Dundalk GC, Greenore GC, and Mannan Castle GC notes

DUNDALK GOLF CLUB

Vincent Conlon led home a field of 269 and edged out Ross Kehoe on countback to be the leading qualifier in the Gold Medal competition. The top 64 players qualified for the matchplay stages of the competition, with the cut falling at 74/37.5/21.

Conlon, playing off 11, produced a superb round of 65 nett that included two birdies, 10 pars and, most importantly, no double bogeys as he went out in 39 gross and came home in 37 gross.  

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He parred the opening three holes before bogeying the index one fourth and then parred the fifth,  sixth and eighth as he turned in 33 nett.

He birdied the 10th and 12th holes before reeling off four more pars at the 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th to complete the back nine in 32 nett.

Kehoe, who was off 16, got the perfect start with a birdie at the first, followed by two pars. He then parred the fifth and sixth but dropped a shot when he double-bogeyed the index three seventh.

A par at the eighth and a bogey at the ninth saw him complete the front nine in 40 gross, which was 32 nett.

He recorded two more pars at the 10th and 12th before double-bogeying the par three 13th and then recorded pars at the 16th and 18th for a gross score of 41which was 33 nett.

That left him tied with Conlon on 65 nette, but his back nine nett score was one shot more, and so he had to settle for second place as Conlon took the honour of being the leading qualifier.

Eugene Hanratty (9) won the McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford last Wednesday on countback from John Dunne (24) after both had shot 43pts. Hanratty’s round included an eagle three at the par five 10th, birdies at the 13th and 17th and nine pars.

Aidan Thornton (5). Eamon McEneaney (13) and Brendan Cleary (26) won the various categories with each shooting 39pts, while Eoin Murphy shot 37pts for the best gross score.

It was a good warm-up for Murphy ahead of the Munster Strokeplay Championship, which was played at Cork Golf Club over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Murphy produced his best performance of the season in the 72-hole event to finish tied second, having led after shooting a three-under par 69 in the third round.

Murphy had opened with a 72 and a 70 in the opening two rounds to lie one shot behind halfway leaders James O’Rourke, Keith Egan and TJ Ford.

In the third round, he raced lead thanks to four birdies in the first six holes and then held it together over the final 12 holes, where three more birdies limited the damage caused by four bogeys.

That left him on five under, one shot ahead of Baltray’s Stuart Grehan, but he was unable to repeat his Sunday morning performance in the afternoon as three birdies were cancelled out by three bogeys, which saw him finish the round on level par.

That left him one shot behind winner John Doyle of Fota Island, who came through the field to win thanks to a six under par 66 which featured eight birdies. Murphy also finished second to Doyle in the U25 event.

Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 – Gold Medal Qualifier – Vincent Conlon (11) 65/31.5, Ross Kehoe (16) 65/33.

Wednesday, 30 April - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Eugene J Hanratty (9) 43/24pts. John Dunne (24) 43/20pts. Division 1: Aidan Thornton (5) 39pts. Division 2: Eamon McEneaney (13) 39pts. Division 3: Brendan Cleary (26) 39pts. Gross Recognition: Eoin Murphy 37pts.

GREENORE GOLF CLUB

Sunday, 4th May - Minor Scratch Cup kindly sponsored by P J O'Hares, Carlingford - Winner: Tommy O'Rourke (19.3) 84; Second: Brendan Philips (18.1) 93; Third: Andrew McGeough (19.5) 95; Nett: Terry Kelly (25.2) 66.

Sunday, 4th May - Intermediate Scratch Cup kindly sponsored by P J O'Hares, Carlingford - Winner: Kevin Markey (10.0) 82; Second: Eoin Morrissey (10.5) 84 Mannan Castle; Third: Joe Whelan (11.0) 86 (B9); Nett: Martin Keenan (16.69 (B9).

