CLUB NOTES ONtheFAIRWAYS
GOLF
WEXFORDLADIES
Well, what a week it has been for the ladies of Wexford Golf Club!
On Sunday Trina Walsh played a personal best of 63 strokes nett to come in seven strokes in front of her playing partner, Irene Bolger. It was a great day for Trina as she was the sole two-club winner, earning herself a tidy little ‘sum’, and it brings her right up there in contention for golfer of the year with little difference in points amongst the top five or so on the table!
All eyes will be fixed on these for the remaining competitions for this season.
The full results for President Bernie’s prizes were: 1, Trina Walsh (20), 63; 2, Irene Bolger (11), 70 (back nine); gross, Tara Dunne (5), 80; 3, Mary Lambert (29), 70; 4, Helen McGuire (21), 71; 5, Martina Dempsey (20), 72 (back nine); Cat. A, Leonie Furlong (12), 74; Cat. B, Marie O’Loughlin (26), 72; Cat. C, Mary Fallon (32), 72; committee, Beppi O’Connor (17), 77; Senior, Margaret Hearne (15), 74; Super Senior, Róisín Leahy (34), 73; front nine, Mary Cashe (33), 31.5; back nine, Lily Rowe (14), 37; nine holes, Liz D’Arcy (17), 12 points; nearest the pin (third hole), Trina Walsh; nearest the pin (ninth hole), Maise Purcell.
On Thursday we were blessed with nice weather for our weekly competition sponsored by Sam McCauley’s Chemist. Tara Dunne (5) came in with a wonderful score of 38 points. Well done Tara.
Results: 1, Tara Dunne (5), 38 points; 2, Louise Boshoff (17), 37 points (back nine); gross, Rachel O’Connor (7), 27 points (back nine); 3, Patricia Boyd (22), 37 points; visitor, Brede Brophy (Mount Wolseley, 27), 36 points; best 36, Eileen Byrne (36), 23 points; Senior, Bridget O’Neill (28), 33 points; nearest the pin, Patricia Boyd, 5m 73cm.
On Saturday, Wexford hosted the Cups and Shields regional finals and a brilliant day’s golf was played by all the teams. We are particularly proud to say that both our Wexford teams won very well, making a bit of history too!
The Challenge Cup team (handicaps 29-36) beat Mount Wolseley 3-1 comprising M.B. O’Leary, M. Walsh, P. Flanagan, M. Fallon and B. Power. Other ladies to compete over earlier rounds were D. Colfer, S. Kelly, K. Rossiter and U. Doherty.
The Junior Cup team (handicaps 8-15) beat the Royal Curragh 4-1 with R. O’Connor, C. Murphy, S. Richardson, M. Atkinson and I. Bolger in action. Y. MacSweeney and L. Furlong were also on the panel.
Huge thanks go to all the ladies who helped make the day such a success; it was great publicity for our wonderful course! Huge thanks must go to Yvonne for all her hard work in getting Wexford to be the venue.
Next Thursday’s competition is sponsored by Barker’s and it is an invitational fourball.
TAGHMONSOCIETY
The society headed south last weekend to Tramore where the lovely Geraldine was waiting with open arms to give us our annual warm welcome and once again she looked after us splendidly.
She even put our photos up on their Facebook page. The weather was on the warm side with a bit of a sea breeze to contend with, and 33 played.
Results: 1, Martin Roche (5), 39; 2, Jason McLoughlin (16), 33; 3, Ryan Cashin (24), 33; Cat. 1, Robbie O’Callaghan (13), 32; Cat. 2, Noel Kendrick (15), 32; Cat. 3, Seamus McLoughlin (23), 29; front nine, Seamie McLoughlin (9), 17; back nine, Philip Wadding (11), 18; nearest the pin, Martin Roche (15th), 5’2”; twos club, Martin Roche and yet again Barry McGrath; visitor, Wesley Ruttle.
