Munster Pierce Purcell title for Spanish Point

There was mixed luck for Clare clubs in provincial competitions at the weekend.
Spanish Point made history when they won the Munster Pierce Purcell final for the first time in the club’s history but Shannon and Ennis lost out narrowly in the Jimmy Bruen and Junior Cup competitions respectively.
The semi-finals and final were played at Bandon on Sunday and Spanish Point faced East Cork in the semi-final and emerged with a 3½ to 1½ win before accounting for holders at both provincial and national level, NewcastleWest in the final on a 4-1 scoreline.
Managed by Eoin O’Loughlin and Michael O’Connor, the team members are Brendan Coyne, Micheal Hehir, Kevin Hynes, Stephen Guilfoyle, Evan Talty, Fergal Hehir, John Meere, Conor O’Loughlin, Martin Glenny, Aidan Sexton, Martin Dormer, Seamus McMahon, Micheal Talty, Eric Murrihy, Brendan Sexton, Anthony Garrihy, Mervin Hehir, Thomas Mernagh.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Helen Sullivan (34) was the winner of last week’s competition with a score of 63 nett from Kathleen Twomey (28) on 70 nett.
The lady captain’s (Helen Sullivan) prize will be played for this Saturday and the time sheet is available in the clubhouse.
The winner of the Tuesday seniors’ open singles was Martin Shanahan with 38 points. The winner of the weekend Stableford competition was Alan White with 41 points from Paudie McGough, with a score of 38. This Saturday members will play for the lady captain’s (Helen O’Sullivan) prize and there is a time sheet in operation for the day. On Sunday, there is an 18-hole team of three or four modified scramble for the men.

East Clare
ILGU president and MBE Mary McKenna is to visit East Clare Golf Club on Sunday, July 28, at 4.30pm.
Mary received her MBE for her contribution to sport in Ireland and the British Isles.
Mary made her international debut in 1968 and won her first Irish championship a year later. It took her little time to establish herself among the elite golfers of the time and by 1975, the prediction that Mary was to take over the mantle of the retired Philomena Garvey was realised.
In an unbroken 22 years challenge from 1968 to 1989, she reached 12 finals, winning eight, seven of which were secured in a purple patch between 1969 and 1982, when it seemed as if she might seriously establish a base to threaten the seemingly unassailable total of Garvey’s 15.
She represented Great Britain and Ireland on nine successive Curtis Cup teams from 1970 and 10 Vagliano Trophy teams from 1969. During this time she collected many district titles including numerous 36-hole scratch cups and contributed significantly to Leinster’s domination of the ladies’ inter-provincials for over 20 years.
More recently, Mary has captained the Irish ladies’ team for two years from 2002 and later the girls’ junior European team in 2006.
She was honoured with the captaincy of the GB&I Curtis Cup teams in 2008 and 2010 and the Vagliano teams of 1995, 2007 and 2009.
She currently sits on the ILGU’s high-performance committee, supporting the development of the game at all levels and is never short of an encouraging word for her fellow competitors and in particular talented juniors. She was appointed president of the ILGU in January 2012.
Meanwhile, last week’s men’s seniors outing at East Clare was won by Denis Collins, William McLysaght and Brendan Moloney from John Doyle, John Fleming and Steve Symes, with third spot filled by Teddy Murphy, Willie Roche and Kevin Grimes.
In the men’s 18-holes singles competition the winner was Jacob Loughnane (13) with 44 points from Batt Skehan (18) with 41 while Vinny Henchy (2) won the competition off the yellow markers with 41 points.
In the ladies’ 18-hole competition, Ciara Magill was the winner with 41 points from Margaret McNamara on 40 and Peg Hanrahan, also with 40.
The winners of the Friday scramble were Jim Greene, Pat Williams and Joan Kinsella from Geraldine and Margaret MacNamara and Brian McMahon with third spot filled by Michael O’Donoghue, Helen Downey and Siobhán Shanahan.
This weekend the men’s club have a Player of the Year competition, an 18-hole stroke off the white markers and an 18-hole Stableford off yellows.
The lady captain’s (Mary Collins) prize will be played for on Sunday, July 28.
In the Olive Fahy Memorial Day, the winner was Brendan Moloney with 42 points from Ger Shortt with 38 and Mike Whelan with 37.

