East Clare wins first Munster pennant

EAST Clare Golf Club travelled to Charleville last Saturday to contest the Munster semi-final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes. Lee Valley from Cork provided the opposition and following a very close contest, East Clare emerged victorious on a scorline of three and a half to one and a half. In the other semi-final, Tramore beat Tralee.
East Clare kept faith with the same line-up for the final in the afternoon and just as they had done in the morning, Mike Whelan and Margaret MacNamara won the first match out for East Clare. Next up were Barry Hurley and Brid Hayes and they were defeated on the 16th hole. Enda Donnellan and Mary Mannion kept up their good play from the morning and won their match on the 16th. Michael O’Hanlon and Peg Hanrahan, who had recorded a fine victory in the morning had to give best to their afternoon opponents and lost on the 16th hole.
This left the overall match at two games each and everything now rested on the final match.
Stephen Moloney and Heather Cullen were one down for East Clare standing on the 17th tee. Following a great drive at this par five hole, Heather hit a great second and Stephen pitched in close in three. Heather went on to sink the put for a birdie and a win.
Following two good drives down the 18th fairway by the ladies both men decided to lay up. Tramore were first to play their third shot and their lady landed the ball on the edge of the green about 40ft from the pin. Heather played a beautiful pitch to 20ft. Tramore’s put ran 4ft by and Stephen putted down to 18 inches. Tramore missed their putt and Heather was left with her putt to win the match and see East Clare crowned Munster champions.
East Clare now go forward to represent Munster in the All-Ireland semi-final in Athlone on September 1. If successful in the semi-final they will play the final on September 2.
On the domestic front, Patrick Hartnett (12) from Ballybunion won the intermediate scratch cup with an 83 gross from Kieran McNamara 917) on 85 and David Boyle (170 who also had 85.
Francis Moloney (11) won the men’s open singles with 38 points from Eric McNamara (4) who also scored 38 points.
In the ladies’ golfer-of-the-year competition, Breda O’Loughlin was the winner from Evelyn Skehan, while the category winners were Mairéad Toomey, Sue Casey and Pat Williams.
The winners of the Friday scramble were Ger Hogan, Sylvia Clancy and Bernie Cox from Jim Greene, Joan Kinsella and Geraldine McNamara. The ladies’ Wednesday competition was won by Hilda McHugh, Patricia Kerr, Hannah Guinnane and Noreen Ryan from Pauline Nugent, Mary Hayes and Vera Loughnane.

