Ladies Close championship at Little Island club ­ there are no beds!

The number one amateur event for women clashes with the Murphys Irish Open at Fota Island and competitors are finding it difficult to get accommodation.

The women play Cork Golf Club from June 25 - 29 June as the top pros take on Fota Island just four miles down the road from June 27-30.

McDowell Hot talent Graeme McDowell flies back to Ireland today (Sat) to decide his future.

The Rathmore man finished tied for a magnificent fourth in the NCAA championships last weekend.

He immediately headed for the Callaway HQ in California to have a new set of clubs custom fitted, promptly rumours the he will turn pro next week.

Agents IMG and Chubby Chandler's ISM group are vying for McDowell's signature, but the 22 year old is carefully weighing up his options.

Ireland Rule

It's official - Ireland's girls in green are amongst the tops in World amateur golf.

Alison Coffey, Rebecca Coakley and Tricia Mangan won the team event in the prestigious St Rule Trophy at St Andrews for the first time last week.

The finished four shots ahead of hosts Scotland with Coffey second in the individual

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© Brian Keogh 2002

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