Woodstock
The winner of the open singles at Woodstock last Wednesday was Paul McMahon (24) with 44 points from Conor McInerney (18) with 43 and Aaron Donegan (8) with 42.
In the weekly seniors’ competition, a team of three modified scramble over 16-holes, the winners were Brendan Arthur, John Dormer and Pat Quinn.
In the club singles on Sunday, the winner was David Greene (17) with 44 points from Keith Farr (6) with 43 and Jim Carmody (7), also with 43 points.
In the ladies 18-hole competition, the winner was Clare Hall, while the winners of the Thursday modified fourball were Michael Cullinan and Marian Keane with 39 points. In the captain’s fourball on Sunday, the winners were Bernie Power and Teresa Sherlock with 33 points.
Entries are now being accepted for the captain’s prize (Eugene Phillips) to the ladies.

Dromoland
The monthly medal was played for at Dromoland at the weekend when the winner was Gerry Barrett with 69 nett from Diarmuid McMahon with a similar score. The winner of the gross was Sean Burns with 77. In the over-18 handicap section the winner was John Collins with 77 while Dale Foley won the junior section with 72.
In the ladies’ 18-hole singles competition, the winner was Ber McDermott from Beate Porter with Julie Newman in third spot.
The ladies’ junior foursomes team progressed to the next round by beating Adare Manor and Shannon last week.

Shannon
The Jimmy Bruen team under the management of Noel Morgan assisted by Mike Corry was defeated in the Munster semi-finals by Lismore on Sunday by a margin of 3-2.
On the domestic front, open week is underway with a variety of competitions every day finishing on Sunday.
In the July medal last week the winner was Seamus Doyle (13) with 62 from Patrick Healy (2) with 65, Jim McNamara (9) with 65, Kevin Meehan (14) with 67, Jason Casey (9) with 67, Neil O’Brien (6) with 67, Raymond Hehir (13) with 67 and Michael Hallinan (12) with 68. Philip Purcell (7) won the gross with 73.
In the Wednesday open singles, the winner was Ed Hickey (1) with 44 points from James Bullman (15) with 42 and David O’Brien (18) with 42. Jason O’Donnell (2) won the gross with 36 points.

Kilkee
The ladies’ competition at Kilkee on Sunday was for the Raleigh Cup and the winner was Ena Daly (24) with 41 points.
She had one to spare over Yvonne Sheehan (36) with Marilyn Keogh (29) a point further back in third spot.
The lady vice-captain’s (Helen O’Dea) prize was played for on Thursday last when the winner was Elma O’Donoghue (36) with 67 nett from Liz Liddy (20) who also returned 67 nett with Margaret Collins-Smyth (26) third followed by Nuala McGann (31 and Bessie Lawlor (24) and they all scored 67 nett. Ann Boyle (15) won the gross with 85.
The winner of the nine-hole competition was Carmel O’Donoghue (36) with 16 points. The next ladies’ competition will be on August 1.
In the weekend fourball at Kilkee the winners were Tim Ahern (14) and Neil Higgins (17) with 48 points from Jimmy Murray (10) and Michael Hoare (18) with 47 points. In third spot were Pat Haugh (9) and Barry Harte (12), also 47 points.
In category A of the seniors competition, the winner was Michael Greene (15) with 43 points from Michael Reidy (16) with 41 points with third spot filled by Ger O’Flynn (12) with 37 points. In category B Eddie Clohessy (18) was the winner with Jerry O’Halloran (17) with third place filled by Connie Holmes (20) and all three returned 37 points.
Category C was won by Michael Morrissey (22) with 34 points from Kevin Killdeer (21) with 31 and Paddy Browne (21) with 30.

