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Holes in one on the double for father and son at Shannon


L-R) Padraig Ryan (captain) with Darragh Murphy (Junior Scratch Cup winner), John Cullinane (Intermediate Scratch Cup winner), Michael Cummins (Cahercalla Cup winner) and Ger Daly (sponsor Cahercalla Cup) at Ennis Golf Club.Father and son Michael and James Corry achieved a rare distinction at Shannon Golf Club last week when scoring a hole in one in competition within 24 hours of each other.
For the amateur golfer, the odds of having a hole in one are 12,750 to 1 so the odds of a father and son achieving a hole in one within 24 hours must be like winning the National Lottery.
James, captain of the junior section of Shannon Golf Club, was first off the mark while playing in the men’s open singles last Wednesday. Hitting a five iron to the fourth hole, a par three measuring 160 yards, James’ ball hit the green perfectly, hit the pin and dropped into the hole to record the 16-year-old’s first hole in one. James, already a talented hurler with Clooney-Quin, has been making great strides on the golfing circuit and is now playing off a handicap of 11. Ironically, one of his playing partners on the night was his father Michael, who was thrilled with his achievement. Little did he know that he was to enjoy a similar fate the following evening.
Michael, general manager of Shannon Golf Club, was playing in the weekly Thursday mixed foursomes. On the 10th tee box, a 145-yard, par three, Michael struck an eight iron, landing it only feet from the hole. The roll took the ball the rest of the way to the hole and there was little doubt from his playing partners that the end result was a magnificent hole in one. Mike, playing off a handicap of five, had never achieved a hole in one before and was delighted to share in the occasion with his son.
Shannon Golf Club would see only a handful of holes in one in a year but to see two people from the same family do it within 24 hours of each other is something that may never be achieved again.
Last weekend, the highlight of the men’s golfing calendar, the captain’s (Joe Sheehan) prize took place, with 325 members playing for the prize.
Three handicapper Jason O’Donnell returned a six-under par gross 66 for a net 63. Jason was out in the third group on Friday morning and covered the front nine in five-under, with birdies at the second, fifth and seventh and an eagle three at the sixth. He then started home with a birdie at the 10th followed by four straight pars. His first concession to par came at the 15th followed by a par at the 16th. A further dropped shot came at the 17th but he then recorded the perfect finish with an eagle three at the 18th. A remarkable score and worthy of a captain’s prize.
For the next two days many tried and failed to match Jason’s score, with previous captain’s prize winner Billy Grimes having a putt on 18 which would have given him victory but he three putted and had to settle  for second with a fine 65. Past captain Seamus Hanly was third with 66 by virtue of a better back nine from Pat Greene. Next came a trio on 67 with Jimmy Doyle pipping James Morrissey and Ml Kilmartin. The gross was won by Edward Hickey with 74 gross.
For the ladies, the captain ran a 12-hole singles which saw ex-officio captain Linda Doherty with 28 points from Mary Flynn, who edged out Margaret Ryan, also with 25 points. Vera Smith was fourth with 23 points.
Sunday’s open men’s singles saw all club members capture the spoils with the back nine required to separate Michael Wall and Bryan Power, each returning 42 points. Vincent Hodge was third with 38 points while Daniel Brennan and John O’Connor were fourth and fifth respectively with 37 points. Paul O’Neill won the gross with 35 points.
On Tuesday, the ladies ran an open team of four which saw a quartet of John Gubbins, Maurice Murphy, Connie Corry and Hilary Park victorious with 122 points. They had five points to spare from Naoimh and Niall McMahon, John Culleton and Seamus Doyle.
The Wednesday open singles saw Donal Walsh capture the honours by virtue of a better back nine from junior member Daniel Brennan, both returning 44 points. Donal returned 23 points for his opening nine, with a birdie at the first being the highlight. A solid 21 points on his inward nine was sufficient to get him over the line. Runner-up Daniel Brennan covered his opening nine in three-under gross with no concession to par and birdies at the fourth, sixth and eighth holes. On his inward journey he covered the next six holes in one-under with his birdie coming at the 13th. His dream round was slightly derailed by dropped shots at 16th and 17th but a par at the last saw him around in two-under. Third place was occupied by Chris Nash with 43 points. The gross was captured by Jason O’Donnell with 38 points.

