Athlone's Fayne takes GUI reins

KILTOOM native Eugene Fayne has been elected as new president of the Golf Union of Ireland (GUI). The 40-year-old, a stalwart of Athlone Golf Club, takes over the reins from outgoing union president, Adare's Sean McMahon, and his appointment was finalised at the union's Annual General Meeting in Kildare last Friday. Fayne joined Athlone Golf Club in 1970 and over the years served as captain in 1988 and president in 1979. He joined the Connacht Branch in 1990 before becoming chairman in 2005 and president-elect in 2009. The South Roscommon man will no doubt be looking forward to welcoming the GUI Irish Mixed Foursomes Championship to his home-club at Athlone later this year, and as part of his responsibilities, Eugene will also be representing the GUI at some of the world's most major golfing tournaments this year, including the British Open and US Masters. Already, Eugene has outlined several of his goals for the coming year, and they include further enhancing Ireland's image as one of Europe's strongest golfing nations, and to also promote and protect the best interests of amateur golf in Ireland.