ONtheFAIRWAYS
ROSSLARE
The singles competition in Rosslare on Sunday week was sponsored by Fortune’s Pharmacy with 170 players playing. The winner with 41 points was Donal OKeeffe Snr.
Donal (12) played very well on the front nine and with a birdie at the ninth turned in 23 points. Althought not as spectacular on the way in, he added 18 points to win by one point from Derek Wickham (7).
Derek birdied the twelfth and18th in halves of 18 and 22 points. In third position, also on 40 points, was Denis Noonan (5), and Fergus Carey (13) was fourth on the same score.
Gary Collins (+3) had six birdies to win the gross on 38 points, and Matt Grogan (21), a man in form, won the vets. with 39 points. Seán Benton (15) won the Junior prize with 43 points.
Saturday fourball: 1, Ciarán (8) and Alan Cuddihy (18), 46 points; 2, Stephen Healy (9) and Conor Brett (12), 46 points; 3, Aidan Ryan (12) and Conor McAllister (14), 46 points. Wednesday open singles: 1, Bob Quilty (10), 39 points; 2, Liam Duggan (5), 39 points; gross, Gary Collins (+3), 35 points; vet., Liam MacNamara (4), 38 points; 3, Anthony Duggan (6), 37 points.
Sunday’s competition was also a qualifier for the golfer of the year, with 16 players going through to the matchplay stage.
First round results: Denis Noonan beat Syl Farrell; Joe Moran beat Jim Cullimore; Philip Balfe beat Conor Kelly; Ciarán Cuddihy beat Stan Jackson; Eamonn O’Rourke beat John B. Murphy; Dermot Hall beat Anthony Duggan; Niall Ellard beat Greg Kelleher; Tim Quinlivan beat Eamonn Kelly.
Second round results: Noonan beat Moran; Cuddihy beat Balfe; Hall beat O’Rourke; Quinlivan beat Ellard.
John Brady and Brendan Rossiter were members of the Leinster Under-18 boys’ team which won the inter-provincials in Blarney last week. Both players contributed handsomely with John scoring two wins, two halves and one loss in five matches, and Brendan scoring three wins, two halves and one loss in six matches. Well done boys.
Gents’ open week begins on Friday and continues until August 13. The full programme is Friday, August 4, mixed Scotch foursomes (sponsor: Barker’s); Saturday, August 5, fourball (sponsor: Hugh Boggan Motors); Sunday, August 6, singles (sponsor: Claude Howlin Auctioneers); Monday, August 7, singles (sponsor: TSB); Tuesday, August 8, singles (sponsor: a member); Wednesday, August 9, singles (sponsor: Kelly’s Resort Hotel); Thursday, August 10, team of four (sponsor: Roche Freight); Fridday, August 11, ladies’ and gents’ Scotch foursomes (sponsor: Lexus, Blackrock); Saturday, August 12, singles (sponsor: Wright’s Insurance); Sunday, August 13, fourball (sponsor: Sanros).
Finally, best wishes to our office administrator, Róisín, who is out at present having injured her ankle in a freak accident. Get well soon.
TAGHMON SOCIETY
The society played New Ross G.C. on July 15 and 50 players turned up expectantly, with each thinking that this would be their year to win the coveted Captain’s prize from Seamus McLoughlin.
So with clubs all cleaned up and shoes polished, we went out into the fray. There was a strong wind swirling around the course, keeping the scores down, and rain affected those that went out early.
But the enthusiasm was palpable. Just what is it about Captain’s day that makes so many so eager and nervous at the same time?
The honours went to a frequent past winner, and he was not too shy about telling us all either that this was his fifth victory! Nicholas Cousins stood tallest, winning by a clear four shots on a handicap of 16, yes 16.
Also, just to rub it in further, this was the third year in the last four that a Cousins had won the coveted prize. Thanks again to last year’s winner, Tom McGrath, or else we would have had to listen to even more! Well done Nicky.
