Single-stroke victory for Young on Castle Course

Jim Young Senior (7) was the winner of the men’s monthly medal, which was played for on the Castle Course in Lahinch on Saturday. He returned a score of 61 nett to win by a stroke from Duncan Cusack (7) with Ronan Murphy (6) in third spot, two strokes further back.
The men’s fourball Stableford competition on Sunday was won by Urban McMahon (12) and John O’Gorman (20) with 46 points. In the ladies’ singles Stableford on Saturday, the winner was Bernadette Scanlan (26) with 34 points.

Ennis
Ennis seniors held a team-of-three scramble last week when the winners, with 82 points were Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Butler and John McEntee. They were followed by Tim Kelly, Bill Leacy and Paddy Cahill with 81 points, with third spot filled by Frank Landy, Tom Purcell and Tony Kehoe with 77. In fourth place were Tom Greene, Sean O’Gorman and Jim Scully.

Spanish Point
The winter schedule continued in Spanish Point over the weekend with a singles Stableford competition supported by 48 members. Despite blustery conditions, Liam Burke emerged the winner with a fine score of 41 points, Mick Kenny was second with 40 points, Martin Glenny was third with 39 points and fourth was Liam Ryan with 38 points. This weekend, there is a three or four-man scramble and the usual timesheets are in operation.

Kilrush
The men’s seniors outing at Kilrush last week was won by TJ Lyons, Michael Ryan and John Robinson from Denis F Nagle, Paddy Carmody and Tom Prendeville, with third spot filled by Billy Clarke, John Stapleton and Murt Collins.

Week two of the spring league continues until this Saturday. The leaders after round one are the teams led by Michael Hogan, Tom Prendeville, Tom Smyth and Jimmy McSwiggan.

East Clare
Tony McMahon (10) was the winner of the men’s 15-hole singles Stableford competition at East Clare with 41 points. He had two to spare over Martin McInerney (18).

In last week’s ladies’ seniors outing, the winners were Georgina Wright, Anna McGillicuddy and Bess Fennessy from Noreen Ryan, Mary Brennan and Breda Reid.

This weekend, there will be a fourball betterball competition for men.

This is the final week in round two of the winter league and the scoring continues to be very good. Teams that had struggled in round one have stormed up the leader board as a result of some superb scoring in the 15-hole fourballs.

Portumna
Scoring was good in the weekend’s 14-hole singles competition at Portumna. Matt Donohue (8) won the 0-10 category with 32 points. David Solan (13) was the winner of the 11-14 category with 30 points.

In the 15-18 category, the winner was Mike Coniry (17) with 35 points while Michael Flanagan (20) won the 19 and over category with 32 points. In the seniors’ section, Peadar Ryan (14) was the winner with 30 points. In the ladies’ 14-hole competition last week, the winner was Mary Madden with 32 points.

Week one of the ladies’ spring league proved very exciting, with some excellent scores. The club open three-ball continues until April.

There will be a progressive 25 card game this Friday, Friday, February 22 and March 1.

Dromoland
The team of Jimmy McManus, Aidan ­McMahon, Dermot O’Neill, Frank O’Grady and Sean Conway won week four of the spring league. The weekly winner was Tim Crowe.

Team 8 consisting of Jimmy McManus, Aidan McMahon, Dermot O’Neill, Frank O’Grady and Sean Conway are in the lead ­after week four followed by Team 14 of Gerry McInerney, Paul O’Brien, Michael Flannery, Diarmuid McMahon and Gerry Malone and Team 4 of Seamus Cusack, Jason Ronan, John O’Neill, Frank Barry and Philip Hehir.

In the ladies’ league, team 8 consisting of Sandy Smyth, Mary O’Donnell, Maeve ­McMahon, Annette Ryan, Ursula McManus and Anne O’Toole are now only five points behind the leaders, Mairéad Bergin, Colette Colleran, Beatie Porter, Tina Maguire, ­Adrienne Kidd, Hannah O’Brien and Lauren McConway. In the inaugural outing for ­senior ladies’ golf in Dromoland, the winner was Maureen McKeogh from Ber McDermott.

Woodstock
The winner of the club singles at Woodstock at the weekend was Noel Kelleher (18) with 46 points while Tony Nugent (4) won the gross.

This weekend there will be a club singles while the spring league will get underway.

Gort
In the men’s 18-hole singles at Gort at the weekend the winner was Kevin Mulkerrins (15) with 50 points from Bryan Grealy (19) on 44 points, Dermot McDermott (15) with a similar score and Ronan Higgins (7) with 41 points.

The gross was won by Eamonn Morrissey (5) with 35 points, There will be a similar competition this weekend while the weekly Monday open will get underway next Monday.

The ladies’ 18-hole foursomes spring league continues this week, with the final set for Sunday, February 24.

Corofin
The first singles outing of the new golf season for the Corofin Golf Society takes place at Portumna this Saturday, where the tee is reserved from 9.30am. Most members have enjoyed relatively little golf so far this year and will therefore be hoping for a fine day on Saturday to get back on the fairways.

The local club is hoping to confirm the names of those intending to take part on the weekend away to Westport in early April.

Clare Teachers
Athenry will be the venue this Saturday at 10.30am for an outing for members of the Clare Teachers’ Society. The format will be 18 holes singles.

Cooraclare-Cree
THE Cooraclare-Cree Society had an enjoyable outing to Ennis on Saturday. Prizes were presented to the winners by society captain, Ross Townsend.

In first place was Martin Morrissey, followed by Michael Cooney, with third spot filled by Denis Nagle. The ladies’ prize was won by Geraldine Burke from Clare Pyne and Annie Gallagher. The visitors’ prize was won by Billy Clarke. The next outing will be to Dromoland on March 3.

Pitch and putt
Kevin Woods was the winner of the strokeplay competition at the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday, when Gerry Kierce was in second place. Marty Fawl won the gross.

Cups and shield dates finalised
Dates and venues for the 2013 GUI cups and shields were confirmed this week.
Shannon will host the North section of the Jimmy Bruen Shield on May 11-12. The hosts will play Kilrush, Doonbeg Links will play Spanish Point, Woodstock will play Ennis and Kilkee will take on Lahinch.

A week later (May 25-26), Lahinch will be the venue for the North section in the Pierce Purcell Shield. Ennis will play the hosts, Kilrush will take on Dromoland Castle, Kilkee will play Spanish Point and Woodstock face Doonbeg Links.

In the Irish mixed foursomes, Dromoland Castle will host the North section on June 15-16 and here Woodstock play Shannon, Doonbeg Links take on Kilrush, Lahinch play Dromoland and Kilkee face Ennis.

The North section of the Barton Shield will be played at Limerick on June 22/23 when Nenagh play Charleville, Adare Manor play Dromoland Castle, with the winners going on to play Shannon. Roscrea play Ennis, Limerick play East Clare, with the winners facing Rathbane. Castletroy play Woodstock, with the winners playing Lahinch.

Ennis is the venue for the Irish Junior Cup (North section) on June 29 and 30, when Lahinch play Kilkee, with the winners going on to play Woodstock while Dromoland Castle will play Kilrush and Ennis will take on Shannon.

On July 6 and 7, Castletroy will host the North section of the Irish Senior Cup. Lahinch will play Shannon, Castletroy play Ennis, with Roscrea awaiting the runners-up.
Adare Manor play Dromoland Castle, Charleville play Rathbane, with East Clare awaiting the winners while Nenagh play ­Limerick, with Woodstock playing the winners.