Lahinch ladies crowned Munster champions

LAHINCH ladies’ senior foursomes team defeated Killarney in the Munster final at Ennis last week. Lahinch won the crucial match on the 18th hole to be named Munster champions.
Lahinch were represented by Val Shannon, Elayne Hickey, Aedín McCarthy, Olivia Lucas, Valerie Hassett and Muiriosa Connolly, with Anne Vaughan (team manager) as first reserve.

The ladies will play the Mid-Leinster champions in the All-Ireland semi-final on Thursday, September 26 at Mullingar Golf Club, with the winners qualifying for the final on Friday, September 27.

In the Women’s International Team Challenge (WITC), hosted by Lahinch last week, the Olympic Club from California emerged as the winners with 220 points, from Lahinch, who finished with 208 points.

The monthly medal was played for on the championship course on Saturday when Brendan O’Doherty (7) emerged as the winner with 66 nett, from Paddy Spillane (8) with 68, Greg Young (5) with 70 and Niall Naughton (13) with 71. Ray Hennessy won the gross with 72.

The mixed fourball Stableford competition for the McDonnell Cup was played for on the Castle Course and won by Craig Toomey (7) and Niamh Reddan (14) with 46 points. They had three to spare over Alan O’Brien (17) and Maire Hanrahan (21), with third spot filled by Michael F Hanrahan (7) and Una O’Connell (22), also with 43 points.

The winners of Sunday’s men’s fourball Stableford competition were Gary Lavelle (5) and Michael Hennessy (6) with 43 points, from Flan Clune (8) and Richard Meaney (15) with 41 points.

In the ladies’ aggregate fourball on Sunday, the winners were Angela Cullinan (12) and Mary Sadlier (1) with 76 points.

Ennis
ENNIS seniors hosted the annual Kearse Cup last week, in honour of the late Frank and Michael Kearse. Presenting the prizes, captain Sean Fitzpatrick recalled the holder of the cup was the late Gerry Gilligan, who passed away last month. Gerry was a very popular member of the seniors group and participated in many events held by the group.

This year’s winner was Paddy Cahill with 44 points, from Tim Kelly who returned a similar score. Noel Pilkington was in third spot, a point behind, followed by John Guilfoyle and Andy Cregan with 40, and Michael Culliney with 39. Pat Murphy won the gross with 32 points.

The Gaity Cup was played for last week by the lady members of Ennis and the winners were Cora Kerins and Helen Hartnett with 39 points, from Monica Finnerty and Carmel Verling with 37.

In the Friday open, the winner was Mary Lenihan with 41 points. Helen Hartnett won the Ardagh Cup, from Kitty Morris.

In the lady seniors’ outing last week, the winners were Kate O’Ceallaigh, Jean Moloney and Sally Power with 39 points, from Geraldine O’Mahoney, Nora Kelly and Phil Butler with a similar score.

Third spot was filled by Mary Colton, Mary Glynn, Carmel Verling and Monica Gallagher with 37 points and they were followed by Mary Walshe, Nuala D’Auria and Kathleen Pyne with 36 points.

The CBS past pupils’ annual outing took place on Sunday last when Brendan Pyne was the winner with 41 points, from Richard O’Connell who had a similar score.

Cyril O’Dowd was third with 39 points, followed by Oliver O’Loughlin with 39, Joe Carmody and Tim Ryan with 38. Liam Pyne won the gross with 27 points.

The category winners were Leo Herbert with 34, Colin Ryan with 36 and Brian Tuohy with 36, while the nines were won by Tom Pilkington with 21 and Tony McInerney with 20.

In the Ennis members’ section, the winner was Gerard Hannon with 40 points, from Senan Ryan with a similar score, Damian Pilkington with 39 and Robert Pender with 38.

Woodstock
IN the ladies’ 18-hole Stableford competition at Woodstock, Una Patton was the winner with 32 points, from Áine Burke with 31.

Eleven-year-old junior player, Áine Donegan, recorded a hole in one at the sixth during her junior matchplay outing last week.