Kilrush

There were big entries for the various competitions during open week at Kilrush and scoring was keen.
In the singles stroke competition at Kilrush last week, Sean Wyse from Charlesland was the winner with 66 nett.
Alan Carmody won the singles Stableford competition with an excellent 45 points from Enda O’Dwyer on 43 and Darragh O’Flaherty on 40. The category winners were John Hehir with 28 points, Barry Slye with 40 and Denis Motherway with 39 while the nines were won by David Browne with 19 and PW Glynn with 23.
Brian Scanlan won the singles v par competition with 8 up from Tom Clarke on 5 up while the nines were won by Oliver Kennelly with 4 up and Christopher Brennan with 3 up.
In Wednesday’s singles stroke competition, Neil Browne was the winner with 67 from Tom Clarke on a similar score, with Noel Cooney in third spot a stroke back. Sean Moran and PW Glynn won the nines.
In the men’s fourball on Thursday, Pat Wall and Pat Shannon were the winners with 43 points from Sean Rynne and Eamonn Murphy, who had a similar score.
The mixed scotch foursomes was won by Brian Scanlan and Pearl Mulcair from Sean and Freda Moran.
This Friday there will be an open mixed foursomes while the competition on Saturday will be the vice captain’s (Pat Shannon) prize. The Young Trophy, an open singles stroke event, will be the attraction on Sunday.

Lahinch
Last week’s open singles at Lahinch was won by Conor Gleeson from Thurles with 41 points from Denis McMahon and Brian Burke. Kevin McGrath won the gross with 30 points. The ladies’ singles was won by Áine Hanley with 33 points.
Shane Duggan won the singles Stableford competition on the Castle course on Saturday with 41 points from Jack Murphy on 40 and John V O’Brien on 37.
The ladies’ scratch cup on Sunday was won by Deirdre Smith (Louth) with 148 from Karen Delaney (Carlow) with a similar score. Niamh Kitching (Limerick) was next with 154 followed by Louise Mernagh (Woodenbridge) on 156.
Muireann Connolly (Lahinch) won the nett with 146 from Edel Coyne (Youghal) and Sinéad Sexton (Lahinch), who also had 146.
In the gross, Chloe Ryan, Limerick, was the winner for the first 18 from Ciara Butler. The first 18 nett was won by Elayne Hickey from Olivia Hayes.
Sunday’s men’s fourball Stableford competition was won by John Morris and Donal Vaughan with 39 points from Tom Greene and Kevin McGrath on a similar score.

Woodstock
Richard Pyne won the weekly senior’s competition at Woodstock with 44 points from Jim McMahon on 41 and Pat Quinn on 39.
Una Patton was the winner of the ladies’ 18-hole competition with 37 points from Agatha Merry on 29.
In the Wednesday open singles, Conor Sexton was the winner with 46 points from Michael EC Kelly on 43 and Niall Reynolds on 42.
Sunday’s medal competition was won by David McLoughlin with 63 nett from Shane Fitzgerald on 64 and Paul Mullane on 66.
The Holmpatrick Cup, a fourball betterball competition, will be the competition this weekend.

Ennis
Vera Griffin won the singles Stableford competition at Ennis with 41 points from Patricia O’Donnell on 39, Margaret McEnery on 39, Kitty Morris on 39 and Kitty Quinn on 39. Claire Ruane won the gross with 24 points.
In the ladies’ seniors outing the winners were Phil Butler, Nuala Guinan and Joan Murphy from Oonagh Fitzpatrick, Kate O’Ceallaigh and Frances O’Reilly, with third spot filled by Jean Moloney, Carmel Warner and Mary Woulfe.
In the intermediate scratch cup on Sunday, John Cullinane was the winner of the gross with 76 from Michael Hally on 79 and David Considine on 79.
The nett was won by Gerard Hanrahan with 66 from Tony Coote on a similar score.
Darragh Murphy won the junior scratch cup with 73 from Pat Murphy on a similar score and Keith Bermingham (Castletroy) on 74. The nett was won by Jack Normoyle from Morgan Lahiffe, both on 67.
Jerry Keohane won the monthly medal with 69.
In the open singles on Friday M O’Malley from East Clare won with 39 points from Noel Pilkington on 39 and J Hanrahan on a similar score. Noel Whelan won the gross with 30 points.