Lahinch
BRIAN Whitaker (6) won the Brud Slattery Memorial Trophy, a singles Stableford competition, with a score of 43 points. He was followed by Michael Cronin (9) with 42 points, Niall Naughton (17) with 41 points, Robert Browne (9) with 39 points, Brian McCarthy (4) with 39 points and Parry Mandal (17) with 38 points. Eddie Power won the gross with 40 points.
In the Clahane Cup, a ladies’ singles stroke competition, Suzanne Cagney (31) was the winner with 60 nett from Nance Casey (24) with 62 nett, Edel Banim (13) with 63 nett, Mary Gibson (14) with 63 nett and Mona Davis (21) with 65 nett. Valerie Hassett won the gross.
In the silver division, Olive Lucas (10) was the winner with 65 nett from Jenny Cagney (14) who also scored 65 nett and Ruth Connolly (18) with 66 nett.
Suzanne Hassett (27) won the bronze division with 66 nett from Helena Tiernan (25) on 66 and Lelia Palmer (26) who also scored 66 net.
The men’s fourball Stableford competition was won by Peter O’Loughlin (19) and Michael Sheedy (17) with 47 points from Niall Crowe (6) and John Wall (10) with 46 points.
In the ladies’ fourball on the Castle Course, Eadaoin Furey (23) and Trish Kelleher (26) were the winners with 44 points from Una McCarthy (16) and Michelle Carey (36) with 43 points. In third place with 41 points were Siobhán Conway (12) and Pat Ramsey (22) with 41 points.
Last Wednesday’s ladies’ fourball was won by Olivia Hayes (7) and Elayne Hickey (10) with 44 points from Michelle Carey (36) and Therese Conway (25) with 43 points with third place filled by Mary Sadlier (11) and Marie O’Connor (15) with 41 points.
Maccon Mac Namara (19) and Tom Holly (20) won the men’s competition with 41 points.
In the men’s singles v par for the Shaw Cup, James Byrne (16) won with two-up from Ger E O’Neill (14) with a similar score. Dan O’Donovan (10) was third with one-up followed by Michael Kearney (15) and Michael O’Loughlin (13) with a similar score while Tommy Malone won the gross with one-down.
Edwina O’Brien (26) won the Nora Slattery Memorial Trophy with 43 points from Rachel Maher (19) with 40 points and Mary Gibson (12) with 38 points, Pamela Morgan won the gross with 29 points.
In the silver division, Connie Fahy (19) was the winner with 39 points from Edel Banim (12) on 36 points and Sarah Brophy (11) with 36 points. The winner of the bronze division was Karina Doyle (25) with 38 points from Susie Cronin (34) with 36 points and Maureen Barry (29) with 34 points.
Gary (5) and Eric Lavelle (16) won the men’s fourball Stableford competition on the Castle Course with 47 points from Willie Moore (10) and Tom Greene (22 with 46 points.
The Dunally Cup, a ladies’ foursomes competition on Friday, was won by Eadaoin Furey (23) and Nicola Kenny (24) with 40 points from Rose (11) and Linda Doyle (16) with a similar score. Deirdre McDermott (18) and Una Cronin (19) were third with 36 points, while the gross was won by Pamela Morgan (8) and Ann Vaughan (13) with 36 points.
Gabriel Brennan (15) and Robert Kennedy (15) won the men’s fourball on Friday with 45 points.
On the same day, the Munster Cup, a men’s foursomes v par competition, was won by Cathal Crowe (12) and John Wall (10) with three-up from Mark O’Donoghue (8) and Harry Fehily (6) with two-up. In third spot with one-up were Joe Molony (12) and Kevin Cleary (12) followed by Tommy (3) and Paddy Malone (13) with one-up.
The winner of Saturday’s men’s singles Stableford competition was Darragh Mac Dermott (12) with 45 points from Kiran Sarma (15) with 44 and Richard Joyce (16) with 42. Paul O’Brien won the gross with 37 points.
The lady captain’s (Elaine Doyle) prize was played for on Sunday when the winner was Edwina O’Brien (23) with 42 points from Anne Vaughan (13) with 41 points. They were followed by Jean Basheer (18) with 39 points, Mary Powell (10) with 39 points, Rachel Maher (18) with 37 points. Una Moloney (33) who 37 points, Frances Wood (16) with 37 points. Lynn Slattery (21) with 37 points, Una Cronin (19) with 36 points and Pamela Morgan (8) with 36 points.
Eileen Rose Power won the gross with 34 points.
In the silver division, Nollie McCarthy (2) was the winner with 36 points from Jenny Hennessy (6) on 36 points with Aoibheann Berry (2) on 35 points and Kitty Morris (12) on 35 points.
The bronze division was won by Brenda Fitzgerald (21) with 36 points from Carmel Burke (24) with 35 points, Mary Meany (25) with 34 points and Imelda Gleeson (23) with 34 points.
Valerie Hassett (6) won the past captain’s prize with 35 points, while the 30 to 36 handicap prize went to Anne Regan (30) with 33 points. The nines were won by Mary O’Meara (12) with 21 points and Sarah Brophy (11) with 21 points. Una Higgins recorded a hole-in-one at the eighth hole.
The winner of the lady captain’s prize on the Castle Course was Eithne Kelly (31) from Miriam Staunton (28), Susan Grennell (36) Elizabeth McAleese (36). The nines were won by Margaret Keating (28) and Hilary Duggan (29). In the nine-hole competition, Chris Tinney (25) was the winner with 19 points.
Austin Kelly (15) and Mark Vaughan (19) won the men’s fourball Stableford competition on the Castle Course on Sunday with 41 points.
In the Moy Cup, Peter and Clare Fitzgerald were the winners from Ian and Lynn Slattery. The beaten semi-finalists were Shane and Chloe Duggan and Enda and Ruth Connolly while the leading qualifiers were Diarmuid and Jacinta Ó Síocháin.

Ennis
THE Cahercalla Cup was the attraction at Ennis on Sunday when Alph Duggan emerged as a comprehensive winner with 61 nett. He had six strokes to spare over Cyril Corry with Pádraig Sutton, also with 67, in third spot. Alan Butler won the gross with 74, while the category winners were Michael Kearney with 70, Morgan Lahiffe with 67 and Des Neylon with 67
In the team-of-four modified scramble on the final day of open week, the winners were Pat Barry, Colin Higgins, Eamonn Callinan and Niall McMahon with 106 points. They had one to spare over Kieran Fox, Tom Fox, Greg Fogarty and Patrick Shannon with third spot filled by Alan and Michael Butler, Colm McNevin and Sean O Gorman with 103 points.
The winner of the open week singles was David O’Connor with 43 points from John Blessington on 41, Colum Devine on 40 and Paul Lavin on 39 while Noel Whelan won the gross with 32 points.

