Extra nine holes needed to determine winner in intermediate strokeplay
Jason O’Connor
AN encouraging turnout of 58 players for last Sunday’s County Strokeplay Championships in Listowel saw some great scoring in the senior competition and drama in the Intermediate competition with an extra 10 holes needed to decide the outcome. Richard Bunyan from the host club, Tralee’s Eamon Sheehy and Deerpark’s John O’Brien all tied on nine under par after the first 36 holes meaning an extra nine holes would be needed to decide the outcome.
Both Richard and Eamon shot one under for their nine holes as opposed to level for John meaning it would go to sudden death which Richard won at the 10th to bring all three titles on the day to Listowel. Declan McCarron had retained the senior title in fine scoring form by shooting 21 under par for his 36 holes which was two clear of James Dignan of Castleisland in second on 19 under par with Deerpark’s Damien Fleming third on 17 under. Fergus Keane made it a clean sweep for Listowel by winning the Junior title with a score of level par as although he was joined on that score by club-mate Tadgh Keane, the latter conceded defeat to the former rather than take part in a play-off for the title.
This weekend sees the Munster Strokeplay Championships take place at the Lakeside course in Templemore, Co Tipperary with Kerry interest on both days.
On Saturday morning in the Intermediate grade Deerpark trio John O’Brien, Gearoid Cronin and Kieran Fitzpatrick along with Tralee’s Padraig Hobbart and Castleisland’s John Clifton take part in that grade while on Saturday afternoon Tralee’s Lisa O’Connor takes part in the Junior Ladies event.
On Sunday morning the Junior and Senior Men play in the one ‘Shotgun Start’ time with Tralee’s David Hobbert, the Gleneagle’s Sean Ashe and Listowel’s Fergus Keane the county’s Junior representatives as Deerpark duo Damien Fleming and John McGrath along with Tralee’s Jason O’Regan and Jason Cregan the four players from the county taking part in the senior event.
The County Board wish all 13 players from the county taking part this weekend the very best of luck in Templemore.