Woodstock ladies make history

WOODSTOCK Golf Club will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month and the club received the perfect anniversary present on Monday, when it won its first ever Munster ladies pennant.

Castletroy in Limerick was the venue for the Munster Cup, an inter-club ladies singles aggregate competition for players between 0 and 20 handicaps.

Captain Margaret Ann Killeen (13), Aedin Walsh (10) and Ann Marie Russell (11) represented Woodstock and emerged as one-point winners over Adare.

The Munster Cup, which was presented at the end of competition, is 132 years old. The competition is run annually by the Munster branch of the ILGU, at various venues around the province.

 

Casey scoops captain’s prize after play-off

JOHN O’Halloran’s captain’s prize was played for on Saturday and Sunday at Dromoland. The leading players returned on Sunday evening for a nine-hole play-off, at the end of which Brian Casey was the winner with 104.5.

It was a happy ending to a day that started on a disappointing note for Casey, when he was sent off while playing with Sixmilebridge against St Joseph’s in the Junior C Hurling Championship semi-final, a game that St Joseph’s won.

Casey then made the short journey from Fr Murphy Park in Newmarket to nearby Dromoland for the golf play-off.

Casey and Noel Stapleton, who went on to finish in third spot, were the two leading qualifiers with 69. Declan O’Leary was second overall, half a shot behind the winner.

They were followed by Brian McMahon, Leonard Shanahan, Gerry Malone, Jimmy McManus and Sean McMahon, while the gross was won by Tony Cleary. The nines were won by Peter Doyle and Joe Cronin, while Tom Delaney won the past captains’ category. Jason O’Leary won the students’ category.

In the junior section, the winner was Stephen Casey from Conor Hallisey, with Danny Mungovan in third spot, followed by Tom Hannon.

The presentation of prizes took place during a social evening in the clubhouse.

The competition this weekend will be an 18-hole singles Stableford. Last week’s ladies’ seniors competition was won by Mary Galvin from Mary Keane.

Ennis
ENNIS seniors held a team-of-three modified scramble last week. The winners, with 78 points, were Seamus D’Arcy, Sean O’Gorman and Jimmy McNamara, from John Normoyle, John Guilfoyle and Johnny Cullinan with 70. In third spot with 70 were Pat Cusack, Pierce Cahill and Andy Cregan, followed by Jim Scully, Michael Nunan and Willie Moloney with 69 and Joe McMahon, Luke Coote and Frank White on a similar score. Sixth spot was filled by Pat Rutherford, Jim Hennessy and Pat McGuire, also with 69.

The Kearse Cup will be played for on Thursday, August 22 and a timesheet will operate.

Woodstock
STEPHEN Loftus (+1) won the open singles at Woodstock last week with 40 points, which reflects a course record of 67 off the white markers. Aidan Mulcahy (5) was second, also with 40 points, followed by Ken O’Shaughnessy (12) with 39 points. Kieran Cunnane (scratch) won the gross with 46 points.

In the monthly medal, Adrian Kearney (9) was the winner with 69, from Michael Reen (7), who had a similar score. Tony Kelly (18) was third with 69, while Cathal O’Connor (2) won the gross with 72.

Lahinch
THE Brud Slattery Memorial Trophy was played for at Lahinch last week. The singles Stableford men’s competition, played for on the championship course, was won by Donal Byrnes (15) with 42 points. He had two to spare over Pat Duggan (16), with third spot filled by Michael F Hanrahan (7) with 37 points, followed by Joe Molony Junior (12) with 37, Eugene Judge (7) with 37 and Liam Dalton (12) with 36. Eddie Power won the gross with 37 points.

The ladies singles stroke competition for the Clahane Cup, played for on the Castle Course, was won by Suzanne Hassett (26) with 62 nett, from Sinéad Sexton (1) with 65 and Nicola Kenny (20) with 66. Valerie Hassett won the gross with 79.

In the silver division, the winner was Mary O’Gorman (17) with 67, from Fiona McCarthy (14) with 69 and Niamh Reddan (18) with 70.

The bronze division was won by Geri Baggott (28) with 68 nett, from Helena Tiernan (29) with 68 and Elaine McElhinney (36) with 70.

Andrew and Kate Cloonan were the winners of the Moy Cup, a mixed foursomes stroke competition. The runners-up were Fergal and Eimear Costelloe. The beaten semi-finalists were Ray and Diane Hennessy, Brian McCarthy and Gema Auyso, who were also the leading qualifiers.