Spanish Point
In the weekend’s singles Stableford at Spanish Point, Richard Ross (20) with 39 points won from Gerry Meade (16), with a similar score. In third spot was John Meere (16) with 36 points.
In the seniors’ open, the winner was John Moore (14) with 35 points from Patrick O’Boyle (18) with 34 points.
In the Thursday open Shane Fitzgerald (17) with 41 points won from Michael Talty (18) on 40 points and Eamonn McMahon (19) with 37 points.
The enjoyable nine-hole Friday open scramble continues to grow in popularity and the best score to date was equalled when the team of PJ Kyne (21), Gerry O’Loughlin (17), Johnny Wilson (18) and Robbie Healy (16) returned a splendid seven-under gross. There will be a special prize for the first team to return nine-under or better with at least a birdie at each hole

Portumna
The president’s (Judith Barry) prize was played over the weekend in brilliant sunshine.
In the men’s section, Willie Carty (8) was the winner with 60 from Frank Ryan on a similar score. They were followed by Kieran Pat Kelly (11) 59, Noel Cregg (18) 58 and Damien Quigley (13) 57.
John Harte won the gross with 46 from Aidan Kelly (9) on 43. Other prize winners were 19 and over Padráig Moroney (22) 54; past president Frank Kilkenny (9) 34 points; seniors Francis McClearn (12) 54 . The leading qualifier was Brian McDermott (11) on 41 points while the nearest the pin winner was Dermot O’Donovan.
In the ladies’ section the winner was Ann Cassidy (7) 60 from Bridget Broderick (25) 60, Mabel Conroy (24) 58 points, Marese Cooney (24) 54 points, Sharon Moloney (24) 53, Brid Kelly (25) 53, and Mary Conwell (25) 52. Anita Carey won the gross with 44 while the senior winner was Marie Kelly with 52. The leading qualifier was Ena Moran with 50.
Open week starts this Saturday with competitions every day.
The junior cup team qualified for the Connacht finals in Castlebar by defeating Ballinrobe in the final on Sunday in Mountbellew.
The team comprised Niall Kilkenny, Pat Quinlan, Shane McHugo, Sean Cleary and Ger Lynch. Matt Donoghue is the team captain. Others on the panel are John Cleary, Martin Kennedy and Matt Donoghue.
The final will take place in Castlebar on August 5 and 6 against Rosses Point.

Ennis Seniors
The Ennis Seniors team-of-four competition last week was won by Brian Higgins, Larry O’Farrelly, Pierce Cahill and Michael Kerins with 73 points from Cyril Kelly, Jim Scully, Michael Torpey and PJ Daly with 72. In third spot were John Guinan, Dick Herbert, Matt Fanning and Pat O’Reilly with 69 points and they were followed by Pat Deegan, John McLoughlin, John Stack and Joe O’Neill with a similar score.

Gort
Gerry Hoban was the winner of the singles competition at Gort at the weekend with 40 points from Colman Cooney on 39 and Tom Fahy on 38. Brian McLoughlin won the gross with 29.
In a singles competition on Saturday Barry McMahon (Kilrush) was the winner with 41 points from John Whealan on 40 and David Kehoe on a similar score. Enda Craddock won the gross with 32 points. Michael O’Halloran had a hole in one at the 16th.
Last week’s scramble was won by Enda, Padraic and AM Craddock and Josie Collins from John O’Connor, Frank Doherty, Michael and Jimmy Kelly with third spot filled by Mike Gill, Padraic Linnane, James Fahy and Dermot McDermott.
Last weekend’s ladies singles was won by Ann Kavanagh with 42 points from Josie Cummins on 39 and Rosaleen Burke on 38. Bernie Diskin won the gross.

