Ennis crowned All-Ireland champions

ENNIS were crowned All-Ireland JB Carr champions at Woodenbridge on Sunday when they defeated Galway Golf Club in the final. In Saturday’s semi-final they defeated the Leinster champions, the Island. Both matches were won on three and two scorelines.
A huge crowd from Ennis made the trip to the scenic Wicklow venue for the weekend’s matches and the victory sparked off huge celebrations which continued at the Ennis club on Monday night when the winning team was given a heroes’ welcome on their return.
In Saturday’s semi-final, Ennis accounted for the Leinster champions, the Island with Noel Pyne and Paddy Cahill, Paul Higgins and Seán O’Gorman, Tony Kehoe and Matt Flynn the winning pairings. Luke Coote/Larry O’Farrelly, Eamonn Corry and John Finn were both beaten.
Team manager Jimmy McNamara opted for an unchanged team for Sunday’s final against Galway. This was a nail-biting affair with the outcome decided on the 19th hole where Noel Pyne and Paddy Cahill won their match with a par. Pyne hit a magnificent drive and Cahill then put them on the green with a great second shot. Pyne’s putt guaranteed the par which sparked off the celebrations. Luke Coote/Larry O’Farrelly, Eamonn Corry/John Finn were the other pairings to win on Sunday.
It is interesting to note that all five Ennis pairings failed to get a par at the first hole until Pyne and Cahill struck at the all important first tie hole.
“It was a magnificent win in a very tight match. It is our first time to win the title and its tremendous for the club,” commented Jimmy McNamara after the success.
“We played nine rounds to win the title and this involved 45 matches, 30 of which we won,” he added.
All four teams attended a banquet in the clubhouse on Sunday night when the Ennis team was joined by club president Vera Madden, men’s captain Pádraig Ryan and seniors captain, Pat O’Reilly.

Woodstock

RORY Callinan won the Wednesday open singles at Woodstock last week with 43 points from Adrian Kearney on 42.
Sunday’s 18-hole singles Stableford competition was won by Marianne McGough with 27 points.
The ladies’ masters final will take place on this Sunday from 12 noon and will be followed by an 18-hole Stableford competition.
The nine ladies who have qualified for the masters final are Bernie Power, Mary Sadlier, Joan Barrett, Jenny McElhinney, Patricia Graham, Fran Feighery, Teresa Sherlock, Marianne McGough and Mairead Carroll. The format will be 18-hole stroke.
In the men’s medal competition on Sunday, the winner was Brian Aherne (6) from John McGrath (11), both with 66 nett with Anthony Sweeney (4) in third spot on 67.
There will be a singles Stableford competition this weekend.

Ennis

IN the ladies’ section, the winners of the Gaity Cup were Geraldine O’Mahony, Noreen Doohan and Jo Dilger with 73 from Jean Moloney, Suzanne Deane and Pat Ramsey on 71.
Mary O’Halloran won the Friday open singles with 32 points from Etna Murphy on 28.
In the ladies’ seniors’ competition, the winners were Mary Colton, Geraldine O’Mahony and Jean Considine with 47 from Mary Glynn, Vera Byrne and Susan O’Brien with 48. In third spot with 50 were Pat Leacy, Brid Kelly and Mary Leahy with 50.

Kilrush

KILRUSH lady members last week played for the ESB Cup and the winner was Mary Bolton (24) with 40 points from Dolores Reidy (22) with 39 and Ailish Lorigan (15) with 37.
The category winners were Imy Kerrigan (15) with 32 points, Deborah Glynn (28) with 36 points and Lucy Blake (35) with 34 points.
In the seniors’ section, the John McNamara MemorialTrophy was played for and the winners were Denis Nagle; Michael Carrig and Marian Roche with 34.89. In second place were Murt Collins; Kitty Flynn and Oliver McNamara with 34.89 followed by John Donnelly; Imy Kerrigan and Muriel Kiely with 36.33. In fourth spot with 37.75 were Tom Clarke; Pauline Morrissey; Lucy Blake and Tom O’Dea.

