Pyne of the times

Noel Pyne appearing at his 50th South of Ireland Golf Championship was just one of the highlights at this year’s tournament, writes Sports Editor Seamus Hayes

THE remarkable achievement of Ennis man Noel Pyne, who made his 50th successive appearance in the South of Ireland Golf Championship this week, ensured a bigger than usual Clare interest in the oldest of the amateur championships.
Noel’s record feat was recognised by Lahinch Golf Club at the champion’s dinner in the clubhouse on Wednesday evening, when a presentation was made to the Ennis native, a former captain and president at the club.
It was also a special night for Limerick’s Pat Murray, who was presented with the South of Ireland Trophy following his victory over Stephen Healy from Claremorris in the final on Wednesday afternoon.
The 111th staging of the championship was also special for the Loftus family from Ennis with brothers Stephen and Bob in the field. Stephen reached the last eight of the competition before going out to the eventual winner Pat Murray on Tuesday afternoon. In getting to this stage of the championship, Stephen was the last Clareman in the field.
Murray also made history on reaching his first South final, having previously bowed out at the semi-final stage on no less than seven occasions. He had a three and one semi-final win over Eugene Smith of Ardee.
In the other semi-final, Stephen Healy was a five and four winner over Colin Fairweather from Knock.
Murray made a great start to the final winning the opening two holes. Healy pulled one back when he won the fourth but Murray was two up again after the fifth. Healy won the seventh and eighth to level the match and this was still the position after ten.
Murray was back in front after 12 but the Claremorris man won the 14th to level the contest again. Two holes later Murray hit the front and the plus three handicapper went on to win the title by two holes.
When the draw was made, Bob Loftus was on the standby list but he got a late call-up for a first round match against fellow Ennis man and record breaker Noel Pyne.
Pyne emerged victorious by one hole to progress to round two on Sunday where he went out to Keith Shannon from Greenore.
“We had a lovely game and I am delighted that things went so well,” commented Noel this week.
While disappointed to have lost in Tuesday’s quarter-final to Pat Murray, Stephen Loftus was happy to have got through to day four of the competition.
“I didn’t play that great in Tuesday’s quarter-final but I was very happy with my play in the rounds up to that,” Stephen told The Clare Champion.
“Weather conditions were very tough on Saturday and Sunday. Monday was lovely but conditions were difficult again on Tuesday. There was a huge crowd from Lahinch and Limerick following the quarter-final game and that brings its own pressures. In the end, Pat’s experience came through. He has been there so many times,” he commented.
Their quarter-final match ended on the 15th. Birdies at the 7th and 8th gave Limerick Golf Club manager Murray the lead and he closed out the game when he won the 14th with an excellent par into a very stiff wind.
Loftus and Murray met in the quarter-final of the Irish Close Championship in Enniscrone three years ago, when Murray also emerged victorious on his way to that title. Both have been teammates on the Munster team in recent years.
On Tuesday morning against Simon Byrne from Delgany, Loftus eagled the 12th and followed with a birdie at the 13th on his way to a five and three victory.
“That’s the end of the season really and it’s back to club competitions now,” the Ennis man said. During the winter months Stephen also plays junior soccer. He is a member of the Ennis Town Club.
“The soccer and golf seasons run into each other, with the soccer mainly in the winter before the golf takes over for the summer,” Stephen said, before he headed off to Lahinch to watch Wednesday evening’s final.
“Hopefully Pat (Murray) will go on and win the title. He deserves a South title. When he won his only championship, the Irish Close, he beat me in the quarter-final so, hopefully, history will repeat,” he added.
In Saturday’s first round, Stephen had a four and three win over Keegan Cummins from Elm Park. On Sunday he beat Conor Glynn from Carton House by two holes on his way to Monday’s third round, where he overcame Michael Durcan from Sligo.
In the afternoon he overcame Sean Barry from Muskerry to secure his passage to the fourth day of competition, where he overcame Sean Byrne from Delgany in the morning before going out to Murray.
Four Clare club representatives got through the first round of the championship on Saturday. Paul O’Neill from Shannon overcame Sean Moran from Carton House on the 19th and Declan McInerney from the host club was a six and five winner over Alan O’Regan from Georgia. As mentioned earlier Noel Pyne beat Bob Loftus by one hole. Clare players who lost in the opening round were Eoin McGuinness from East Clare, Thomas Neenan (Lahinch), Eoin Doohan, a native of Ennis who plays out of Dundalk and Ed Hickey (Shannon). Gort’s Enda Craddock was another to lose out in round one.
Paul O’Neill also won on Sunday when he had a five and three victory over Matthew McAlpin from Royal Portrush but his race ended on Monday when he lost to Muskerry’s Niall Gorey, who had eliminated local man Declan McInerney on Sunday on the 19th.
Woodstock’s Kieran Cunnane also bowed out on Sunday when he lost to Peter Sheehan from Ballybunion while Tony Cleary from Dromoland was another to go out at this stage, losing to Conor O’Rourke from Naas.