The winners of the 14-hole mixed scramble were Martin Dormer, Bridget Hayes, Noel Kelleher and Brendan McMahon with 42.5, from Jim Carmody, Anne Marie Russell, Patsy Nugent and Martin White with  44.6.

In the open singles last Wednesday, Hugh McGrath (9) was the winner with 41 points, from Jason Considine (6) with a similar score. Robbie Dormer (6) was third with 40 points. The winner of the open singles on Saturday was Tom McKaigney (19) with 40 points.

In the Senior Scratch Cup, Kieran Cunnane (scratch) was the winner with 71, from Stephen Loftus (-1) with 72. Richard Pyne (8) won the Junior Scratch Cup with 76, from George Smith (6) who had a similar score.

A team of four challenge in aid of Pieta House will take place on Saturday, while the intermediate and minor scratch cups will be played for on Sunday.

East Clare
THE President’s (Redmond Walsh) Prize was played for at East Clare at the weekend when the winner was Kieran Quinn (18) with 42 points, from Michael O’Halloran (14) with a similar score. In third place was Tony McMahon (9) with 41 points, followed by Derek Kenny (8) with 40 points, Ben Rittweger (5) and David O’Mahony (14) with 38 points. Pádraig Hession won the gross with 35 points.

The winner of the seniors’ section was Donal Fleming (24) with 38 points. Dominic Stuart (12) won the past president’s prize with 36 points.

The nines were won by Ger Shorrt (22) with 24 points and Conor Hayes (10) with 20 points. James McNamara (7) won the junior section with 38 points.

In the ladies’ section, the winner was Pauline Nugent with 39 points, from Leslie O’Flynn and Evelyn Skehan with 37 and Sheenagh Sullivan, Peg Hanrahan and Brigid Minogue with 36 points.

The gross was won by Tara Whelan with 33 points. Jenny Ryan won the past president’s section, with the seniors’ award going to Breda O’Loghlin. The nines were won by Celia Moloney with 20 points and Christina Fitzgerald with 18 points.

Last week’s men’s seniors outing was won by John Stack, John S Kelly and Jack Manly, from Brendan Moloney, Denis Collins and Tom Larkin. Third spot was filled by JJ Barton, Jack Hogan and Seamus Bohan.

Next weekend, the men’s club have a club championship with yellow, white and blue tees in use. There will be a mixed scramble and barbecue this Friday from 5pm to 6pm.

Kilrush
THE winners of the senior ladies’ outing at Kilrush last week were Maeve Murphy, Mary Keating, Loreta Brown and Anne Cooper, from Peggy Mulqueen, Muriel Kiely and Freda Moran, with third spot filled by Margaret Griffin, Lucy Hayes and Catherine Hayes.

The senior men played for their President’s (Denis F Nagle) Prize last week when the winner was Michael Ryan with 41 points, from Tom Prendeville, John Robinson and John Stapleton with 40 and Billy Clarke and Seamus O’Doherty with 38. The nines were won by Finbarr McMahon with 20 and PJ O’Dea with 21. The Past President’s Prize was won by Jim McSwiggan with 36 points.

In the President’s Prize to the Ladies, the winners were Freda Moran, Margaret Clune, Peggy Mulqueen and Ann Cooper, from Margaret Clancy, Mary Keating and Aida Stanford. Third spot was filled by
Muriel Kiely, Mary Collins and Ann McMahon.

In the ladies’ singles on Thursday, the winner was Agnes Shannon with 38 points, from Anne Coen and Ann Marie Donnellan with a similar score and Mary Bolton with 37. The category winners were Annie Gallagher, Jean Lorigan and Lucy Hayes.

The vice-captain’s mixed on Friday last was won by Murt Collins and Maura McSwiggan, from Sean Moran and Mary O’Sullivan, with third spot filled by Michael Hogan and Margaret Donnelly. John Stapleton and Maeve Murphy were fourth.