Spanish Point

WITH all the main summer competitions now decided, the remaining prize to be decided is the Golfer of the Year for 2010. Next week-end, the final singles in the series is scheduled and at this stage, Tom Mernagh, playing off five handicap, is in a commanding position to add this year’s title to his two previous wins, which is a measure of his consistency as his wins have all been off that handicap or lower.
Last Friday night, the very popular Friday evening team scramble played over nine holes came to an end and the winners were Eoghan O’Loughlin (5), Noel McMahon (18) and Pat Keane (18) with a score of 6 under gross which included an eagle two at the par four second hole. Time-sheets for the weekend are in the clubhouse (065 7084198).
The popular Clare/Galway Seniors Winter League is scheduled to start shortly and the opening round is fixed for Woodstock on Thursday, September 30. In addition to the normal singles competition, the committee are introducing a team event and Spanish Point are invited to enter. Each team comprises six members with the two best scores on the day to count for the overall team prize. Those interested in playing should contact Mike Hennessy 086 8112877.
Evelyn Kelly was the winner of the masters competition with a score of 35 points. Della Malone was in second place with a similar score with Maura Burke third with 33 points. Dot Bolster, Della Malone and Val Shannon won the three-ball scramble last weekend. The Christmas hamper competition will take place this Sunday.

Pascal O’Brien Memorial

THERE was a huge turnout for the Pascal O’Brien Memorial last Saturday in Ennis. The winner of the singles competition was Cyril Corry with 38 points from Gerry Gilligan on a similar score. Brid Cunningham was third with 37 points followed by Seamus McEnery on 37 and Paul Coote on 37.
In the team-of-three competition, the winners with 86 points were Stephen Keane, Brian O’Gorman and Declan Conway followed by
Seamus Bowe, Gerry Gilligan and Leo Herbert with 83 points. In third place were Bernard, Ger Hanrahan and Joe Hanrahan with 83 points followed by Des, Ritchie and Brendan Neylon with 83 points.
Eamonn Fennessy had a hole-in-one at the second while Alan Neville won the long drive with Michael O’Reilly winning the prize for nearest the pin.

Shannon

THE open parent-and-child competition saw father and daughter, Michael and Jordan Hickey, victorious when they returned 49 points to win by five from John and Ben O’Gorman on 44. They just edged out Liam and Aidan Moloney into third place by virtue of a better back nine. Liam and David O’Gorman captured fourth place from visitors Tim and James McNamara from East Clare, both returning 42 points.
The Wednesday open singles saw John McCormack capture the spoils with 46 points. The highlight of John’s opening nine was a birdie at the first, which saw him turn with 23 points. A further birdie followed at the 17th, which saw him home in 23 points. John had three points to spare from Ray Ryan. Vincent Hodge was third by virtue of his back nine on 41 points. The gross was captured by visitor Seán Alley from Nenagh with 36 points.
Last weekend’s mens competition was The Special Voucher which saw Joe Walsh victorious with 42 points. Despite a double bogey at the second, Joe was out in one over par for 22 points with back to back birdies at the sixth and seventh being the highlight. A steady back nine yielded 20 points for a grand total of 42 points to win by one shot from Alan Dunlea who edged out John Kelly by virtue of a better back nine. The gross was won by Ed Hickey with 34 points while a trio of Aidan Mannix, Vincent Hodge and Michael Cummins occupied fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, all having returned 40 points.
The ladies’ final major of the year, their masters, was played for last Saturday over 36 holes. At the end of a long day, Rose Doyle, despite trailing by three shots after the first round, had nine shots to spare at the finish with a best of the day of 69 nett in the second round for a total of 144 nett. In second place was Sheila Forde on 153 nett, while Naoimh McMahon won the gross with 176.
First-round leader, Ann Casey, was third with 154 nett with Mary Carroll fourth on 157 nett. Connie Corry captured the first 18 with 75 nett strengthening her hold on the golfer of the year, which she duly won by three shots from the fast-finishing Rose Doyle. Lady captain Marie Hogan won best second 18 with 71 nett.
There will be a men’s scotch foursomes this weekend as well as an open mixed foursomes.

Dromoland

PAUL Cusack was the winner of the weekend singles competition at Dromoland with 40 points from Seamus McEnery on 39 and Brian Shally on 38 points. Frank Travers won the over 18 category with 33 points while the winner of the junior section was Aaron Duggan with 41 points. There will be a singles competition this weekend.

