ONtheFAIRWAYS
NEWROSS
Martin O’Brien Cup sponsored by our own Martin O’Brien: 1, Dick Cuddihy (15), 63; 2, James Wallace (22), 66; 3, Ray Shannon (14), 67; gross, Michael Ryan Jnr., 72; Cat. 1, Andrew Ryan (4), 71; Cat. 2, Leo Carroll (10), 67; Cat. 3, Richard Aylward (19), 68.
Tuesday fourball sponsored by Mullinavat Friends of New Ross Golf Club: 1, Noel Devine (14) and Declan Clarke (10), 39 points; 2, Tadgh Cahill (11) and Seán Diskin (16), 37 points; 3, John Coleman (19) and John Paul Traynor (18), 35 points (last nine).
The Captain’s mixed prize is on Friday, May 25. On Wednesday, May 30, there is the lady Captain Maeve Wilson’s Memorial ‘Play In Pink Day” for Breast Cancer Research. This will be an open fourball competition open to both men and women that will also include a fundraising raffle and putting competition throughout the day.
Our Pierce Purcell side put up a magnificent performance in reaching the regional final but were narrowly beaten by the home side, Wexford, on a 3.5 to 1.5 score. We finished second to Wexford of four clubs to qualify from 15 on Saturday, and beat Courtown on Sunday morning to reach the final.
However, a combination of a quick turnaround and coming up against home opposition proved too much. The match was much closer than the scoreline suggests.
Sincere thanks to the panel and managers who put in much work and practice and gave their time over the whole weekend. Thanks to their wives and families also as they saw very little of their husbands throughout both days.
The panel featured Paul Brennan, Pat Bennett, Harry Reinhardt, Fabian Flood, James O’Brien, Declan Clarke, Val Molloy, John Evoy, A.J. Mernagh, Tadgh Cahill and Seán Diskin. The side was managed by both Andrew Ryan and Ger Ronan.
Our Cullen Cup side lost to Castlecomer on the narrowest of margins 3/2, with the last match being decided on the 20th hole.
Split The Pot winners who collected €102 were John Murphy, Jim Sutton, Pat Shannon and Tom Kent. The next draw is on April 22.
NEWROSSSENIORS
They don’t call Wicklow the Garden County for nothing, as we witnessed a terrific show of colour on our visit to Coollattin last week.
The shrubs were in full bloom on a perfect May day for golf and for viewing the surroundings of this picturesque course. We had a total of eleven four-person teams who really enjoyed themselves on a course in immaculate condition.
Compliments go to Coollattin Golf Club for the warm welcome our group got from the club professional, Peter Jones, and Vicky in the restaurant.
Once again, the scoring was excellent, proving that these Seniors can still post a good return no matter what course they are playing on.
We welcomed back Luke Power after his leg injury and pleased to report he played rather well too. The honours went to Denis Kirwan (14), Willie Whitty (17), Bill Hurley (20) and Donal Kavanagh (23) with a cracking score of 93 points.
Second, one point behind on 92, came Tony Redmond (17), Paddy Mahony (19), Robert O’Dwyer (21) and Jim Kehoe (25).
Third place was filled by Tom Murphy (16), Steve Travis (19), Luke Power (19) and Larry Shannon (20) with 88 points, whilst Dick Cuddihy (15), John Murphy (17), Brian Dolan (23) and Ollie Brennan (27) took fourth prize with 87 points.
The fifth prize on 86 points went to John Browne (12), Michael Brennan (19), Tony Sexton (22) and Tom Kent (26). Nearest the pin prize on the tricky 18th hole went to John Coleman.
Our next away outing is to Waterford Castle on Monday, June 18, with our tee-times 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon. We will collect the names of those travelling and the all-in fee of €25 on Thursday, June 7. All those wishing to go should have their money with them on that day so as to avoid confusion.
Back at the ranch as it were on Thursday, we had a great turn-out of twelve four-person teams. The Gods were smiling on us too as the sun made its appearance in pleasant weather, dry underfoot and dry overhead.
With the course and greens in perfect condition, expectations were that scoring returns were going to be high. That is exactly the way it panned out, with seven of the twelve competing teams cracking the 90-point target by some distance.
There was none better than the winning team of Denis Kirwan (14), Willie Byrne (17), Richie Aylward (19) and Jamesie Murphy (21) who brought in a fantastic score of 99 points.
Close behind in second place with 98 points came Jim ‘Ross’ Ryan (17), Pat Traynor (18), Martin Forristal (20) and Tom Kent (26).
The 97 points registered by Dick Cuddihy (15), Luke Power (19), John F. Roche (21) and Brian Dolan (23) proved good enough to claim third prize. No one claimed any of the two prizes on offer for nearest the pin.
We have our usual game next Thursday with the draw for teams at 9.45 a.m. sharp. Once again a reminder to all players to be in good time as latecomers upset the schedule.
NEWROSSLADIES
Another reminder to book your slot for our lady Captain Maeve’s charity day and pink day in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute which will be held on May 30. It is an open fourball for men and women.
We plan to have a fun and social day, running a putting competition and a raffle. We are asking all members if they could bring in something to contribute to the raffle and leave it behind the bar or in the office, it would be greatly appreciated.
Hard luck to the Cullen Cup team which played against Castlecomer in New Ross, managed by Teresa Byrne and Rory Hussey.
Team: Maria Burford and Declan Clarke, Mary J. Maher and Ger Ronan, Margaret Furlong and Eamon Dungan, Adeline Foxe and Michael Ryan, and Marie Therese Wall and Michael Kelleher.
All the matches were so close and the final match, at two matches each, went all the way to the 20th hole. Having to give a shot was not easy and then losing it led to disappointment, but the golf was superb and you did us proud. We live to fight another day!
Ladies, please take note in our fixture diary that our Captain Martin’s mixed team event is Friday, May 25, and not the 26th as stated, with tee-times starting at 4 p.m.