Shannon
THE ladies’ competition at Shannon last week was an open team of four, which saw a quartet of Rose Doyle, Liz O’Sullivan, Jean Wason and Eileen Carey successful with 93 points. It was raining birdies for the ladies in their first nine in which they returned 53 points. Their return of 40 points on the inward nine was sufficient for victory.
The men’s Wednesday open singles saw Niall Hynds edge out Peter Hegarty by virtue of a better back nine both returning 42 points. Niall covered the opening nine in 20 points, his highlight being a birdie at the fifth. He then came home in three over for 22 points and 42 points in total. Peter recorded two nines of 21 points each with birdies at the third, eighth and 16th being the highlights. Danny Chaplin was third with 40 points, while it comes as no surprise that Ed Hickey won the gross with two under par 38 points.
The weekend hosted the men’s August Medal. With scoring high, a 66 nett was required to be in the prize winners’ enclosure. With all cards returned, Benny O’Shea was the winner returning a 65 nett. Benny was only two over gross after nine holes and his good form continued on the back nine. Benny’s 65 was good enough to beat Barry Fitzgerald, Alan Wallace, Kieran Keating and Maurice Hartery.
The club development classic takes place this weekend with a men’s open singles on Sunday. The lady vice-captain’s (Lynn Kelly) prize will be played for this weekend.

Kilkee
THE open singles played on Thursday at Kilkee was won by Aidan O’Dea (11) with a score of 41 points. In second place was Michael Mannix (18) with 39 points, with Michael Reidy (16) with 38 points in third spot.
The first ever Junior and Intermediate Scratch Cup competitions were held in Kilkee on Saturday. With nearly 150 players representing most clubs in the Mid-West Region, the standard was extremely high. The Junior Scratch Cup was sponsored by the Tuite family in memory of Eddie Tuite a very popular member of Limerick Golf Club and a founding member of the Millers’ Golf Society.
The winner was Craig Toomey (7) of Limerick Golf Club with a score of 73. In second place, on the back nine, was Eddie Costelloe (5) from Rathbane on 74 strokes and in third place was Gary Purtill (5) of Shannon. The best net score was produced by Barry Coffey (11) of Castletroy with 66 strokes.
The Intermediate Scratch Cup was won by Mike Ryan (13), a member of Kilkee but whose home club is Adare Manor. His score was 75 strokes with an incredible back nine that included an eagle on the 10th. and birdies on the 11th, 17th and 18th. In second place was captain, Pat Cronin with 77 strokes. Third place was won by Patrick Morrissey (12) of Castletroy with 77 strokes. Best net score on the day was brought in by Declan Griffin (13) of Kilkee with a 66.
An open singles was held on Sunday and in first place was Seamus Woods (18) with 45 points followed by Gerard Reynolds (18) with 41 points, and Kevin Cronin (16) with 40 points.
Lena O’Connor won the ladies’ singles last week with 43 points from Nancy McNamara (25) with a similar score. Therese Clancy (33) was third with 39 points.
In the Clancy Cup’s mixed foursomes matchplay, Ciarán Woods and Margaret Collins Smyth emerged as winners, beating Pat Haugh and Phil O’Brien in the final.

Dromoland
THE men’s captain’s (Willie Fitzgerald) prize to the ladies at Dromoland was won by Dorothy Brennan from Sheila Kent with Julie Fitzgerald in third spot followed by Julie Newman. The gross was won by Suzanne McConway. 
The ladies’ competition this week will be the Eileen Murphy foursomes and the tee is reserved at 2.30pm.
In the Senior Scratch Cup on Sunday, Mark Shanahan from West Waterford was the winner with rounds of 76 and 73. He had two to spare over Patrick Sheehy from Newcastle-West with third spot filled by Jamie O’Shea (Dromoland Castle) a shot further back, David Barry from Mahon was fourth with rounds of 74 and 80. Brian Shally from Dromoland Castle won the nett.
In the Junior Scratch Cup, Christy Murphy from West Waterford was the winner with 72 gross from Kevin Birmingham (Castletroy) on 73, Brian McMahon (Dromoland) on 74 and Sean Burns (Dromoland) on 76. Paul O’Brien (Dromoland) won the gross with 71.
Con Ryan was the winner of the monthly medal with 70 and, in the process, recorded a hole in one at the 197 yards par three ninth. He had one shot to spare from Tony Cleary with John Casey in third spot on 72. Frank O’Grady won the over 18 handicap category with 74 while the junior winner was Sean Shanahan with 75.
There will be a singles Stableford competition this weekend.