Ennis
The captain’s (Des Neylon) prize was played for at Ennis at the weekend when 293 members played.
The winner was Luke Coote with 100.5 from Paul Higgins with 101 with John Kierse in third spot with 102.5. They were followed by Andrew McGloin with 104, Mick Loughnane with 104, Sean O’Gorman with 104.5, Tommy Timpson with 104.5, Gerard O’Brien with 104.5, Aongus O’Grady with 107 and Tim McAllister with 107.
John McInerney won the gross with 72 from Kealan O’Flaherty with 73. The category winners were Jason Woods with 68, Michael Neylon with 69 and Tony Coote with 66. The leading qualifier was John Hoey with 68 while other prize winners were Tony Kehoe (past captain) with 108, Pat Rutherford (seniors) with 113.5 and Kieran E Ryan (guests) with 71.
In the open singles on Friday Gary Keane was the winner with 45 points from Robert Holland (Frankfield) with 43, James Clune with 41 and David Considine with 39.
Dean McMahon Castletroy, won the gross with 34 points. The winner of the ladies’ section was Ciara Pender with 36 points.
Ennis Seniors held their annual Cider Day last week. The competition was a team of four with two to score at each hole. The winners were Peter Daly, Aidan Lynch, Paul Mockler and Pat Rutherford with 79 points from Michael Torpey. Sean O’Gorman, Colm McNevin and Willie Delaney with 78. In third spot were Paschal Russell, Tom Fox, Frank Coffey and Tony Coote with 75 followed by John Guilfoyle, Johnny Cullinan, Tim McAlister and Michael Kenny with 75 while fifth place was filled by Paddy Cahill, Johnny Guerin, Pat Shannon and Andy Cregan with 74.
At Dromoland last week, the Ennis Junior Cup team went under by three matches to two to Adare Manor in the North Munster final.
John Hoey and Keelan O’Flaherty both won their matches. Andrew Whelan was beaten on the 18th while Ronan Nalty and TJ Scanlan both lost their games on the 17th.

Underage
The Castle course in Lahinch was the venue for the Clare U-13 county competition last week when the winner was Elias Kunz (23) from Ennis with 43 points from Niall O’Sullivan (28) from Ennis who also had 43 points. In third spot was Cian Gleeson (26) from Limerick with 42 while the gross was won by Jonathan Keane from Lahinch with 31 points.
The winner of the over-28 handicap category was Conor McMahon (Lahinch) with 46 points.
In the U-15 championship also played on the Castle course last week, the winner was Gordon O’Neill from Dromoland with 74 gross from Aidan McMahon, Lahinch with 75 gross and Anthony Lacey from Lahinch with 76. In the nett category Patrick O’Rourke (27) from Lahinch was the winner with 60 from Conor Meade (21) from East Clare with 61.

Lahinch
The winners of the Killarney exchange day, a team-of-four event, at Lahinch last week were Oonagh Mee (22), Karina Doyle (23), Hazel Caird (24) and Grainne O’Donovan (26) with 94 points. They had one to spare over Mary O’Meara (12), Mary Mannion (16), Frances Wood (16) and Geri Baggott (27) with third spot filled by Elayne Hickey (6), Aileen Hickey (16), Lourdes Gleeson (23) and Carolyn Hillery (27) and they also had 93.
Yvonne Morrisson (18) won the ladies’ open singles Stableford last Thursday with 35 points. On the same day the men’s open singles was won by Tom Stuart (13), Milltown, with 40 points from Bertie Whelan (18) from Shannon with 38, Eamonn Dorney (7) from Monkstown with 37 and Austin Kerin (9) from Lahinch, also with 37. Jason McLynn from Gort won the gross with 33 points.
The men’s monthly medal, a strokeplay competition, was played for on Saturday when the winner was Shane Fenton (9) with 67 nett from Patrick Glynn (6) with 68, Dan O’Donovan (9) with 70 and Cathal Hegarty (6) with 70. Eoin Doohan won the gross with 73.
The Golf Links Cup was played for on Sunday, when the winner was John Conway Junior (10) with 40 points from Aidan O’Driscoll (12) with 38 with Gerry Pierce (7) in third spot with 37 points. Bob Loftus won the gross with 35 points.
Michael Herlihy (14) won the Coolbawn cup with 43 points from Paul Ralph (17) with 42 and Tim Hurley (15) with 38 points. Dave O’Brien won the gross with 23 points.
The winner in the ladies’ singles Stableford competition on the Castle course on Saturday was Joan Barrett (18) with 40 points from Ann Keskin (22) with 39 points and Evelyn Lyons (21) with 38 points.