Dromoland
Captain Con Ryan’s prize will be played for this weekend at Dromoland and a huge turnout is expected. The top 27 will qualify for a nine-hole play-off on Sunday evening.
Liam Murphy Junior was the winner of the v par competition with 6 up from Ger Copley on 4 up and John Gaynor on 1 up. Michael O’Sullivan won the over-18 handicap category while Jason O’Leary was the winner of the junior section with 4 up.
Last week’s ladies competition was won by Mairéad Bergin from Mary McMahon and Maire McMahon.
In the mixed foursomes area competition at Kilrush on Sunday, Dromoland had wins over Spanish Point, Shannon and Kilkee to qualify for the North Munster final, which is scheduled for Lahinch next Wednesday.
The members of the panel are Davy Fitzgerald and Marie Nolan; Mark Reynolds and Majella Cotsgreave; Declan O’Leary and Sue Cash; Kieran Newman and Sandy Smith; Brian Hickey and Dorothy Brennan; Brian Sheedy and Angela White; Ruairi Price and Ann Nix; Nicky Duggan and Siobhán Dyar; John Casey and Mary Arthur; Jimmy McManus and Julie Newman. Paul O’Brien and Carola Wixted; Aidan O’Connor and Catriona O’Neill; Leonard Shanahan and Maebh McMahon; Alan White and Maureen McKeogh; Timmy Killeen and Carmel Kirby; Willie and Julie Fitzgerald; Noel McMahon and Mairéad Bergin; Mick O’Shea and Joan Ryan and Barry Walsh and Yvonne Shanahan. The team is managed by Con Ryan (captain) Brian Sheedy, Mary Arthur and Angela White.

Kilkee
The winner of the singles competition at Kilkee on Sunday was E O’Brien with 42 points from J Leyden on 40 and T Lenihan on 39.
In the seniors competition the winners were M O’Donoghue, D O’Connor and V O’Connor with 42 points from G O’Halloran, M Morrissey and D Harrington on 41 points.

Bridgetown
The Bridgetown Society held an outing to Ennis last Saturday last when Paul Mason was the overall winner with 38 points from Eoin O’Brien on 34 and Pa Duggan on 33.
Fran Moloney won category A with 31 points from Tom O’Shaughnessy on 29. Tom Nolan won category B with 33 points from Barry O’Sullivan on 31 while Brendan Fitzgerald was the category C winner with 24 points from Tom Hannon on 21. Joe McArthur and Tom Buckley won the nines while Tim Jones won the prize for nearest the pin.
The society’s next outing will be to Nenagh on July 24.

East Clare
The captain’s (Sean Ahern) prize will be played for at East Clare this weekend and a timesheet will operate. Evelyn Skehan was the winner of the Olive Fahy memorial singles with 43 points. In the ladies’ section Nancy Starr won with a similar score from Fiona Kinsella on 42 and Ann McCarthy on 38. The nines were won by Siobhán Shanahan and Jan Pattison.
The men’s section was won by Oisín Donnellan with 41 points from James McNamara on 40 and John Daly on 40. John Fleming and Mike Whelan won the nines.

Clarecastle
John McGrath was the recent winner of the Clarecastle Society’s president’s prize (Ger Shanahan) held at Lahinch championship course. Niall Geraghty was in second place followed by Ken Ralph, Joe Green and Niall McMahon. C Barry won the visitors’ section with Ger Shanahan and Kieran Holland winning the nines. Nearest the pin went to Tom Coughlan and Bernard Hanrahan won the longest drive. Peter Cosgrove was the winner of the past president’s prize. The next outing will be to Dromoland Castle on Thursday, July 15.

Newmarket
Newmarket on Fergus Golf Society have an outing in Gort this Saturday, when the tee is booked for 11.30am.

Shannon Senior Citizen’s Club
Shannon Golf Club will be the venue for a golf classic in aid of the Shannon senior citizen’s club on Monday, June 28. The competition is for teams of four and a timesheet will operate.

Ladies Invitational Day
There was a big turnout for the ladies’ invitational team-of-four competition on the championship course in Lahinch on Monday.
The winners, with a score of 87 points, were Liz O’Driscoll, Lorraine Corbett, Dympna Murray Dillon and Angela O’Dwyer.
They won by two points from Pat Ramsey, Maire Ryan, Monica Finnerty and Ann Marie Darmody. In third spot were Frances Hough, Carmelo McKeon, Rachel Maher and Eithne Leonard on 84 points, with fourth spot filled by Yvonne Morrison, Lourdes Gleeson, Pamela Hickey and Lynn Slattery on 83 points.

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