Young Martin’s score was all the more remarkable seeing as his first three holes barely got a score and it was his first time ever playing the course. Well done young man, but the downside is that you will be playing off two in the next outing. All three McLoughlins managed to win a prize and, as if that wasn’t enough, ‘Loughy’ won the lotto as well.
Our esteemed Captain bought himself a new driver and just couldn’t find first gear on it; three points on the back nine tells its own story. Back to the old faithful next time out Ballorr?
The McGrath brothers were out in shorts in a very warm and sunny Tramore, not a pretty sight even from a distance! Luckily the weather will have turned cooler by the time of the next outing so long trousers may hopefully be the order of the day again.
Would somebody present our Tiger with a rule book so as he would, in his advanced years and failing mind, actually understand the rules and implement them on his scorecard instead of just adding on points ad hoc as he pleases where clear rule violations have been made?
With two teenagers in the top three, maybe us ould lads should just realise that we are not as good as we thought we were and let the youth have a run at it and do the honourable thing and step aside.
Some very untypically low scores have come in for the last two outings, what is going on? The weather hasn’t been a factor. Maybe it is time to bring back the wooden spoon prize, maybe that would spurn people on to try harder. When a man comes in with a score of ten, surely something has to be done Dave!
There was an exclusive threesome club, and what a threesome they would make, all with scores of 32. To be in it you all had to be in the same group, be a blast from the past so much so that people had forgotten your name, look like you had been in a fight with Katie Taylor or be a smiling assassin who spent the evening trying to coerce others into bringing him on a complimentary game somewhere. Only one of the three didn’t get a prize...the worst one, smiley himself.
We are looking for members to make up teams for two inter-society competitions being held next weekend in New Ross at €20 per player, and another in Enniscorthy on November 5 at only €10 per player in what will hopefully become an annual event if the initial take up is good enough. Contact Ballorr if interested.
Our next outing is in Coollattin on September 25 at 10.30 a.m. A committee member will be in touch nearer to the time and if it isn’t too much trouble would you mind answering with your intentions to play or not by the requested time.
WEXFORD
The last qualifier for the Crown Bar Pro-Am was held on Monday with the three places taken by Tom Butler (15) on 33 points, Conor White (19) on 32 points (back seven), and Pat Daly (13), also with 32 points. The visitor’s prize was won by James Morrissey (6) from Enniscorthy with 30 points.
The main event on Friday proved a tremendous success with glorious sunshine and the course in perfect condition, proving a stiff test. There was a three-way tie at the top in the professional tournament on one under par 71.
The leaders were David Ryan (Cahir Park), Neil O Briain (Old Conna) and Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny). Former European tour and Wexford professional Damien McGrane took fourth place with level par 70.
The team prize was won by Neil O Briain’s team of Louis Flanagan, Larry Gainfort and Derek Casey with 89 points. In second place was Wexford’s Darren Walsh’s team of Kevin Murphy, Mick Creane and Derek Walshe with 88 points.
Head pro Liam Bowler’s team of the Captain Paddy Cleary, lady Captain Denise Dunne and Ian Thomas was third with 86 points. Johnny Young’s team of Aaron McKeown, Cillian Corkery and Seán Hopkins took fourth place with 85 points.
P.G.A. Captain Gary Chambers was full of praise for the course and the work of Jake and his team of greenkeepers and helpers. Both Gary and club Captain Paddy Cleary expressed their thanks to sponsor Anthony Neville and his staff from the Crown Bar who put tremendous work into organising the Pro-Am.
Sunday’s competition was sponsored by Mr Oil, with Laurence Murphy (20) winning with a great score of 43 points. Tom Sullivan (21) was second with 41 points (back nine) from John O’Connor (14), with a resurgent Richie Buggy (16) fourth with 40 points.
The gross was won by Declan Furlong with 31 points (back nine). Willie Cleary won the vets. with 38 points on the back nine. Wexford Golf Club would like to thank Mr Oil for their sponsorship.
ponsored by Barker’s and it is an invitational fourball.
ROSSLARE
John Brady, one of the best young golfers in the country, achieved his greatest victory so far when he won the Irish Under-16 boys’ championship by six shots.
