ON the FAIRWAYS
NEWROSS SENIORS
It was out in the foggy dew last Thursday morning for our 14 teams taking part in our weekly outing.
With the dew lying heavy on the fairways and greens, good scoring once again proved to be difficult in the forenoon. However, as the day brightened up conditions improved but nevertheless the 90-point target barrier was not broken.
In the end it was a blanket finish with only one point between the first three teams home. One team made a valiant effort coming up only one point short - who missed the vital putt to surpass the 90 points?
Scoring 89 points and taking the bragging honours in first place were John Murphy (17), Jim ‘Ross’ Ryan (18), John Fitzpatrick (19) and Tom Kent (26).
A point behind on 88 points came Peter Goggin (16), John F. Roche (16), Colin Casey (22) and Brian Dolan (22) to finish runners-up. The third spot went to John Kennedy (16), Dan Quigley (20), Dick Cahill (20) and Larry Shannon (20) with 87 points.
Since the introduction of the pole measures in place of tapes on holes nine and eleven there has been a noticeable absence in nearest the pin winners. Now the cry is to bring back the tapes and give the players a better chance of winning a few balls.
Our A.G.M. will be held on Thursday, December 1, and the Christmas outing and dinner is on the following Thursday, December 8. All-in cost of that is only €20 per head, and with extra prizes on offer the deal represents excellent value.
Once again players are reminded to be in good time for the team draw each week at 10.40 a.m. sharp, especially now with the dark evenings setting in.
NEWROSS LADIES
Wednesday, November 2, 14-hole stableford: 1, Denise Bolger (16), 31 points; 2, Kay Kelleher (25), 27 points (last three); 3, Anna Murphy (25), 27 points (last six); Senior, Anne Fenlon (24), 26 points.
Upcoming competitions: Wednesday, November 9, 16 and 23, 14-hole stableford (club).
The ladies’ A.G.M. will be held on Thursday, November 10, at 8 p.m. in the clubhouse.
BUNCLODY
October 26, Wednesday open singles: 1, Ray Moore (16), 38 points; 2, Des Roche (6, Courtown), 38 points; 3, Johnny Ryan (17), 37 points; best lady, Lucy Healy (13), 36 points.
October 30 and November 1, ladies’ weekly competition: 1, Margaret Moore (11), 33 points; 2, Marita Byrne (15), 29 points.
October 31, open singles: 1, Jonathon Dodd (15, European Club), 39 points; 2, Margaret Moore (11), 38 points; gross, Mick Healy (4), 33 points; 3, Pat Moore (12), 36 points.
November 2, Wednesday open singles: 1, Laurence Walsh (13, Gowran), 42 points; 2, Jim McGee (9, Wexford), 40 points; 3, James Bodels (12), 38 points.
Congratulations to the ladies’ golfer of the year, Linda Byrne.
COURTOWN LADIES
Tuesday, November 1, nine-hole champagne scramble - front nine: 1, Julie McCartan (23), Noreen Caulfield (32), Janice McDonald (30), Elaine Fitzgerald (36), 48 points; 2, Pat Walters (21), Breda Spencer (25), Dorothy Symes (33), 46 points (countback).
Back nine: 1, Dorris Doyle (22), Jacqueline Hamilton (34), Patty Flynn (25), Jean Valentine (36), 45 points; 2, Catherine Quinn (17), Terry O’Reilly (29), Breda Nolan (36), Sammie Appleyard (36), 44 points.
BALLYMONEY
Bank holiday nine-hole: 1, Eugene O’Brien (12), 21 points; 2, Ed Lysaght (17), 19 points; 3, John Fitzpatrick (18).
Wednesday nine-hole: 1, Derek Robinson (8), 20 points; 2, Liam Redmond (10), 18 points; 3, Sammy Walker (8), 17 points.
The weekend stableford singles was played in sunshine but strong wind. Clareman Mike O’Grady (14) won with 40 points.