Results: 1, Nicholas Cousins (16), 42; 2, Dermot Breen (14), 38; 3, George Dee (27), 36; Cat. 1, Joe Doyle (6), 33 (back six); Cat. 2, Barry McGrath (16), 36; Cat. 3, Seamus McLoughlin (25), 34; front nine, Jamie O’Hanlon (19), 19; back nine, Kevin Cardiff (20), 21; nearest the pin (eleventh), Ryan Cashin, 6’; longest drive, Shane Cummins (18th); past Captain’s prize, Eddie Cousins (23), 32; visitor, Rhian Clarke (25), 35.
It is worth noting that the first four named above are, shall we say, infrequent players with the society for one reason or another, so maybe it is time for the regulars to up their game a bit or for those four to play a bit more regularly.
After the game we headed back to the Ferrycarrig Hotel for the Captain’s dinner and prize presentation. All were treated to an excellent, sumptuous and filling four-course meal and nobody went home hungry. Of course, there were a few obligatory pints to be had as well, maybe more than a few.
Everyone in the society wishes stalwart member and past Captain, Jim O’Keeffe, a speedy recovery from his recent incapacitation and we hope to see him back on the course again very soon.
There were three winners of the twos club, namely Ryan Cashin, Edward Cousins and Joe Doyle winning €30 each. The long-suffering Frances McGrath was the winner of our lottery bonus ball.
The next outing is in Gowran Park G.C. on August 19 from 11 a.m. to 12.15 p.m. The outing after that is in Rathsallagh and we are thinking of making it an overnight stay in a Carlow hotel, so if it appeals to you let us know by the Gowran outing as these things have to be arranged well in advance. Equally, if you are not interested let us know too as then we are not left wondering.
Please note that the date and times on your outings card is incorrect for Rathsallagh. The correct date is Saturday, September 23, starting at 9 a.m. until 10.50 a.m. As usual let a committee member know whether you are playing or not. Bring along a friend as a visitor.
The day was gratefully sponsored by our genial host who puts up with us all year long, Dolores Anglim of our home base pub, Alice Brady’s. Many thanks Dolores for your generosity.
ROSSLARE LADIES
Last Tuesday was a beautiful sunny day with no excuse for bad golf - a singles competition with fabulous wooden-crafted prizes sponsored by The Forge Craft Shop.
Catherine Young was the lucky winner of first prize, but I wouldn’t say it was luck as she is playing very well at the moment. Catherine won with 40 points and lost two shots in the process.
Ciara Howard came second with a close 39 points and Niamh Byrne, who has been very successful in the gross in recent competitions, won the gross again. Well done ladies.
We would like to wish the best of luck to Paula O’Leary, Elizabeth Callaghan and Ann Connolly next Wednesday, August 2, in Carlow, having qualified to represent the club in the Valerie Doyle Perpetual Cup.
It was lovely to see our honorary member, Girlie Martin, celebrate her 89th birthday on Tuesday with her friends for lunch in the club. Happy birthday Girlie!
Next week is men’s open week but there is a ladies’ and gents’ open Scotch foursomes on Friday, August 11, sponsored by Lexus, Blackrock.
Tuesday, August 15, we are running a ladies’ Solheim Cup. It is a team of four open to visitors - €10 each. On the front nine, the total scores of the two fourballs will be added to the four singles scores on the back nine. This should be fun.
Saturday, July 22, fourball: 1, Esther Broderick (22/20) and Simone McCarthy (28/25), 43 points; 2, Valerie Doyle (9/8) and Irene Walker (20/18), 42 points (back nine).
Saturday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 25, Burrow twelve-hole competition: 1, Julie O’Brien (36/24), 22 points; 2, Mary Curtis (35/23), 21 points (back six).
Tuesday, July 25, singles stableford sponsored by The Forge Craft Shop: 1, Catherine Young (25), 40 points; 2, Ciara Howard (16), 39 points; gross, Niamh Byrne (9), 32 points; 3, Moira Fortune (15), 36 points; 4, Trish Devereux (21), 36 points; 5, Elaine McGirr (32), 35 points; Seniors, Catherine Howard (16), 34 points.