Played on the difficult Clonmel course, John finished nine under par, and in the second round he equalled the course record of 64.
With 70 in the first and third rounds, he beat another regular player in Rosslare, Mark Power (Kilkenny). This was a great achievement by John who is fast becoming the most successful under-age player in the club ever.
This is his third title this year, having already won the Leinster Under-18 and Ulster Under-16 titles. Well done John.
The mixed foursomes club matchplay came to an end recently and proved a great success. Sixteen pairs qualified and in the semi-finals Kevin Foran and Kathleen Cullimore beat Pat and Norrie Goff, while John and lady Captain Catherine Howard beat Vice-Captain Paddy Lonergan and his wife, Carmel. The final was close with the Lonergans coming out on top.
Saturday four-person team event sponsored by Colm and Geraldine Menton: 1, Steven Carroll (16), John Fenlon (17), Michael Roche (21), Emma Fenlon (11), 87 points; 2, Ken Maher (10), Keith Deacon (11), Vandra Deacon (15), Dorcas Maher (18), 86 points; 3, Ian Cuddihy (8), Ciarán Cuddihy (9), Willie Cuddihy (12), Bernadette Cuddihy (23), 84 points.
Sunday, August 21, open singles strokes, blue course (C.S.S. 75): 1, Murt Joyce (8), 68 (hole-in-one on the 14th); 2, Derek Evans (10), 70; 3, Stephen Conway (20), 71; white course (C.S.S. 74): 1, Davy Noonan (8), 69; 2, John Long (7), 71; 3, Pat Rossiter (9), 73.
Wednesday, August 25, open singles stableford (C.S.S. 36): 1, Cian Martin (3), 41 points; 2, Colm Callery (7), 40 points; gross, Gary Collins (+3), 38 points (back three, front nine); vet., Ken Martin (17), 39 points; 3, Joe Moran Jnr. (6), 39 points.
Fixtures: Saturday, September 3, ladies’ fourball and gents’ fourball (open to visitors paying green fees); Sunday, September 4, Intermediate Scratch Cup (handicaps 10-18).
The Pro-Am is on September 10, with 48 teams competing, and shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
ST. HELEN’S
The end of August is upon us and a successful summer season comes to a close. Our thoughts turn to shorter days, winter leagues, turkeys, hampers and Christmas hams.
Before this, however, we have our final monthly medal and the last classic of the year.
Next Saturday we stage our inaugural Harvest Moon team classic. Generously sponsored by AIB, the timesheet is almost full with only a handful of slots remaining, so if you haven’t already booked your place get on the phone now.
Results (gents) - Wednesday, August 24, open singles: 1, Brian D’Eath (21), 34 points (countback); 2, John Kelly (12), 34 points; 3, John Lyons (22), 33 points (countback).
Saturday, August 27, open singles: 1, Joe Moore (10, Wexford), 36 points; 2, Tom McConalogue (23), 35 points (countback); 3, Tony Naughton (18), 35 points.
Sunday, August 28, open singles: 1, John Sinnott (7), 39 points; 2, Seamus Kelly (7), 38 points (countback); 3, Mark Phillips (12), 38 points; veteran, Noel Patten (15), 37 points.
Results (ladies) - Wednesday, August 24, open singles: 1, Frances Reid (22), 36 points; 2, Claudie Fitzgerald (16, Westmanstown), 32 points; 3, Jo Devitt (23), 31 points.
Saturday, August 27, open singles: 1, Cathy Dalton (33), 35 points; 2, Angie Sheehan (27, Glen of the Downs), 34 points (countback); 3, Susan Fitzgerald (23), 34 points.
Sunday, August 28, open singles: 1, Janet Slattery (19), 36 points; 2, Paula O’Leary (13), 33 points.
Fixtures (ladies and gents): Wednesday, August 31, open singles stableford; Saturday, September 3, Harvest Moon classic; Sunday, September 4, monthly medals; Wednesday, September 7, open singles stableford.