Goodall double and national title for under-16 team were highlights of the Pitch and Putt year

FOLLOWING on from a tremendous 2011, the past 12 months proved to be equally successful for Kerry Pitch & Putt with Jonathon Goodall's retention of the Munster Strokeplay title coupled with victory in the National Strokeplay in July, along with the Kerry U-16 team's well deserved victory in the National Inter-County, the main highlights of 2012.

Tralee's Goodall was expected to struggle to defend the Munster Senior Strokeplay title he won on home turf a year earlier but he beat off a strong challenge from the Rebel County to retain the title in Rocklodge in early July.

Jonathon started with a steady eight under par for his first 18 holes but really took it up a level in the second 18, shooting 12 under to into a share of the lead with Darren Collins from Cork on 20 under par. In the final round Jonathon was - 22 after nine holes and knew that he would have to birdie at least six of the last nine holes to win back the title with both Ray Murphy and Kieran Dunscombe in the clubhouse on -27.

Jonathon drew level with them with one hole left and duly sank the birdie putt on the last to claim another one shot winning margin.

At the end of the month he travelled to RGSC in Dublin to face the country's best in the National Strokeplay Finals but it would be one of his closest colleagues in the game who gave him the sternest examination.

Goodall became the country's first ever winner of this title win a one shot victory over Deerpark's Damien Fleming in an historic one-two finish for the Kingdom that currently sees Jonathon ranked as the no.1 player in Ireland.

Jonathon shot 18 under for his first 36 holes and led Damien by two shots after the Killarney player shot 16 under. Damien would move into the lead during the Final 18 playoff, a lead that changed on several occasions in what was a nerve racking experience for the Kerry contingent present. Damien finished with 24 under, meaning Jonathon had to birdie the last two holes to win the competition outright. That he did to complete a remarkable win and triumph over his good friend as a Deerpark player finished runner-up for the third time in the competition after Derry McCarthy did so in 1998 and 1999.

It was a tremendous showing at the weekend as well for another Deerpark player John McGrath as he finished in a tie for fourth position overall on 21 under, his best finish yet in a national competition.

A month later the Kerry U16 team went one better than 2011 by winning the National U-16 Inter-County in St Bridgets, Co Kildare, the county's fourth victory in this competition following on from victories in 1986, 1990 and 2003. The all Deerpark team's tournament total of 36 under par saw them finish three shots ahead of Cork in second. Kerry were first out with Offaly and that really allowed them to set the pace throughout, leading after the Foursomes with nine under as opposed to Cork's eight, a five under par total from team captain Creagh Courtney and St John Kelliher giving the team a very solid base. In the Singles rounds of eight, seven and six under par from Jason O'Brien, Conor McCarthy and St John Kelliher respectively along with a four under par score for Jason Brosnan as well as two under for Creagh Courtney drove the team onto victory although they still had a nervous wait until Cork finished to finally celebrate a magnificent achievement for club and county.

Along with these great successes there was a tinge of sadness this year as well however with the sad passing of our County Board Registrar Maura Brosnan from the Gleneagle in September. Maura was a diligent servant of both the Gleneagle club and the Kerry County Board PPUI and the esteem she was held in was borne out in the numbers that turned out to form a guard of honour for her at her funeral. 2013 promises to be another bust year not least on the weekend of August 24/25 when Tralee and Castleisland jointly host the National Three Ball Scramble competition, an event that is sure to attract much interest amongst the county's players in the coming season.

Both the County Board and the Deerpark Club celebrate their 40th anniversaries as well in what will be a historic year for the sport.