Kilrush
The winners of last week’s ladies seniors’ competition were Agnes Shannon, Margaret Griffin and Kathleen Haugh from Mary Young, Doleros Reidy and Tessie Garry with third spot filled by Ann McMahon, Freda Moran and Mary Keating.
Last week’s men’s singles Stableford competition was won by Jimmy McSwiggan with 46 points from John Donnelly with 42 and Seamus O’Doherty with 39.
In the Whelan singles on Tuesday, the winner was Eamon Rigney with 39 points from Jim Young senior, with a similar score and John Donnelly with 37.
The ladies’ open day competition was won by Geraldine Burke with 36 points from Marie McGuire with 35 and Kathleen Haugh with 34.
The winner of the St Gobain singles stroke competition was John Donnelly with 62 from Billy Clarke with 63 and Finbarr McMahon with 65. Greg Young won the gross with 72. Noel Cooney won category two with 65 while Pat Shannon (Cranny) won category three with 69.
In the ladies’ open singles on Thursday, Anne White (Spanish Point) won with 41 points from Agnes Shannon with 40, Niamh Whelan with 38 and Carmel Lillis with 38. The category winners were Anne Brennan with 34, Mary Young with 35 and Mary Keating with 38.
In the Kay Glynn mixed Stableford on Friday, Packie O’Dea and Geraldine Burke were the winners with 46 points from Declan O’Donovan and Mary G Nolan with 44. In third place with 43 points were John Donnelly and Muriel Kiely followed by Jim Young senior and Anne Hogan, also with 43 points.
The KGC open singles on Saturday was won by John Donnelly with 39 points while the Young Trophy, a men’s singles Stableford competition, was won on Sunday by Tom Prendeville with 60 from Michael Hogan with 65, and Anthony Burke with 65. Greg Young won the gross while the category winners were Pat Brennan with 67, Barry McMahon with 67 and Pat Shannon (Cappa) with 65.
Entries are still being taken for the member’s cup, a singles matchplay competition, the draw for which will be made shortly.
The Gathering team-of-three scramble (any combination) will take place on Friday and Saturday week, July 26 and 27.
The Howard mixed 18-hole competition takes place this Friday while on Sunday, the Moyasta coffee men’s singles Stableford outing will take place.

Gort
The winner of the club cup at Gort was Robin Lahiffe, who beat Barry Cahill in the final. The beaten semi-finalists were Eamonn Morrissey and Kevin McGourty while the gross was won by Colman Cooney, with Brendan Dolan winning the nett.
The Monday open singles winner was Colm Murphy (16) from Kilrush with 39 points from Brian Murtagh (5) with 38 and Andreas Edler (12) with 38. Enda Cradock (1) won the gross with 35.
This Saturday, the captain’s prize final will take place.
In last week’s ladies’ singles competition, the winner was Patricia Reddy (17) with 36 points.

Portumna
Centenary open week at Portumna has been a great success, with big numbers playing in the various competitions.
Last Monday’s open singles was won by Mark Regan with 40 points from Jamie Conboy with 39, Kevin Boyle with 38 and Brendan Dunne, also with 38. Sean Cleary won the gross with 35.
Betty Parnell won the ladies’ open singles with 40 points from Marie Kelly with 39, Patricia Tobin (Lucan) with 37, Ann Fahy with 37 and Anne Lynch (K-Club) with 37.
Last Wednesday’s men’s open was won by Eddie Campion (Mountain View) with 43 points from Colm O’Brien with 42, Martin Kennedy with 40 and Martin Hanrahan with 40. The gross was won by JP McLoughlin with 35 points.
In a singles competition last Thursday, the winner was John Hurley from Ballinasloe with 42 points from Sean Murray, with a similar score, David O’Neill from Nenagh with 40 and Pat Flynn with 40. Sean Cleary won the gross with 33 points.
In another men’s open on Friday, the winner was Alan Gorman with 65 from Eoin McIntyre with 67, Damien Gibbons with 69 and Martin Kennedy with 68. Sean Cleary also won the gross in this outing with 69.
In an open team-of-four competition at the weekend the winners were Andrew McCarthy, Donal Flannery, Denis Molloy and TJ Egan with 99 points from Mike Coniry, Liam Mulrooney, Ger Heffernan and Dermot Corcoran with a similar score. In third place were Frank Kilkenny, Vincent Treacy, Tom Moloney and Gene McEntee, also with 99 followed by Joe Austin, Paddy Kelly, Lillian Austin and Marie Kelly with 98. In fifth place were Leo Kelly, Gerry Allison, Anne Fahy and Brid Kelly with 96 followed by Pat Foley, Eugene Fitzpatrick, Martin Greenalgh and Seamus Hogan also with 96 points.

Pitch and putt
At the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday, the strokeplay competition was won by Gerry Kierce from Gabriel Kerin, with third spot filled by PJ Considine.
This Saturday is captain’s (PJ Considine) day, with the tee available from 10am.