Saturday, 3rd May - Gent's 18h Singles - Winner: Tom Clarke (9.9) 12] 38pts (b9); Second: Patrick Lawless (8.11] 38pts; Gross: Matthew Giles (+2.3) +1] (32)33pts; Third: Andrew Pike (6.9] 37pts (b9).

Thursday, 1st May Gents Singles - Winner: Gervase Strain (24.4)28] 38pts; Second: Conor Loughran (13.1)16] 36pts.

Tuesday, 29th April - Gents Open Singles - Winner: Declan Hilliard (12.0)14] 42pts; Gross: Matthew Giles (+2.0)+1] 38(39)pts on b9; C1: (-12) Stephen Baine (9.9)12] 40pts (Edenmore GC); C2: (13-20) Gavin Neary (15.6)18] 39pts; C3: (23+) Ray Kelly (20.0)23] 40pts on b9.

Monday, 28th April Open Seniors Gents and Ladies - Winner: Kieran Simpson (Ashfield GC) (13.0) 15] 40pts.

Sunday, 27th April O'Hare Memorial Trophy (GY) - Winner: Oliver Dullaghan (19.2) 24] 65; Gross: Cian Dullaghan Keenan (+2.3) 0] 69; C1: (-8) Padraig Kelly (3.0) 6] 69; C2: (9-15) Cathal Byrne(10.3) 14] 70 (b9); C3: (16-22) Lorcan McSorley (14.4) 18 68; C4: (23+) Raymond Kelly (20.25] 68

Saturday 26th Apr 18h Singles - Winner: Tiarnan McCann (6.8)9] 41pts; Second: Martin Murphy (13.3)16] 40pts; Gross: Mark McArdle (5.5)7] (38)31pts; Third: Syl Matthews(15.4)18] 39pts.

Thursday, 24th April Gents 18h Singles - Winner: Alec Bothwell (24.8)28] 45pts; Second: Patrick Donnelly (27.1)31] 38pts; Gross: Gavin Crudden (0.8)2] (31)29pts (b9)

MANNAN CASTLE GOLF CLUB

The Mannan Castle Golf Club Ladies Ulster Trophy Team, who played against Killymoon Golf Club it was three all after the matches were played so a sudden death playoff ensued, and because Mannan Castle had home advantage, the playoff was at home.

Good golf all around, nail-biting stuff, but the playoff ended on the 3rd playoff hole, and Mannan Castle won with a birdie.

Well done, team and team captains Rita O’Loughlin and Mary Cassidy. And thanks to the Mannan supporters, great to see so many ladies show up in a sea of Iris/purple!

Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April – Weekend Singles Stableford - Our competition this weekend was played over 16 holes due to heavy rain on Friday.

The overall winner was Paul Oliver with a brilliant score of 39pts. Two birdies helped Paul win by one shot. Bernard Rooney won Division 1 with a score of 33pts.

A very solid one-over-par round of golf was helped with a brilliant chip-in birdie on his final hole. Runner up was Conor Farrelly with 32pts.

Division 2 was won by Graeme Woodcock on a score of 36pts. A brilliant finish of 9pts on his final three holes was enough to win by one shot.

Alan McMahon finished in second place with 35pts. Philip Duffy won division 3 with a brilliant score of 38pts. Philip has been in fine form of late and showed it again on Saturday morning. Runner-up was Martin McCaul with a score of 35pts. 

Division 4 was won by Michael Martin Snr with a score of 34pts. Michael made light work of the par 3s with 16pts across the six holes. David Murphy finished in second place with 34pts; Overall winner - Paul Oliver (PH.23) – 39pts.

Division 1: First - Bernard Rooney (PH.3) – 33pts; Second - Conor Farrelly (PH.3) – 32pts. Division 2: First - Graeme Woodcock (PH.16) – 36pts; Second - Alan McMahon (PH.15) – 35pts.

Division 3: First - Philip Duffy (PH.22) – 38pts; Second - Martin McCaul (PH.18) – 35pts. Division 4: First - Michael Martin (PH.35) - 34pts c/b; Second - David Murphy (PH.26) - 34pts.