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Golf

Dan Brooks, the renowned head of women's golf at Duke University, North Carolina, is set to sign Ballyconnell twins Leona and Lisa Maguire, writes Tony McGee. "Lisa and Leona have been stars on the European scene for several years," says Brooks. "Both have played in Curtis Cups already. They are hard workers, in the classroom and in golf and it's clear to me that they want the whole package, a degree from Duke, a chance to develop their games individually, and a great team experience. I can't wait for them to join us."

The teenage sisters will enter Duke with a very impressive international CV. Leona is a winner of 20 amateur titles and has already played in the 2010 and 2012 Curtis Cup Matches, as a member of the Great Britain & Ireland squad. Lisa is a two-time member of the European Junior Solheim Cup team (2009 and 2011), played on the GB&I Curtis Cup squad in 2010 and was the 2011 European and Spanish Ladies' Amateur champion.

* LISBURN club member Paula Grant has been named as the Women's Amateur of the Year by the Irish Golf Writers' Association and will join the other winners, Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley and Robbie Cannon, at the Carr Group-sponsored annual presentation function in March, writes Tony McGee.

Among other notable performances during 2013, Grant won the Irish Close title with a 19th hole victory over Lisa Maguire and was runner-up, just one stroke back, to England's Meghan Maclaren in the Ladies' Irish Open.

McDowell was a multiple winner last year, capturing the RBC Heritage tournament on the PGA Tour, the Volvo World Matchplay championship and the French Open.

It was a historic year for Paul McGinley as he became the first Irishman to be elected captain of Europe's ryder Cup team and the Dubliner will be the recipient of the Distinguished Services to Golf award.

Balbriggan's robbie Cannon showed his skill to claim the Irish Amateur Open championship at royal Dublin.

A career amateur, Cannon (34) beat defending champion and Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan and Scotland's Graeme robertson in a play-off to claim the coveted trophy.

The recipients will receive their awards at a presentation dinner at Portmarnock Golf Club on March 4.