Mike had a great stroke of luck on the par five 14th, with a wayward drive ending up sitting on a branch of a tree over a hazard! Mike managed to tap the ball with his driver on to the 13th fairway and saved a bogey.
Donal Byrne (4) shot 73 for 38 points and was second, with Robbie Kehoe (12) in third place, holding off Kevin Byrne on countback.
Winter league Group 1: Robbie Kehoe and Seán Furlong beat Ken and Frank Layton; Mike O’Grady and Peter Byrne beat Pádraig Grainger and Christy Dodson; Stephen Greene and Dermot Noctor beat Donal Byrne and Mick Byrne.
Group 2: Joe Breen and John Doyle (substitute for Brendan Whyte) beat Sammy Walker and Anthony Fortune; Paul Swinburne and Liam Morris beat Martin Conroy and Tommy Dunne; Billy and Pat Larkin beat John Fitzgerald and Marty Lawlor.
Group 3: Richard Temple and Tom Keogh beat John Reville and Ger McNally; Brian Delaney and Derek Robinson received a walkover from Shane Fox and David Glynn.
Group 4: Paul and Anthony Doyle beat Eugene and Paul O’Brien; Paul Hayden and Philip Moore beat Ron Breen and Charlie Logan; Rudi Wortmann and Brian Brooking beat John Farrell and Tony Aherne.
ENNISCORTHY
Four-person team open competition, stableford, October 29 and 30, sponsored by E.G.C. (176 played): 1, Phillip Browne (11), Joe Delaney (6), Shane Fortune (10), Bill Whelan (10), 98 points; 2, Michael Foley (18), Kevin O’Driscoll (14), Tony O’Driscoll (17), Ollie O’Connor (Callan, 14), 96 points; 3, Eunan Doyle (10), James Morrissey (7), Tommy Morrissey (Wexford , 10), Ger Walsh (Ballymoney, 18), 96 points.
Ladies’and gents’ open fourball, October 31, sponsored by E.G.C. (78 played): 1, Eunan Doyle (10) and James Morrissey (7), 48 points; 2, Pat Kenny (13) and Joe Murphy (8), 46 points (back nine).
Now for four historic results. Many thanks to Tom Kirwan and his exemplary diligence to the job once again for digging these out. Better late than never!
Three-person team, August 1, sponsored by Kilcannon Garden Centre (70 played): 1, Brian Balfe (4), Declan Balfe (13), Mark Goodison (5), 94 points; 2, Darragh Murphy (Killerig, 24), Joe Murphy (Killerig, 18), Nicky Murphy (9), 90 points; 3, Tom Breen (14), Paul Brennan (7), Francis Whelan (15), 85 points.
Singles competition, August 7 and 8, sponsored by Turfcare (153 played; S.S. 73): 1, Tom Breen (15), 68; 2, Keith Donnelly (8), 70; gross, Jason Rackard (+1), 70; 3, Seán Hamilton (23), 70; 4, Ger Byrne (14), 71 (back nine); 5, David Mahon (17), 71; Senior, George Leech (13), 71.
Gents’ open Seniors, September 9, sponsored by Christy O’Connor (68 played): overall winner, Ger Collins (20), 41 points; Over-50s: 1, Peter Jordan (9), 35 points; 2, Seamus Murphy (14), 32 points; Over-60s: 1, Pat Cousins (20), 35 points; 2, Jim Doran (12), 33 points; Over-70s: 1, Michael Coffey (5), 35 points; 2, Brendan Morris (20), 31 points; Over-80s: 1, Mick Walsh (28), 40 points; 2, John J. Bolger (Courtown, 18), 33 points.
Four-person scramble, October 1 and 2, sponsored by E.G.C. (178 played): 1, Ray Hemingway (15), Denis Dunbar (9), William Sinnott (15), Martin Canavan (14), 1/8 handicap 6.6, 56.4 points; 2, Martin Conroy (19), Tommy Dunne (9), Seánie Furlong (9), Robert Kehoe (Ballymoney, 12), 1/8 handicap 6.1, 56.9 points; 3, Declan Byrne (9), Ger Byrne Jnr. (17), Ger Byrne Snr. (14), Alan Jacob (6), 1/8 handicap 5.8, 57.2 points.
