Foley and McInerney tie in Mid-West Alliance competition

In last Sunday’s outing of the Mid-West Alliance Dave Foley and Seamus McEnery, both Dromoland, tied with 71.

There was also a tie for second place between Pat Murray, Limerick and Martin Ward of P and M Golf with 72 each. Richard Leonard won the nett with 69 from Donncadh Nagle, Kilrush on 70.
The competition was founded in 1964 with the objective of helping low handicappers to remain ‘sharp’ during the winter months.
From the start, the Alliance was confined to single-figure handicaps. Limerick golf club’s senior cup player, Gary Geary assisted by Billy Rice and the late, Derry Culligan of Ennis were the prime movers behind the Alliance and its success was largely due to them and later Ivan Morris, who ran the Alliance for 20 years beginning in 1970.
Competitors came from as far away as Galway, Cork and Kerry. Ivan Morris, then a schoolboy, won the first outing with a 76 playing off 4. The Alliance began with four outings but as its popularity grew it expanded to six outings and was invited to play at Ballybunion and Killarney. Professional golfers were always welcome competitors in the early days.
Ray Hennessy from Ennis and Martin Barrett Lahinch took over as organisers in the ’90s followed by Bob Loftus from Ennis.
As a teenager, Christy O’Connor Junior won his first ever cheque, the princely sum of £6, in the Alliance, a few weeks after he turned professional in 1970.

Woodstock
Rory Kennedy was the winner of the weekly seniors competition, played over 12 holes, at Woodstock last week with a score of 25 points. The previous week’s winner was Richard Pyne with 30 points.
In the weekend’s singles competition, Seamus Kelly (15) was the winner with 36 points from Declan Rigney (18) with 35 points. There will be a club singles this week while the draw for the winter league will be made on Sunday night.

Ennis seniors
Eighty three members played in the Ennis seniors team-of-three competition last Thursday when the winners were Tom Neville, James Ball and Paul Higgins with 56 points from Tim McAllister, Seamus D’Arcy and Michael Culliney with 53 points. In third spot with 52 points were Johnny Cullinan, Luke Coote and Ollie Kenneally.

Gort
The weekend’s singles Stableford competition at Gort was won by Martin Flaherty with 43 points from Shane Keane who had a similar score. In third spot was John Tierney, also with 43 points while Tom Diviney won the gross with 35 points.
Monday’s open singles was won by Kevin Lally with 43 points. There will be another singles competition this weekend while the weekly open will continue on Monday. The ladies spring league is ongoing.

Shannon
The men’s Wednesday singles at Shannon saw Liam Alford capture the spoils with 38 points. Liam had one point to spare from Gavin Meehan.
The men’s winter league first round has been completed. Every member who played has been allocated to a team. The second round is scheduled for this weekend.
The annual poker classic goes ahead this Sunday at 5.30pm.
An open team of four fundraiser in aid of Milford Hospice in memory of Bill O’Shea will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March, 4, 5 and 6. All proceeds raised will go to Milford Hospice.

Ennis
In the ladies seniors scramble at Ennis last week the winners with 36 were Claire Ruane, Kathleen Frehill and Joan Murphy. They had one to spare over Susan O’Brien, Nuala D’Auria and Mary Glynn. In third place were Jean Considine, Pauline Parks and Catherine Holland followed by Mary McMahon, Alice Darcy and Vera Madden.
In the club scramble on Saturday, Berna Connolly, Leo Herbert and Bill Lacey won with 42.5 points from Sean O’Gorman, Derry Nalty and George Dilger with 45.5 points. In third spot with 46.5 were Geraldine Downey, Eddie Glenny and Gerry Gilligan.

East Clare
In the men’s 14-hole singles at East Clare on Sunday, Pat McKenna (11) was the winner with 35 points from Tony McNulty (15) with 31 points.
The winners in the men’s seniors competition were Jackie McHugh, Jim Bradley and Tom Larkin from John Farrell, Flan Mullane, Michael Drew and Noel Enright. In the ladies seniors outing, Bess Fennessy, Mary Collins and Lillian Nihill were the winners from Margaret McNamara, Ina Reddan and Pat Williams.
The final round of the winter league is continuing throughout February while the weekly men’s 14-hole singles will also continue.

Clare Teachers
The next Clare Teachers society outing will take place on this Saturday, at the Castle course in Lahinch where the tee will be available from 10.30am.

Portumna
John O’Gorman, Martin Kennedy and Ann Carty won the team event held in conjunction with the captain’s and president’s drive-in at Portumna on Sunday with 26.3 points. In second place were Eamon Hodgins, Stephen Madden and Vincent Tracy with 27.1 points, followed by Sean Cleary, Mary Conwell and John Troy with 27.8 points.
The spring league starts this Saturday for teams of two players. The league will be divided into four groups with top team from each group qualifying for the semi final stage. Participants have to play five rounds between this Saturday and Sunday, March 20.

Lahinch
Martin Guerin (18) won the men’s hampers competition at Lahinch on Sunday with a score of 42 points. He had one to spare from Paul Ralph (18) with Ray Hennessy (3) in third spot with 41 points.
Monday’s ladies singles v par was won by Mona Davis (20) with a score of level followed by Connie Fahy (19) with 1 down.

Spanish Point
Entries to the senior’s open at Spanish Point on Tuesdays have increased with many visitors taking part. Last week’s winner was Dermot Waldron (19) with 41 points from Patrick O’Boyle (18) with 39 points.
Preparations will begin shortly for the various team events that the club has entered, starting with a home match against Listowel on Saturday, April 9. The team will be managed by Noel McMahon and Eoghan O’Loughlin. The Hillery/Lynch Shield first game which is away against Ringenane Golf club, Kinsale takes place on Saturday, April 2. The competition this week will be a team event and a timesheet will operate.

Pitch and putt
David McElligott was the winner of the strokeplay competition at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday. Ger Hanrahan won the gross.
There will be a county board competition at the Clare road venue on this Sunday at 10am.