Wednesday, July 26, open singles stableford: 1, Joan Fitzgerald (Craddockstown, 20), 34 points; 2, Cara Ryan (Grange, 14), 32 points.
WEXFORD
The Senior section held a four-person scramble competition on Tuesday. The winners with 40.5 were Pat Kavanagh, Seamus Sills, Ed. Mooney and Brendan Long. In second place were John Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Seamus Byrne and Brian Judd.
Senior section subs for the 2017-2018 year are now due and must be paid before the end of August. Subs can be posted to the Seniors scorecard box.
Having being in the prizes last week for the first time this year, Chairman Tom went out in the President’s prize on Saturday and recorded what must be a record score of 16 shots on the eighth hole. The Chairman is very proud of this achievement as it beats his record eight shots from a bunker on the 18th hole. Golf is a cruel game.
Wednesday’s 14-hole open stableford was won by Alan Keeling and Colm Cosgrave with a good score of 38 points. Larry Byrne and John Pitt finished second with 36 points.
Friday’s competition was an open two-person fourball in aid of Cystic Fibrosis. Despite the poor weather, a big number took part and the winning team was James and Frankie Morrissey with 46 points. Second place went to Ben MacAleese and Rhian Clarke with 45 points (back nine), and third place went to Chairman Tom Rowe and his coach Tommy Hynes, also on 45 points.
Kevin Murphy and Derek Walsh were in fourth position on 44 points, with Paddy Brady and John Furlong next, also on 44 points. Congratulations to all concerned in organising the event and the beard shave which raised funds for Cystic Fibrosis.
The second major of the year took place last weekend. The President Adrian Doyle’s prize was played for over Saturday and Sunday in difficult weather conditions. Full results will appear in next week’s notes.
Congratulations to our ladies who have qualified for the semi-final of the Leinster Minor Cup.
WEXFORD LADIES
Well done to Rose Morris (32) who won the Seniors competition held on Monday, July 24, with 28 points. On Thursday, July 27, there was a three-person pink ball team event sponsored by Hennessy Garden Centre.
Results: 1, Mary B. O’Leary (27), Mary Cashe (25) and Susan Kelly (24), 117 points; 2, Helen McGuire (19), Patricia Boyd (21) and Martina Gately (17), 111 points; 3, Denise Dunne (22), Margaret Hearne (16) and Helen Robinson (7), 109 points.
Rose Morris did the double last week and won the nine-hole competition with 18 points. Nearest the pin was Margaret Atkinson with 3m 28 cm.
Congratulations to the Minor Cup team which won the Leinster inter-club semi-finals on Friday in Arklow against Wicklow. Well done to all involved.
This is open week, and Thursday’s competition is an open singles stableford sponsored by Hassett’s Chemist. On Saturday, August 5, there is a two-person team event, and on Sunday, August 6, there will be a gents’ and ladies’ fourball competition. The events over the weekend can be any combination of mixed, two ladies or two gents.
ST. HELEN’S LADIES
Saturday, July 22, lady Captain’s day (standard scratch: 72): 1, Nora Kavanagh, 81-15 = 66; 2, Frances Reid, 94-21 = 73; gross, Aine O’Connell (9), 91; 3, Janet Slattery, 93-19 = 74; front nine, Mari Byrne (27), 31.5; back nine, Helena O’Connor (22), 33; nearest the pin: 3rd, Laura Burke; 7th, Helen Kelly; 11th, Trina Cooney; 17th, Linda Shine; 18th (in two), Emer Farrell; Class 1 (0-26), Linda Shine; Class 2, Patricia Williams; visitors’ prize: 1, Mary Cryan (21), 66; 2, M. Noonan (26), 72; Junior girls’ stableford: 1, Ciara Dunne (23), 42 points; men’s nine-hole: 1, Maurice Cooper (9), 31 points; 2, Pat O’Connor (2), 33 points. Wednesday, July 26, open singles stableford (standard scratch: 74): 1, Kate Masterson, 32 points; 2, Annette Barron (26, Slievenamon), 32 points; 3, Joyce Brennan (23), 31 points.
