Dooks win O’Shea trophy in BallyB

BALLYBUNION’S Cashen course was the venue for this year’s JB O’Shea Trophy played on Saturday last in brilliant sunshine with fifteen of Kerry’s sixteen clubs taking part and it was Dooks who emerged victorious, beating hosts Ballybunion by a single point to lift the trophy.

The format for this event, which honours the memory of one of Kerry’s most famous golfing personalities, see a four-man team comprising of one player under twelve handicap, one between 12 and 18 handicap, one Dr Billy O’Sullivan player and one player from the Kerry Seniors’ Tour playing four ball better ball with the two pairs’ scores aggregated to establish the team score.

The scorching sun over the past number of weeks had the Cashen course at Ballybunion looking like an old-fashioned links from days gone by with dry rock-hard fairways and slick putting surfaces and it certainly provided a test for the sixty players who took part.

The Dooks quartet of John Houlihan, Jim O’Neill, Garry McGrath and Michael J O’Sullivan regis- tered 83 points for their aggregate score to finish just ahead of Ballybunion’s Kevin Barry, Tim Nolan, John Quirke and John Galvin who had 82 points to finish second on a count-back.

The hosts are delighted with the enthusiasm shown this year by clubs for the Kerry Federation events and it is very satisfying to witness the sportsmanship and pride shown by players in wearing their individual club colours and clearly enjoying the various occasions.

The time-sheet for next Saturday’s Past and Present Kerry captains’ competition is almost full and Ballybunion Golf Club is looking forward to welcoming everyone to the old course for another great golfing experience.