Sunday, November 13, will see the Captain’s end-of-season party to bring the golfing year to a close preceded by a round of golf for all committee members and helpers the same day starting at 11 a.m.
The Brittle Bones must be getting younger and rejuvenated as they are now playing 16 holes. Winners on Thursday were the team with Tom Hogan at the helm. Apologies for not having all names and scores as they weren’t sent to me.
The Brittle Bones Christmas dinner will take place on Thursday, December 1.
COURTOWN
Wednesday sweep, November 2: 1, Owen Martin (16), 31 points; 2, Tom Kinsella (18), 29 points; 3, Joe Keegan (5), 27 points; 4, Leslie Masterson (21), 26 points (last three).
Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6, fourball any combination, 18 holes: 1, Catherine Ledwidge (14), Aine Kavanagh (19), 34 points; 2, Colm Sheehan (5), Paul Mitchell (9), 33 points (last six); 3, Alan McDonald (2), Pat Carty (16), 33 points (last six).
Weekly turkey: Cat. 1, Pat Kenny (13), 21 points (last three); Cat. 2, Owen Martin (16), 25 points.
ROSSLARE LADIES
Tuesday, November 1, despite being very chilly, saw 55 ladies in action. Well done to Elaine McGirr who came first - the first lucky lady to have her turkey organised for Christmas Day!
The Junior girls had a lovely fun day out in Birr run by the I.L.G.U. They played with the Irish girls’ home international team and there was a questions and answers session with Curtis Cup star Maria Dunne (Skerries).
We would like to congratulate Emma Fenlon who will be our incoming Junior Captain for 2017. Many thanks and well done to Alannah Duggan, our outgoing Junior Captain, and best wishes for a promising golfing future.
The sheet has gone up in the ladies’ locker room for anyone wishing to run for the ladies’ committee. Our ladies’ A.G.M. will be on December 6.
Also for your diary, an ecumenical service for deceased members of Rosslare Golf Club will take place at St. Brigid’s Church, Rosslare, at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, November 19, followed by light refreshments in the club.
Tuesday, November 15, is a ladies’ singles stableford competition (14 holes).
Monday, October 31, open fourball: 1, Mary Frances Codd (21/19) and Catherine Haugh (22/20), 41 points.
Tuesday, November 1, singles stableford, 16 holes (turkeys): 1, Elaine McGirr (33/29), 29 points (back eight); 2, Ann Kelly (17/15), 29 points; 3, Liz Murphy (22/20), 28 points (back eight); 4, Frances Kavanagh (19/17), 28 points (back eight); 5, Suzanne Ryan (27/24), 28 points; 6, Kay Broderick (26/23), 27 points.
ST. HELEN’S
Monday, October 31, Halloween scramble: 1, Stephen Kearns (12), ‘Buzzer’ O’Brien (9), John Sinnott (6), Pádraig Tiernan (13), 57; 2, Damien Somers (13, Ballymoney), Alan Somers (8, Rosslare), John Somers (11, Ballymoney), Michael O’Brien (16, Arklow), 58.2.
Wednesday, November 2, Wednesday club: 1, Tony Naughton (18), 27 points; 2, Tom Doyle (13), 26 points; 3, Donall O Murchú (16), 25 points.
Saturday, November 5, winter league round one (eleven holes): 1, Stephen Southam (13), 28 points; 2, Tommy Duggan (9), 25 points; 3, Jim Brauneisen (10), 25 points (countback).
Sunday, November 6, turkeys (15 holes): 1, Eamon Masterson (17), 32 points; 2, Eric Byrne (11), 32 points (countback).
