Dundalk Golf Club news

Desmond Malone held off the challenge of Captain Ultan Herr at Dundalk Golf Club to win the latest round in the Cathedral Finance Autumn Singles Series over the first weekend of October.

The 26-handicapper produced a round made up of two and three point returns as he went out in 21pts and came home in 23pts. He had a four point return for a par at the difficult par-four 15^th while there were three-point gains at the third, sixth, eighth, 10^th, 13^th and 16^th.

After shooting 19pts on the front nine, Captain Ultan, playing off 16, was two over par gross down the back nine but just came up short despite collecting 43pts.

He had a four-point birdie on 10 and six three-point pars from the turn but ultimately it was the one-point returns from a double bogey five at the 13^th and a bogey five at short 14^th that ultimately cost him.

Paul Murphy (4), Conor McGowan (17) and Eamonn Arthur (23) were the three divisional winners while Murphy with 38pts recorded the best gross score.

Visitor Gavin Erasmus, a 24 handicapper from Mannan Castle, won last Wednesday’s McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford on countback from Padraig Hassett after both had tied on 38pts.

Despite blanking his opening two holes, Erasmus went out in 17pts helped by three point returns at the third, fifth and eighth. He shot 21pts down the back nine with a four-point par at the 15^th and back to back three-point pars at the 10^th and 11^th.

Hassett, who was playing off 14, had a solid round, out in 19pts and back in 19pts with a round that included six three-pointers, one of which was for a birdie four at the par five sixth.

Hassett took Division 1 while Danny Gallagher (19) won Division 2 and Eugene Hanratty (28) claimed Division 3. Ciaran Johnston with 35pts had the best gross.

The various club matchplay competitions have now concluded and the presentations will take place on Saturday, November 9.

After beating Sean Hession in the semi-final Denis Cunningham won the Gold Medal with a win over Captain’s Prize winner Eamonn McEneaney. McEneaney had defeated Gary O’Brien in his semi-final.

In the semi-finals of the Carolan Cup Aidan Thornton beat Sean Gallagher while Richard Copas defeated Cameron Kilcoyne and it was Thornton who came out on top in the final.

That deprived Copas of a unique matchplay treble as he beat Conor Byrne in the Harry Walsh Cup  final and then partnered Malcom Drake to beat Mark Gorham and Tony McGuinness in the final of the Gents Foursomes.

Captain Ultan Herr and his wife Deborah beat Maura Coyle and Vincent Conlon to win the Club Mixed Foursomes

The annual DunGreen Cup match between Dundalk and Greenore took place last Thursday in Dundalk and saw the home side reclaim the trophy on a score of 302pts to 281pts which was based on the combined top eight scores from each club.

Top scorers for Dundalk were John Duffin and Eamonn Kelly who shot 41pts each while Sean Dullaghan with 38pts and Padraig Sharkey with 36pts were best for Greenore.

Saturday, 05 October and Sunday, 06 October - Cathedral Financial Autumn Series Singles Stableford – Overall: Desmond Malone (26) 44pts, Ultan Herr 1(16) 43pts. Division 1: Paul Murphy (4) 41pts, Niall Boyle (10) 38pts. Division 2: Conor McGowan (17) 37/21pts. Paschal Keenan (16) 37/20pts. Division 3: Eamonn Arthur (23) 40/22pts, David McDonnell (20) 40/19pts. Gross: Paul Murphy 38pts.

Wednesday, 09 October - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford - Overall (Mannan Castle) Gavin Erasmus (24, Mannan Castle) 38/21. Division 1: Padraig Hassett (14) 38/19pts. Division 2: Daniel Gallagher (19) 36pts. Division 3: Eugene Hanratty (28) 36pts. Gross Recognition Ciaran Johnston 35pts.