Dundalk Golf Club notes

Declan Curran took one of the big majors of the year over the longest weekend of the year when he won Lady Captain Sally McDonnell’s Prize to the Men by five shots at Dundalk Golf Club.

Playing off 24, he shot a personal best gross score of 85 for an amazing nett 61. His round included nine pars, five of which came on the front nine, as he parred the first, second, sixth, seventh, and eighth to go out in 42 gross, which was 30 nett.

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The pars kept coming down the back nine at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 18th as he came home in 43 gross which was 31 nett.

Behind him, McGuigan, playing off 21, had five pars on his way to a nett 66 and he took the runners-up spot on countback from Paul Heaney (21) who also had a 66 and had to settle for winning Division 3 from Dessie Corbett (3) and Derek Williams (22).

Gregory McCaughey (9) won Division 1 with a fine nett 67 to win by two shots from Thomas Rice (11) and Stephen English (6).

Fergal Sexton (13) shot a nett 68 but needed to countback to edge out Paul O’Callaghan (14) and Robert Williams (15) for top honours in Division 2.

Conall Murdock had birdies at the third, fifth, ninth and 18th on his way to claiming the Gross Prize with a level par 72 while David Brennan (19) shot a nett 67 to claim the Veteran’s Prize with a round that included six pars.

Lady Captain Sally presented the prizes at a well-attended function in the Clubhouse and congratulated the winners as well as thanked the 264 players who took part in the competition.

The McKenna Wednesday Open was won by Sean McErlean (12) with 43pts. His round included a birdie four at the par-five 10th as well as 12 pars as he went out in 20pts and came home in 23pts.

He won by two points from runner-up Ross Kehoe (13) while Ronan Farrelly (7), Anthony Tuite (14) and Frank O’Hagan (22) won the divisional prizes. Caolan Rafferty had six birdies and one bogey on his way to shooting the best gross score on 41pts.

Open Week began on Saturday, June 28, with the Building Information Ireland Junior Scratch Cup, which was won by Ardee’s Paul Wisniewski.

He shot a one over par 73 to win by one shot from Rory Callaghan of County Louth, Richard Graham of Kilkeel and Gary McMahon of Warrenpoint.

Two bogeys in the first three holes wasn’t the perfect start for Wisniewski but he got a shot back with a birdie at the par-three fifth only to bogey the par three ninth as he turned on two over par.

He birdied the par-five 10th but then bogeyed the par-five 12th to remain at two over.

However, he converted his third birdie of the day on the par three 17th and that ultimately was the shot that took him clear of the field and gave him a memorable victory.  

Dundalk’s Colin Roche with a four over par 76 finished in fifth place while his club colleague Dean King, playing off 10, shot a nett 69 to take the Nett prize.

Congratulations to Caolan Rafferty who has been selected on the Ireland team for the European Amateur Team Championships in Killarney from July 8 to 12 and to Eoin Murphy who has been picked by Leinster for the Inter-provincials in Knightsbrook Golf Club, Trim,  from July 2 to 4.

On the Inter-Club front, the Leinster Senior Men’s Fourball team beat County Louth 3-1 on Saturday with wins for Mickey Coburn and Seamus Bailey, Dennis Cunningham and John McKeever and Paul O’Callaghan and Stephen Murphy.

However, the Boys Junior Foursomes team were beaten on the second tie hole by Laytown and Bettystown after the teams were level following 18 holes of play.

Odhran MacShane and Roan Norton Quigley won two up while Cameron Kilcoyne and Adam Brady lost two down having been three down with two to play. This Saturday, the Barton Cup team play Ashbourne at 15:30 in a third-round match.  

Saturday, 21 June and Sunday, 22 June - Lady Captain Sally's Prize to Men (GOY 6) – Overall: Declan Curran (24) 61. Francis McGuigan (21) 66/33.5. Gross: Conall Murdock 72. Veteran: David Brennan (19) 67.

Division 1: Gregory McCaughey (9) 67, Thomas Rice (11) 69/33.5, Stephen English (6) 69/36. Division 2 (Winner) Fergal Sexton (13) 68/33.5, Paul O'Callaghan (14) 68/35.0, Robert Williams (15) 68/35.5.

Division 3: Paul Heaney (21) 66/34.5, Dessie Corbett (30) 67, Derek Williams (22) 68.

Wednesday, June 25 - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Sean McErlean (12) 43pts, Ross Kehoe (13) 41/22. Division 1: Ronan Farrelly (7) 39pts.

Division 2: Anthony Tuite (14) 40pts. Division 3: Frank O'Hagan (22) 41/21pts. Gross Recognition: Caolan Rafferty 41pts.

Saturday, June 28 – Building Information Ireland Junior Scratch Cup – Overall: Paul Wisniewski (Ardee) 73, Rory Callaghan (County Louth) 74, Richard Graham (Kilkeel) 74, Gary McMahon (Warrenpoint) 74,  Colin Roche (Dundalk) 76. Best Nett: Dean King (10) 69.

DUNDALK GOLF CLUB LADIES'

18-hole Stableford Saturday 21st June and Tuesday 24th June - Sponsored by Sean Moriarty Transport Ltd

Dundalk ladies would like to thank Sean Moriarty Transport Ltd for their second year in sponsoring this competition.

Division 1 - Winner: Siobhan Rogers 13.6/17 (26) 41 pts; Runner up: Theresa Connolly 21.1/26 (7) 40 pts; Third: Anne McArdle 20.1/24 (230 40 pts

Division 2 – Winner: Bernie Prendergast 23.2/28 (35) 40 pts; Runner up: Jean Connolly 25.1/30 (32) 40 pts; Third: Majella Cassidy 26.6/32 (29) 38 pts.

Division 3 – Winner: Mary Burlingham 28.8/34 (37) 40 pts; Runner up: Mary Rafferty 33.6/40 (47) 39 pts; Third: Anne Powell 32.2/38 (36) 39 pts.

9 Hole Competition – Winner: Clodagh Greene 40.0/23 (22) 22 pts; Runner up: Beatrice Prenty 42.03/25 (24) 21 pts.