In the Shaw Cup, a singles v par competition, the winner was James Collins (10) with nine up from Robert Lucas (20) with five up. In third place, with four up, was Mark Fenton (15), followed by Darragh MacDermott (1) with three up and Gavin Whitaker (8) with three up. Niall Goulding won the gross with one up.

Wednesday’s ladies singles competition on the Castle Course was won by Ciara McInerney (18) with 43 points from Kate McAleese (29) with 40 points. In third spot was Ailbhe O’Reilly (28) with 40 points, followed by Mary Johnston (17) with 39 points, Isobel O’Grady (34) with 39 points and Ailish Edwards (22) with 39 points. Mary O’Meara won the gross with 28 points.

Maeve McCarthy (13) won the Nora Slattery Memorial Trophy, a singles Stableford event, with 41 points, from Sinéad Sexton (scratch) with 36 and Jacqueline Joyce (12) with 35 points. Muiriosa Connolly won the gross with 27 points.

The winner in the silver division was Rina Hanrahan (12) with 35 points, from Catherine McKenna (18) with a similar score. Rose Doyle (12) was third with 34 points.

The winner of the bronze section was Suzanne Hassett (23) with 34 points, from Lynn Slattery (21) with 33 points and Lourdes Griffin (23) with 32 points.

Juan (3) and Ross Fitzgerald (14) won the men’s fourball aggregate competition on the Castle Course last Thursday with 80 points. Michael (14) and Ronan Gilmartin (18) were second with a similar score, followed by Martin Clohessy (16) and Robert Lucas (19) with 78, with fourth spot filled by Dara O’Loghlin (16) and Vincent O’Doherty (25) with 77.

In the Munster Cups, a men’s foursomes Stableford competition played on the Championship Course, the winners were Brian Whitaker (5) and Stephen McCarthy (5) with 42 points. In second place were Niall Collins (13) and Jim O’Leary (18) with 35 points, followed by Denis Creedon (8) and Conor O’Brien (9) with 35 points.

Mary O’Mahony (16) and Tineke Leonard (19) were the winners of the Dunally Cups, a ladies’ foursomes Stableford competition, with 39 points. They had two to spare over Suzanne Lynch (12) and Marion O’Keeffe (15) with 37 points, with third spot filled by Nicola Kenny (19) and Eadaoin Furey (2) on 36 points. The gross was won by Valerie Hassett and Val Shannon with 24 points.

A busy week of competition at Lahinch last week came to a close with the lady captain’s (Aedin McCarthy) prize on Saturday. The winner was Rose Doyle (12) with 40 points, from scratch player Sinéad Sexton with 39 points, with third spot filled by Susan Morisson (28) with 39 points. They were followed by Jacqueline Joyce (12), also with 39 points, Pamela Morgan (8), Lelia Palmer (28), Gillian Cashman (33) and Ann Hayden (16), all with 38 points, Mary Sadlier (11) and Connie Fahy (19) with 37 points, Catherine McKenna (18) with 36 points and Fiona McCarthy (14) with a similar score. The gross was won by Olivia Lucas with 32 points.

In the silver section, the winner was Vicki Morris (16) with 36 points, from Ina Nolan (13) with a similar score. Ann Vaughan (12) was third with 35 points, followed by Siobhán Conway (16) with 34 and Jean Basheer (16) also with 34.

In the bronze section, the winner was Karina Doyle (2) with 35 points, from Carmel Burke (24), also with 35 points and Nollie McCarthy (21), who also hit 35 points. Vera Madden (22) was fourth with 34 points, one ahead of Brenda Fitzgerald (21).

The nines were won by Shona McGrath with 20 points and Mary O’Brien with 19, while Sorcha Feore (36) won the section for 30-36 handicaps. Anna Glynn won the past captain’s section with 33 points, while Aileen Hickey was the best granny with 34 points.

The 18-hole competition on the Castle Course was won by Bridget Abernethy (34) with 40 points from Ann O’Shaughnessy with 28 points, while the nine-hole competition on the course was won by Mona Davis with 20 points from Phil Collier with a similar score.

Saturday’s men’s singles Stableford competition on the Castle Course was won by Robert J Browne (3) with 46 points from Urban McMahon (12) with a similar score. John Shaw (19) was third with 43 points, followed by Billy Casey (19) also with 43.

Gary Lavelle won the gross with 37 points.

Kilkee
MARION Kennedy (26) was the winner of the Lily Moore Cup at Kilkee last week with 45 points. She had eight to spare over Kay Hickey (28), with Nuala Ceannt (31) in third place with 36 points. Eimear Nation won the gross.