July 28, Friday nine-hole and summer league round twelve: 1, Eimear Cowley (18, Elm Park), 20 points; 2, Marie Carroll (18), 17 points; 3, Suzanne Glynn (18), 12 points.
July 29, open singles stableford (standard scratch: 74): 1, Monica Byrne (30, Ballinascorney), 34 points; 2, Angie Sheehan, (28, Druids Heath), 34 points; 3, Marie Carroll (36), 33 points.
Sunday, July 30, Captain’s prize to the ladies, open singles stableford (standard scratch: 74): 1, Marie Carroll (36), 37 points; 2, Emer Farrell (18), 33 points; 3, Janet Slattery (19), 33 points.
PAULINE’S SOCIETY
Our July outing involved a trip to Rosslare, and the well-appointed and maintained St. Helen’s Bay golf course.
A good turn-out on a lovely day resulted in some high scoring by many of those taking part. Out of the pack with a fine score of 40 points came Dave Feeney to take first place, followed closely behind on 39 points by Pat McGrath.
In third place Brendan Byrne posted 38 points. Nearest to the pin prizes went to Mick Butler and Joe Malone.
Our next outing will be on Saturday, August 12, in Carrick-on-Suir, with the usual arrangements of players signing on the list by Tuesday, August 8, before 8 p.m.
A number of members are still due to pay their annual subscription, and it would be appreciated if they could do so on the day, or before the outing. We hope to see as many of you as possible, and for continuing good weather.
NEW ROSS
It was a busy weekend with the Intermediate and Junior Cup competitions taking place in perfect golfing conditions. There was also the July medal up for grabs so there was something for everybody.
The Intermediate Scratch Cup stayed at home when Donal O’Callaghan edged out his nearest rival by means of a countback. Shooting an 83, the same score as John Kavanagh from Williamstown, Donal eventually got his hands on the silverware by virtue of that better back nine.
Tadgh Cahill was a further shot behind on 84 whilst the first nett prize went to Luke Power with 71. Noel Devine took the second nett, also with 71.
It was a tight finish to the Junior Scratch Cup which saw Ger Ronan pipping Andrew Ryan again over the last nine holes, the pair finishing deadlocked on 79 strokes each. Michael Cullen was a shot behind in third place with 80.
The first nett prize with 75 went to Joe Doyle and the second nett went to Eddie Sweeney on the same total.
In the July medal competition sponsored by Wallace’s of Wellingtonbridge, Seamus Power (15) took the honours by shooting a nett 67. After a countback over the last nine holes, A.J. Mernagh (12) took the runners-up position with 68 whilst Michael Ryan (+1) took third, also with a 68.
Category 1 was won by Ger Ronan (6) on 68, Category 2 by Tadgh Cahill (11) also 68, and Category 3 went to Des Redmond (19) with a nett 69.
This weekend sees the running of the President’s (J.J. Hoyne) prize, starting with the President’s mixed on Thursday from 4 p.m. Then on Friday and Saturday the qualifiers take place and the winner of the competition will be decided on Sunday when the final groups go out in search of this coveted prize.
The Tuesday evening fourball sponsored by Pat Kehoe Oils saw Peter Kehoe (15) and Eamon Delaney (15) shoot a terrific 39 points to emerge clear winners. Second on 37 points were Tom Murphy (16) and John Watson (18), and Kevin Reidy (17) and Miceál O Neill (20) took the third spot with 36 points.
This Tuesday evening the club sponsor the competition and if any individual or group of members would to like to sponsor a Tuesday evening fourball, please contact the Captain, Peter Goggin.
The Split The Pot fundraiser is going great guns and the latest winner was John Kent who took home €54 for only a €2 entry fee. All members should support this novel way of making a few extra Euro for the club - it doesn’t cost a fortune to enter and you never know where your luck may be in coming out a winner.
NEW ROSS SENIORS
We have a large contingent booked in for our trip to Faithlegg Golf Club on Tuesday, August 8, which is our last away outing of the season.
CONTINUED OPPOSITE