Fixtures: Wednesday, November 9, Wednesday club; Saturday, November 12, club A.G.M. at 6 p.m.; Saturday, November 12, winter league round two; Sunday, November 13, Christmas hams; Wednesday, November 16, Wednesday club.
ROSSLARE
The final 18-hole competition for 2016 was played recently. The Billy Kelly Memorial Scotch foursomes attracted a very big entry and was won by a very youthful combination.
The winners were Paul Murphy (+2) and Julie Ann Malone (11) with a great score of 69.62. They dropped shots at the first, ninth and 17th but had birdies at the 13th and 18th for halves of 38 and 35 and a one over gross score of 73.
Second on 70.12 were Phil (6) and Fionnuala Callery (31), with Kieron (16) and Esther Broderick (22) third on 70.75. Liam MacNamara (4) and Vonnie Kelly (9) won the gross with a 76.
The competition was sponsored by Kelly’s Resort Hotel and Bill Kelly presented the prizes.
Singles: 1, Michael Murray (4), 33 points; 2, J.P. Cullen (12), 32 points; gross, Eric Murphy (5), 25 points; vet., Toddy Murphy (20), 31 points; 3, Pat Rossiter (9), 31 points.
Fourball: 1, Vincent McArdle (22) and John Sherlock (22), 43 points; 2, Ken Maher (10) and Liam Walls (18), 42 points.
Fourball: 1, Conor Gavin (10) and Tony Connellan (24), 42 points; 2, Joe Hyland (13) and Oliver Egan (17), 42 points; 3, Mick O’Connor (17) and Bill Underwood (18), 41 points (back six).
On Friday, November 18, Mass for the deceased members of the club will take place in St. Brigid’s Church, Rosslare, at 6.30 p.m. followed by light refreshments in the golf club.
On this night also, there will be a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Jimmy Bruen Shield victory in Enniscrone in the Irish Cups and Shields finals. The price including meal is €20. Contact Siobhán to make a reservation.
WEXFORD
The end-of-season competitions prize-giving took place in the clubhouse on Sunday night.
The Howlin Cup winner was Maurice Delaney with Pascal Kavanagh being the runner-up. The beaten semi-finalists were John Rackard and Martin Scallan.
We would like to express our thanks to Brendan Howlin T.D. for his continued sponsorship of this competition.
The Studio Cup competition, run in the memory of the late Denis O’Connor for the most consistent golfer of the year, had joint winners in Tom Foran and Larry O’Neill. Our thanks to Eamonn O’Connor for his continued generous sponsorship of this competition.
The Scotch foursomes was won by Darren Robinson and Larry Gainfort. Runners-up in this competition were Ted Hynes and Pat Daly, while Ed Goff and Kevin Bradley were the leading qualifiers. Our thanks to Martin’s Jewellers for their continued sponsorship of this competition.
The mixed foursomes competition sponsored by Wexford Golf Club was won by the pairing of Wendy Tiernan and James ‘Thistle’ Nolan. The runners-up were Mary Walsh and Maurice Delaney.
Winter competitions continued last week with Wednesday’s open fourball 14-hole event won by John Quigley and Davy Farrell with a score of 39 points. Peter Byrne and Christy O’Gorman took second place with 37 points.
Friday’s open three-person team event was won by Anthony Corish, Adrian Doran and Paul Carty with a score of 59 points. Saturday’s fourball was won by Allen O’Donnell and Mick Whelan with 37 points.
Sunday’s competition was a 14-hole fourball played in cold and windy conditions. The winners were Philip Cullen and Michael Swan with a great score of 36 points. Second place went to brothers Jim and ‘Patch’ Doyle on a score of 34 points.
In third place was the combination of Ray Cullinane and Paul Kelly with 33 points (back seven).
We extend our best wishes to our Vice-Captain Tony O’Neill, George (four hips) Roche, Larry O’Neill and Brian ‘Sam’ Dempsey who are all currently out of action and we wish them all a speedy return to the fairways.
All results and forthcoming events can be accessed on our website: wexfordgolfclub.ie.