Spanish Point
THIS weekend will see the staging of the captain’s (Michael Hennessy) prize over Saturday and Sunday at Spanish Point. This will be played as singles stroke with 15 best scores and ties qualifying for a nine-hole play-off on Sunday evening at 6pm. The presentation of prizes and party is scheduled to take place at 9.30pm and the timesheet is available in the clubhouse.
All competitions continue to be well supported and despite the indifferent weather, scoring is good, which reflects the great condition of the course. The seniors’ open last week was won by John O’Sullivan (18) with 41 points from John Moore (15) with 35 points. Over 40 people played in the Thursday open and the winner was Brendan McCarthy (12) with 37 points from Jack Brennan (15) East Clare on 36 points and Cathal Whelan (6) with 27 points. Friday’s open team scramble over nine holes was won by Seamus McMahon (11), Tom O’Brien Kelly (17), Fred Haptonstal (15) and Geraldine Reddan (25) with five-under gross.
The competition for last weekend was a team rumble and was won by, Donal Burke (20), Gerry Gallagher (22), Pat Downes (18) and Michael Thorne (23) with 70 points.
In the ladies’ section, Clare McNamara was winner of the stroke competition with a score of 70 nett. The winners of the lady captain’s charity day were Val Ross, Evelyn Kelly and Karen White. Della Malone was the winner of the Londis open day with a score of 43 points.

Gort
IN the men’s open 18-hole singles Stableford competition at Gort at the weekend, the winner with 41 points was Ryan Boyle from Brian Cashman from the Ring of Kerry with a similar score. Adrian Burke was third with 40 points followed by Martin Callanin with 39 points. Colman Cooney won the gross with 36 points.
Last week’s Monday open was won by Kieran Cullinane with 43 points from Michael Greally on 39 points, Aidan O’Donnell with 39 points and Kieran Reddy with 39 points. The gross was won by Tony Finnegan with 31 points.
Open week continues until this Sunday. The president’s (John Murray) prize will be played for on August 20 and 21.
In the ladies’ competition last week, Ann Kerins was the winner with 68 from Siobhán O’Connor with 73 and Brenda Morrissey with 73 with the gross won by Maura Hanrahan on 87.
The open singles last Monday was won by Margaret O’Sullivan (Castletroy) with 42 points from Gabrielle Warnock on 38 and Ann Marie Cradock on 37.

Kilrush
THE bank holiday fourball at Kilrush was won by Gerard (15) (senior) and Gearóid Kelly (7) with 47 points from Kieran Lillis (16) and Pakie O’Dea (14) with 45 points. Third spot was filled by Tony (16) and Finbarr McMahon (14) with 45 points.
Last Tuesday’s singles was won by Noel Kilkenny (18) with 39 points from Jimmy McSwiggan (13) with 38 points and PW Glynn (21) with 37 points.
The winner of Wednesday’s singles was Tom Coffey (13) with 43 points from John Robinson (23) with 42 points ands PG Glynn (16) with 38 points.
Ger Ryan (16) won the singles Stableford competition on Thursday with 37 points from John McGrath (16) with 26 points.
The Howard Trophy was on offer for the mixed competition on Friday when the winners were Gay Looney and Maeve Murphy with 58.5 from Billy and Ann Coen on 59.5 with third spot filled by Finbarr McMahon and Ailish Lorrigan on 61. Greg Young and Niamh Whelan won the gross with 72.
The team-of-four club fundraiser on Saturday was won by Tom Prendeville, Ollie McNamara, Tomas Prendeville and Mick Hemmings with 102 points. In second place with 101 points were Denis Hassett, Kieran Quinn, Declan Marrinan and Michael Miniter. In third spot with 96 points were Dolores Reidy, Muriel Kiely, Patricia Keane and Mike Giles.
The Hospital Cup was the competition on Sunday when the winner was  Tom Coffey (12) with 42 points from Pat Murtagh (11) with 41 points. In third spot with 40 points was Gerry Rigney (18) followed by Larry Byrne (20 ) with 40 points.
The winners of the ladies’ open fourball last Thursday were Ailish Lorigan (16) and Liz Blake (18) with 41 points from Maura Mulcahy (2) and Ann Uí Nuallain (34) with a similar score. In thrid spot on 38 points were Ann Brennan (10) and Kathleen O’Brien (25).
Pakie O Dea, fresh from his win in the captain’s prize, scored a hole in one at the eighth on Bank Holiday Monday and that was followed on Tuesday by Scottish golfer, Paul Gray from Cathcart Castle Golf Club who had a hole in one at the 17th hole.
There will be a past captains’ outing this Sunday at 2pm where captains past and present will get together for a team-of-three competition.
This Friday, Kilrush will host the Paddy and Cecil Reid 12-hole mixed with the draw at 6pm sharp. It will be followed by a barbecue.
The ESB Inaugural Cup will be played for on this Sunday.