In the ESB Cup men’s singles competition, the winner was John Stapleton with 41 points, from Mike Ryan with a similar score, Diarmuid Murphy was third with 40 points. The nines were won by Jimmy McSwiggan and Pat Barrett, both scoring 22 points.

The Flan Brew Memorial men’s open singles will be the competition on Sunday. The ladies will play for the ESB Cup, a ladies singles competition, this Thursday.

Kilkee
IN the Matthew Stephens Open Singles at Kilkee, the winner was Áine Burns (31) with 39 points, from Jackie O’Donovan (27), Margaret Collins-Smyth (26) and Joan Eakins (25) with 38. Eithne Leonard (9) won the gross with 25 points.

The category prize was won by Nuala Ceannt (31) with 39 points, while the nine-hole competition was won by Teresa Cierans (36) with 15 points.

Phil O’Brien (2) and Ena Daly (22) won the George’s Head cups.

The winner of the captain’s (Ger O’Flynn) prize to the ladies was Dympna Walsh (19) with 38 points, from Deirdre Powell (23), Yvonne Sheehan (34) and Carol Phelan (25) with 37 points. Attracta Leyden (19) won the gross.

Dromoland
OPEN week produced some exciting golf at Dromoland. In the fourball, Sean Burns and Dale Foley won with 46 points, from David and Martin Casey with 43.

In the junior Stableford competition, the winner was Stephen Casey with 41 points, from Eoghan O’Brien and Paddy O’Malley with 39 and Jack Hannon with 37. Cathy O’Toole won the girls’ section with 36 points.
The winners of the ladies’ team-of-four competition, with 86 points, were Joan Ryan, Mary Arthur, Siobhán Dyar and Angela White, all Dromoland. They had five to spare over Katriona O’Neill (Dromoland), Patricia Quigley, Maureen Parkes (both Castletroy) and Eithne Murphy (Limerick).

In the team scramble, the winners were Davy Fitzgerald, Kevin Corry, Sharon O’Loughlin and Carina Roseingrave with 54 nett, from Nicky Duggan, Brian and David Casey and Alan Neville, who had 54.3. Third spot was filled by the Spanish Point team of Brendan Coyne, Fergal and Micheal Hehir and Aidan Sexton with 55.2.

In the team-of-four competition, the winners with 103 points were Davy and Colm Fitzgerald, Eoin Garrihy and Carina Roseingrove. They had seven to spare over Declan O’Leary, Sean Myatt, Patrick Kelly and Dale Foley.

Dale Foley was the winner of the singles’ Stableford with 39 points, from Willie Fitzgerald with 36 and Hugh O’Neill with 35.

Saturday’s singles Stableford was won by Nicky Ryan with 39, from Conor Sexton (Woodstock) with 38 and Liam Hayes with 37.

In the Texas scramble on Sunday, the winners were Peter, Geoffrey, Nicola and Carmel Ronan with 123 points, from Tim Kennelly, John Collins, Noel Stapleton and John O’Grady, who had a similar score.

A point back in third place were Chris O’Donovan, Shane Mowat, Con Woods and Jimmy McManus.

In the members singles’ Stableford competition at the weekend, the winner was Eugene Fawl with 39 points, from Kevin Kent with 37 and John O’Neill with a similar score.

Shannon
THE September medal, the Michael O’Grady Memorial, was played for at Shannon last weekend where Peter McLoughlin (14) emerged victorious with 65 nett, from Dermot Egan (6) with 66, Neil O’Brien (5) with a similar score, John O’Connell (8), Eoin Hoctor (18), Brendan Healy (14) and Brendan Healy (14) with 67 and Harry Grew (12) and Michael Moore (13) with 68. Keith Buckley (6) won the gross with 73.

In the open singles on Wednesday, the winner was Paul O’Neill (1) with 43 points. Alan Dunlea (15) was second with 42 points, followed by Cian Treacy (11) with 42. Ed Hickey (-1) won the gross with 38 points.

