Dundalk Golf Notes: Open Week sees great scoring across multiple competitions

Eoin Murphy won the Club Championship which was played over 36 holes on June 25th. The Maynooth University Scholarship student beat Caolon Rafferty by four shots thanks to a second round 69 after both had shot a one over par 73 in the opening round.

Rafferty returned the same score over the second 18 for a two over par total of 146, while six birdies in that final round helped Murphy to a two under par total of 142. Boys captain Ben Cahill, playing off four, won the gross prize.

June was a busy few weeks for Rafferty, who went agonisingly close to winning the East of Ireland Championship over the June Bank Holiday weekend in Baltray.

He shot a four under par 68 in the final round to set the clubhouse lead on nine under where he was subsequently joined by Alex Maguire (Laytown & Nettystown) and Sam Murphy (Portumna).

A birdie on the last hole of the three-hole play-off saw defending champion Maguire edge out Rafferty for the title. Eoin Murphy had his best ever performance in a major amateur championship finishing T11, six shots behind the leaders.

The following week Rafferty found himself battling with Maguire again at the St Andrews Links Trophy and produced an excellent performance in finishing seventh on 12 under as Maguire won for the second consecutive week.

The pair teed it up a week later at the Amateur Open in England with Rafferty qualifying tied sixth on eight under, just three shots behind the leading qualifier after two rounds over the Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale links.

That saw Rafferty comfortably qualify for the matchplay stages and gained him a bye into the second round where he beat Thom Linssen from the Netherlands 4&3, but he lost out in the last 32 the following morning to Thailand’s TK Chantananuwat who won a tight match 2&1.

OPEN WEEK

The Oriel Cup is one of the longest running competitions at Dundalk Golf Club and is played during Open Week. This year’s competition was won by Larry Soraghan who, playing off 13, shot a nett 67 to win by three shots. He had eight pars and a birdie at the 14th and was the only man to break 70 nett.

Mark Gorham (3) shot 70 to win Division 1, as did Gerry O’Keeffe (14) who edged out Antony Tuite (15) on countback for the Division 2 honours. Michael Byrne (24) took Division 3 with a 71, while Darren Myles had the best gross with a level par 72.

Open Week commenced with a Single Stroke competition on Sunday, June 25th which was won by Ronan Farrelly (10) who opened his round with an eagle two at the par four first. He then reeled off 12 pars over the remaining 17 holes for a nett 66 and a one-shot win over Eoin Hamill (23).

Robert White shot 75 to take the gross prize while the divisional winners were Ultan Gaughran (9), Kenneth Lynch (14) and Michael McKevitt (14).

On Thursday, June 29th, Aidan Lawless (5) shot 41pts to win the Open Singles Stroke competition, sponsored by Flanagan Motors. He had two points to spare over Trevor Giff (12) who needed countback to claim second place after several players tied on 39pts.

Mickey Coburn (10), Mickey Hamilton (20) and Adam Brady (23) were the divisional winners while Conal Murdock won the gross prize with 35pts.

On the inter-club scene, the Barton Cup team was beaten by The Island but there was success for the Boys team of Adam Brady, John Clarke, Rory Henry, Cameron Kilcoyne and Odhran MacShane who won the Leinster North title at Skerries.

Vincent Conlon’s team shot 119pts to win by one point. They have now qualified for the All-Ireland Finals at the end of August in Castletroy.

Sunday, June 25 - Open Singles Stroke sponsored by KMR Accountants

Overall: Ronan Farrelly (10) 66, 2nd Eoin Hamill (23) 67. Gross: Robert White 75.

Division 1: Ultan Gaughran (9) 69/31.5, Anthony O'Donoghue (12) 69/32.0.

Division 2: Kenneth Lynch (14) 68, Brendan Reilly (15) 69.

Division 3: Michael McKevitt (19) 68, Sean Matthews (18) 69.

Thursday, June 29 - Open Singles Stableford sponsored by Flanagan Motors

Overall: Aidan Lawless (5) 41pts, Trevor Giff (12) 39/22pts. Gross: Conall Murdock 35pts.

Division 1: Michael Coburn (10) 39/20pts. Ronan Farrelly (9) 38pts.

Division 2: Michael Hamilton (20) 39/17pts. David Manderson 20, Clandeboye) 38pts.

Division 3: Adam Brady (23) 39/19pts, John MacGuinness (28) 39/17pts.

Wednesday, June 28 – Oriel Cup Singles Stroke sponsored by Moran CCTV

Overall: Laurence Soraghan (13) 67. Gross: Darren Myles 72.

Division 1: Mark Gorham (3) 70, Neal Mackell (1) 72.

Division 2: Gerard O'Keeffe (14) 70/34, Anthony Tuite (15) 70/36.5.

Division 3: Michael Byrne (24) 71, John McErlean (28) 73.

Monday, June 26 - Seniors Open Singles Stableford

Overall: Conor Byrne (19) 42pts, Eamon Hoey (17) 39pts.

Sunday, June 25 - Open Mixed Scotch Foursomes

Winner: Jim Burlingham (32) & Mary Burlingham (31) 63.5, 2nd Martina Byrne (43) & Michael McNamara (19) 66.0.

Sunday, June 25 - Open Singles Stroke sponsored by KMR Accountants

Overall: Ronan Farrelly (10) 66. Eoin Hamill (23) 67. Gross: Robert White 75.

Division 1: Ultan Gaughran (9) 69/31.5, Anthony O'Donoghue (12) 69/32.0.

Division 2: Kenneth Lynch (14) 68, Brendan Reilly (15) 69.

Division 3: Michael McKevitt (19) 68, Sean Matthews (18) 69.

Saturday, June 24 – Club Championship

Overall: 142 - Eoin Murphy 73/69, 146 - Caolan Rafferty 73/73. Nett: 144 Ben Cahill 70/74.

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DUNDALK LADIES

Open Week got off to a great start for the ladies, with an 18 Hole Stableford Competition on Tuesday June 24. This was very kindly sponsored by The Brake.

Marcella Ui Chonluain was the leading scorer, returning a superb 46 points to win Division 3. Lesley O’Keeffe and Sally McDonnell both returned 40 points to win the Division 1 and 2 titles respectively.

A two-lady team event took place on Friday June 30th, very kindly sponsored by The Gift & Art Gallery. The winners were Elizabeth McGuinness and Theresa Smyth with an excellent score of 46pts. Many thanks to The Brake and The Gift & Art Gallery for their continued support.

Saturday, June 24 - 18 Hole Singles Stableford

Overall: Ciara McGinnity (41) 42pts, Sally Ann McDonald (29) 39pts.

Tuesday, June 27 - 18 Hole Singles Stableford sponsored by The Brake 

Division 1: Lesley O’Keeffe (19) 40pts, Elaine Ward (15) 39pts, Kitty Duffy (20) 39pts.

Division 2: Sally McDonald (23) 40pts, Anne Murray (23) 39pts, Joyce Burbage (26) 38pts.

Division 3: Marcella Ui Chonluain (43) 46pts, Noeleen Gernon (30) 41pts, Mary White (51) 40pts.

9 Hole Competition: Brenda Laverty 20pts, Diane Arthur 20pts.

Friday, June 30 - Open Two Lady Team Event sponsored by The Gift & Art Gallery

1st: Elizabeth McGuinness & Theresa Smyth 46pts, 2nd Bernie McCabe & Zara Wadding 45pts (countback),  3rd Joyce Burbage & Mairead Garland 45pts.  

9 Hole Two Lady Team: Mary Berkery & Rose Curtis 22pts.