In the open singles, the winner was Patricia McDonnell (26) with 41 points, from Helen Hanrahan (27) with 39 points, with Therese Clancy (26) in third spot with 39 points. The gross was won by Vivienne Gabbetti (13) with 23 points, while the nines were won by Ann Cronin (23) with 21 points and Tineke Leonard (19) with 22 points.

The winner of the category (29-36) prize was Yvonne Sheehan (35) with 40 points.

On Sunday, the lady captain’s (Ann Boyle) prize was played for and the winner was Margaret O’Sullivan (32) with 65, from Kay O’Neill (26) with 68. They were followed by Elaine Lyons (35) with 68, Bernadette Mullett (32) with 68, Ann Burns (31) with 70 and Ann Cronin (23) also with 70. Mary McGivern (18) won the gross with 90, while the nines were won by Ann Fox (26) with 32 and Elizabeth Williams (24) with 31. Margaret Fenton (36) won the nine-hole competition with 14 points.

Other prize winners were Maeve O’Neill (25) with 28 points (visitors), Mary McGivern (long drive), Gay Callaghan (nearest the pin) and Emer Gilligan (committee prize).

East Clare
DEREK Kenny (9) was the winner of the men’s singles at East Clare with 65 nett, from Brian Lenihan (10) with a similar score. In third place was Brendan Foley (8), also with 69 nett.

In the yellow markers competition, the winner was Joe Carey (17) with 42 points.

In the ladies’ 18-hole singles, the winner was Joan Kinsella with 41 points, from Sheenagh Sullivan with 40 and Pauline Nugent with 38.

The ladies open team of three was won by Sue Casey, Nancy Starr and Joan Kinsella from Bridie Hanrahan, Kathleen O’Brien and Brigid Minogue.

In the Friday mixed scramble, the winners were Brendan Foley, Catherine Murphy, Brigid Minogue and Steve Symes, from Val Donnellan, Margaret MacNamara and Margaret Lynch, with third spot filed by Gerry Nugent, Bill Hayes and Michelle Bennett.

Last week’s men’s seniors competition was won by Kevin Burke, John Fleming and Pat Walsh, from John Farrell, Jim Fahy and Jack Manly, with third spot filled by Pat Clancy, Kieran Sheedy and Michael Bennett.

This weekend, the men’s club has an 18-hole singles competition off both white and yellow markers.

Shannon
SHANNON’S Junior Foursomes Team won the Munster final recently at West Waterford, where they beat Waterford Castle in the semi-final by six holes and Skibbereen in the final by seven holes.

They now play Belvoir Park from Belfast in the All-Ireland semi-finals next Monday at West Waterford Golf Club.

The President’s (Mary O’Looney) Prize to the men and ladies will be played for on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and a large number of members are expected to play.

In the open singles last Wednesday, the winner was Jason O’Donnell (2) with 44 points, from Michael Alan (6) with 41 points and Joe Finlay (12) with 41 points. Jim O’Grady won the gross with 34 points.

Mark Dore (9) won last week’s open singles with 45 points, from David Begley (10) with 43 points and Jason O’Donnell (1) with 43 points. Ed Hickey (scratch) won the gross with 41 points.

Kilrush
LAST week’s fourball at Kilrush was won by Joe Kelly and John Casey with 50 points, from Ollie and Mary McNamara with 48 points. Third spot was filled by Seamus O’Doherty and Gerry O’Malley with 46 points.

In the men’s singles stroke competition on Tuesday last week, Michael Studdert was the winner with 64, from Paddy Carmody with a similar score, with third spot filled by Jim Kelly on 65.

In the men’s singles on Wednesday, the winner was Adrian Walsh with 44 points from Tony McMahon with 42, with third spot filled by Michael Ryan with 40.

In the men’s open singles on Thursday, Ger Ryan was the winner with 43 points, from Michael Ryan (Limerick) with 40 points.

In the ladies’ open fourball on Thursday, Marian Brennan and Anne Hogan won with 46 points from Niamh Whelan and Bríd St Ledger with 45, with third spot filled by Anne Coen and Ann Duggan with 43 points.

Denis Toomey was the winner of the men’s open singles on Friday with 40 points, while the Friday mixed was won by Trevor Martin, John O’Neill, Michael Studdert and Ursula Lineen, from Finbar McMahon, Gerry O’Malley and Margaret Hehir, with third spot filled by Tom Coffey, Kieran Lillis and Clare Pyne.

The lady captain’s (Margaret Donnelly) prize was played for on Saturday and resulted in victory for Anne Brennan with 68, from Kathleen Haugh with 69, Peggy Mulqueen with 70, Ann Cronin with 71, Margaret Clancy with 71 and Bríd St Ledger with 72. Niamh Whelan won the gross with 79.