In the President’s (Mary O’Looney) Prize to the men, Seamus Doyle (12) was the winner with 44 points, from John Kelly (19) with 42 points, Michael Mulcahy (14), Tony O’Callaghan (15) and Gary Purrtill (7) with 41 points and Michael Hayes (23), Patrick Hession (17), Eoghan Hanley (14), Eamon Fanneran (9) and Ronan Hynds (14) with 40 points. Liam Fitzgerald (16) won the past president’s prize with 36 points, while the guests’ section was won by Dermot Murphy (20) with 35 points.
Ed Hickey had a hole in one on the fourth.

Spanish Point
LUCIA Cronin, Bernie O’Gorman and Yvonne O’Keefe were the winners of last week’s three-ball scramble at Spanish Point with a score of 64 nett.

The Auburn Lodge Trophy will be played for at Spanish Point on Saturday, September 7. The time sheet is available in the clubhouse.

The winner of the Tuesday singles seniors’ Stableford competition was John Moore with 41 points. In second place was Donal Burke with 35 points.

The Friday Open Singles Stableford competition was won by Michael Thorne with 39 points. The modified scramble competition winners last weekend were Brendan Reddan, Tony Crowley and Joe Hurley with a score of 88 points.

This Friday and Saturday, members will play for the Captain (Eoghan O’Loughlin’s) Prize. Tee times can be booked by calling the clubhouse on 065 7084198. On Sunday, there is a nine-hole open competition with reentry.

Aidan Sexton won the Dan Gallery matchplay championship last week with a 2/1 victory over captain Eoghan O’Loughlin.

Portumna
THE men’s 18-hole open in aid of cancer research at Portumna was won by Eoghan O’Hare (6) with 38 points, from Shane Duffy (12), John O’Brien (8) and Ian Davis (10) with 37 points. JP McLoughlin (scr) won the gross with 35 points.

In a similar competition for the ladies, the winner was Audrey McGrath (25) with 44 points, from Eimear McEvoy (15) with 41 points and Catherine Cooney (16) with 38 points. The gross was won by Suzanne Corcoran (2) with 37 points.

There will be an open singles competition for men on Sunday and an open team of four on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 6 to 8.

Gort
LAST week’s ladies singles competition at Gort was won by Margaret Whelan (28) with 38 points, from Ann Jordan (28) with 36 points.

The President’s Prize final for ladies will take place on Saturday and there will be an 18-hole singles competition on Sunday and Tuesday.

The President’s Prize final for the men will also take place this Saturday, followed by the presentation.

Haven Arms Society
THE Haven Arms Society members will play for the President’s (Jerry Malone) Prize on Saturday at Kilrush w here the tee will be available from 10.30am to 11.30am.

Holmpatrick Cup
SHANNON’S Eamon Fanneran and William O’Brien, won the Clare Pennant at the recent county final in the Holmpatrick Cup at Castletroy.

As a result of this victory, they will travel to the championship at Ballybunion on Saturday to contest the Munster final, hoping to progress another step in The Race to St Andrews.

Last year’s county winners, Fran Sheedy and Kevin Kent from Dromoland, reached the Munster fina,l where the Waterford pairing of Charlie Ahearne and John Hale took the title at Adare Manor Golf Resort.

On October 8 to 10, the winners in Ballybunion will, with the other three regional victors, play for the Holmpatrick Cup in the All-Ireland 36-hole on the new and old courses at St Andrew’s.

The Holmpatrick Cup is an annual event in aid of the NCBI, working for people with sight loss

GUI Centenary
THE Munster branch of the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI) has invited all affiliated clubs to submit the name of a monthly medal winner to play in a centenary singles medal competition at Ballybunion on Saturday, October 19.

A centenary medal will be awarded to the first, second and third prizewinners. Names must be submitted to the Munster branch before Monday, September 30.

Pitch and putt
AT the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club, the strokeplay competition on Sunday was won by Kevin Woods from Gerry Kearse. Niall Seery won the gross.

The club’s scratch cups will be played for on Sunday.