Portumna

IN the men’s 18-hole singles Stableford competition at Portumna on Sunday, Pat Quinlan (8) was the winner with 43 points from Denis Molloy (20) on 42 points and David Burke (16) on 41 points. Seán Cleary (3) won the gross with 36 points while the seniors’ section was won by Liam Horan (18) with 36 points.
The Autumn Trophy, a men’s golfer-of-the-year competition, will be the attraction this week while the autumn ladies’ league will also take place.
Ann Cassidy won the ladies’ 18-hole stroke competition on Sunday with 69 from Eileen Purcell on 72 and Mary Browne on 73.
In the Monday open, Jackie McHugh (25) from East Clare was the winner with 43 points form Mike Kiely (17) on 38 points and Noel Tierney (10) on 38. John Harte (6) won the gross with 31 points. 
The three-ball rumble for Crumlin played at Portumna during the month of August was won by Mary and Rocky Madden and Mary McDonagh who went to Lough Erne last week to play in the All-Ireland section. They won it quite convincingly, scoring 15 strokes/points ahead of their nearest challenger. Mary McElroy stepped in for Mary McDonagh who wasn’t available on the day.

Gort

MICHAEL Whelan and Anthony Thompson were the winner of the 18-hole four-ball at Gort at the weekend with 45 points. Barry Heaney and Coley Smyth were second with 43 points followed by Colman Cooney and Pádraig Linnane on 42 points.
David Quirke scored a hole in one at the 13th.
In last week’s open singles, Paddy O’Dea was the winner with 40 points from Ronan O’Dea on 39 points.
The winner of the ladies’ singles for the Rockfield Cup was Ruth Naughton with 42 points from Patricia Skehill on 37. In the Monday open singles, the winner was Siobhán O’Connor with 40 points.
There will be an 18-hole singles Stableford competition for men and ladies this weekend.

Clare Teachers

THE Clare Teachers Society held the first outing of the new season on Saturday last to Gort where the winner was Joe Griffin with 38 points from Seamus Frehill on 37 and Seán Daly on 36. The category winners were Pat McNamara, Michael Drew and Betty O’Riordan, each with 34 points while the nines were won by James Meade and Michael Cummins, with 18 points each.
The society’s next outing will be to Portumna on Saturday, October 2 and members wishing to get on the timesheet are asked to contact Sean at 065 6740407.

Beagh

MEMBERS of the Beagh Society played for their president’s (Ray Quinn) prize at Gort last week when Brendan Gantley was the winner with 42 points from Pat Fahy on 42 and PJ McAllen, who also had 42 points.

Lahinch

THE men’s singles Stableford competition at Lahinch last Sunday was won by John Wall (11) with 38 points from Don Kenny (17) with 35 points and Myles Gallivan (12) with 35  points. Gary Lavelle won the gross with 30 points.
In the men’s singles stroke monthly medal competition on Saturday, Thomas Benn (6) was the winner from Ger Maher(4)  with Thomas Neenan (1) in third spot and all three returned 71 nett scores.
Last Thursday’s open singles was won by Kevin McGrath (5) with 36 points from Barry Power (10) on 34 points.
In last week’s ladies singles v par competition, Val Shannon (7) won with three-up from Olivia Hayes (6) on two-up.

Corofin

THE Corofin Society will hold their premier event at Gort this Saturday. Pat Curtis’ captain’s prize is expected to attract a big turn-out of members and guests. There are no fewer than 13 prizes on offer under several categories and all of these will be keenly contested. The prize-giving ceremony will take place following the Captain’s Barbecue Dinner which is scheduled for Teach Uí Dalaigh on Saturday night from 8pm. The tee is reserved for the competition at Gort from 9.30am on Saturday.

Sixmilebridge

THE Sixmilebridge Society captain’s prize (Ed Crowe) was played last Saturday in Ballykisteen when John Nihill emerged as the winner with 36 points from Willie Feely on a similar score. Jackie Conlon was third with 36 points followed by Eamonn Healy on 35 points. Marvin Fraser won the long drive while David Purcell won the prize for nearest the pin.

Sean T Society

THE next outing for the Seán T Golf will be on Sunday, September 26 in Shannon Tee off time is 10.30am.

Pitch and putt

NOEL Cuddihy and Paddy Sheedy won the two-ball scramble at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday.
The Mary O’Connell Memorial Cup will be played for at the venue on this Saturday with the tee time at 5pm.