Portumna
THE men’s 18-hole singles stroke on Sunday was won by Declan O Connell (18) with 67 nett, from Alan Pardy (25) with 68 nett. In third spot was Frank Ryan (13) 69,
John O’Brien (7) won the gross with with 76 from Frank Kilkenny (10) 69 nett.
The team-of-three better ball will be the competition this Sunday.
Inesa O’Gallagher won the 18-hole stroke with 67 from Marie Kelly with 73 and Una Foley with 73.
Carmel Cunningham, Ann Fahy and Brid Kelly won the open three-ball betterball with 58 points from Mary M Madden, Mary McElroy and Audrey McGrath with 58 points. In third spot with 56 points were Ann S Carty, Mary Jo Kelly and Mary Conwell. 
Lady captain, Lillian Austin La’s prize will be played for this Saturday with dinner in the clubhouse that evening.
Lillian is running a nine-hole competition for men until Friday.
Gents’ and ladies’ three-person team nine-hole rumble for Crumlin Hospital continues until August 28.
Portumna are hosting an open men’s and ladies’ left-handed competition this Friday.
The junior section of Portumna held a Junior Open last Thursday, which attracted an entry of 76 from neighbouring clubs Curra West, East Clare, Birr, Loughrea.
The winners were U-13 Gavin Dervan with 44 points, U-15 Niall Moloney with 40 points, U-18 Jamie Conboy with 43 points and gross Shane McHugo with 41 points.

Woodstock
KEITH Farr (6) was the winner of the singles competition at Woodstock at the weekend with 40 points from Martin Dormer (19) who had a similar score. Jim Carmody (8) was in third spot with 39 points.
The Wednesday singles was won by Conor Brennan (5) with 39 points from Colin Heaslip (14) with a similar score. Kieran Cunnane won the gross with 70.
The winner of the Bank Holiday Monday competition was Simon O’Neill (13) with 47 points from John O’Connor (11) with 45 points and Rory Callinan (13) with 41 points.

Clarecastle
CLARECASTLE will hold its next outing at Shannon on Thursday, August 18. The first tee has been reserved from 2pm and members and guests intending to play should text 086 3246015 with their preferred tee time.

Sixmilebridge
SIXMILEBRIDGE Society will have their next outing to Charleville this Saturday when the tee will be available from 11am to 12 noon.

Pascal O’Brien Memorial
THE 11th running of the Pascal O’Brien Memorial Day at Ennis Golf Club will take place on September 3. This will be an 18-hole singles competition and all monies raised go to local charities.
The Pascal O’Brien Memorial award can only be won by a native of the old Mill Street, Drumbiggle, Cormnarket, Hermitage or Cloughleigh areas or their families.
There will be categories for Ennis members and for guests and the presentation of prizes will take place in the clubhouse at 9.30pm. A timesheet is in operation and details are available from Patrick Murphy (085 1528858)  or Michael O’Loughlin (086 8148414).

Doonbeg
DOONBEG Golf Society held an outing to Kilrush last week when the men’s section was won by Gay Looney with 39 points from Pakie O’Dea on 38, Michael Horgan on 38 and Seanie Moloney on 36; Timmy Killeen won the long drive and Michael Studdert won the guests’ section.
Liz Blake was the winner of the ladies’ section from Veron O’Connor and Geraldine Burke. Mary O’Sullivan won the long drive.

Pitch and Putt
AT the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday, the three-ball scramble was won by Noel Cuddihy, Denis McElligott and Gabriel Kerin.
The county board matchplay competition will take place this Sunday, while the captain’s (Tony Clancy) competition will be on Sunday week, August 21.