Almost another medal for Tralee’s O’Connor

Jason O’Connor

IT was very nearly another medal winning performance for Tralee’s Lisa O’Connor last Sunday at the National Ladies Strokeplay Championships in Collins, Cork as her score of 128 saw her finish one shot off third place and fifth overall.

Lisa’s two rounds of 64 saw her finish 10 shots off winner Phil Downey from the host club’s score but she was one away from Louth’s Audrey Donnelly in third on 127 as Margaret O’Donovan of Bruff beat for fourth on countback.

Last Saturday afternoon, meanwhile, saw the National Gents Strokeplay Qualifiers take place in Castleisland with six senior players joining Deerpark’s Damien Fleming in the Finals in Glenville in Dublin in two weeks time. Deerpark’s Jason O’Brien and Castleisland’s James Dignan led the way with 13 under par with Aidan O’Connor from the host club next on 11 under par and Tralee’s Alan Hobbart and club-mate Jason O’Regan both shooting nine under par.

John McGrath from Deerpark would claim the final spot with eight under par as the Kerry panel for the Munster Senior Gents and National Inter-County sides was confirmed as follows: Damien Fleming, John McGrath and Jason O’Brien (Deerpark), Jason Cregan and Jason O’Regan (Tralee), James Dignan and Aidan O’Connor (Castleisland) and Declan McCarron (Listowel).

In the Intermediate Qualifiers Eamon Sheehy and Padraig Hobbart led the way on nine under par with Deerpark’s James Fleming and Listowel’s Killian O’Gorman next on five under.

Deerpark’s Gearóid Cronin and Tralee’s Roger Guthrie claimed the final two spots with one under par as the Kerry Intermediate Gents team for the Munster Internext month is as follows: Eamon Sheehy and Padraig Hobbart (Tralee), Gearóid Cronin, James Fleming and John O’Brien (Deerpark) and Killian O’Gorman Listowel.

The Junior Qualifiers for the National saw David Hobbert lead the way with 113 one ahead of Listowel duo John Carey and Nicky Barry on 114 with another Listowel player in Cathal Dennehy third on 115.

The Kerry Junior Gents team for the Munster Inter-County is as follows: Nicky Barry, Cathal Dennehy, John Heffernan and Fergus Keane (Listowel) along with David Hobbert (Tralee) and Noel Moynihan (Deerpark).

This weekend sees the Under 16 season get underway with the Munster Under 16 Matchplay Championships taking place in Deerpark.

All competitors are asked to be at the Killarney course for 9am with playing getting underway after the competition draw at 9.30am.