The nines were won by Kathleen O’Brien and Miriam Saunders, while Mary Collins won the past captain’s prize, with Mary Lyons winning the committee prize. Kitty McNamara won the ladies nine-hole competition, from Ann McMahon. Niamh Whelan won the long drive and Mary McNamara won the prize for nearest the pin.

Tony McMahon won the lady captain’s prize to the men with 40 points, from John McGrath on 38 and Jim Young Senior on 37.

The lady captain’s prize to the junior ladies was won by Sarah Thornton, from Orna Crowley and Caoimhe Lyons.

In the visitors’ section, the winner was Elizabeth Blake, from Nuala Kierans.

The men’s open singles on Sunday was won by John Donnelly with 38 points, from Eric Dore on 38, John Saunders also on 38 and John Stapleton on 37.

Following requests from members in relation to Clare being involved in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday, the qualifier for the captain’s (Michael Hogan) prize will take place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, with the play-off being run off on Saturday evening.

The presentation will take place on Sunday evening immediately after the captain’s mixed.

Doonbeg Society
MEMBERS of the Doonbeg Society will play for the O’Dea Cup at Kilkee on Sunday, when the tee will be available from 9.40am to 11am.

Spanish Point
BERNADETTE O’Gorman (24) was the winner of the Lady Captain’s Charity Day with a score of 41 points. Evelyn Kelly was second with 37 points and Kathleen Haugh third on 35 points. Cogan’s open day will be held next Monday and a time sheet is available in the clubhouse.

The winner of the Tuesday seniors open Stableford competition was Brian O’Loughlin with 40 points, followed by Patrick O’Boyle with 39 points.

The winner of the Friday open singles Stableford competition was Michael O’Connor with a score of 36 points, followed by Anthony Garrihy with a similar score.

The winners of the Sunday Rumble were Patrick O’Boyle, Donal Burke, Gerry Gallagher and Bernie O’Halloran with 89 points. This weekend there is an 18-hole singles, which is also part of the golfer of the year series.

Portumna
PORTUMNA Golf Club hosted the provincial finals of the cups and shields competitions last weekend.

Westport won the Junior Cup, Athlone won the Jimmy Bruen Shield, Claremorris were successful in the Pierce Purcell and Castle Dargan claimed the Kenny Cup title.

Portumna will host the All-Ireland finals of the Ladies Senior Cup competition this Friday and Saturday, with Connacht being represented by Portumna.

There are a number of other open competitions coming up, including an open singles for gents and ladies on Sunday, August 25 as a fundraiser for cancer research; a gents open singles on Sunday, September 1 and an open four-person team event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 6, 7 and 8.

The weekly men’s open singles continues on Mondays with an open seniors singles every Wednesday.
Further information and the timesheet are available by contacting the clubhouse.

Gort
RYAN Boyle (4) was the winner of the men’s 18-hole singles at Gort on Friday with 42 points.
The club’s August open week continues until this Sunday.

Cooraclare/Cree
THE winner of the Cooraclare/Cree annual captain’s day (Ross Townsend) prize at Kilrush on Bank Holiay Monday was Joe Kelly from Cooraclare.

In the men’s section, Gerry O’Malley was the winner from Gay Looney, followed by Martin Queally, with John Donnelly in fourth place.

In the ladies section, the winner was Annie Gallagher, from Peggy Mulqueen, with Geraldine Burke third, followed by Mary McCarthy.

In the men’s visitors’ section, John Casey was the winner, from Noel Kilkenny, while the lady visitors’ section was won by Ann Marie Donnellan, from Margaret Byrne.

Pascal Looney and Barney Sheedy won the nines in the men’s competition, while the winners in the ladies’ section were Ailish Lorigan and Claire Pyne.

In the junior section, the winner was Shane Lillis from David McMahon. A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Jack Horgan and the prize for most improved player was won by Michael Corry.

The new society captain for the coming year is Mary Bolton.

Vintners trip
THE Clare vintners and friends will travel from Shannon to Salou in Spain from September 13 to 20.

This is an annual trip, which includes three rounds of golf at Lumina Lakes and Lumina Hill golf clubs.
Further information is available from Ruan’s Michael Moloney.

Pitch and putt
AT the Clare Road Pitch and Putt Club on Sunday, the three-ball scramble was won by Tony Clancy, Gerry Kierce and Gerry Considine.

Cill Na Mona Captain’s Day
THE Cill Na Mona captain’s day will be held this Saturday, with the tee-off at 1pm.

The gents captain is Michael Murphy and ladies captain is Mary Marrinan. There will also be visitors’ prizes on the day.