Dundalk Golf Notes: Michael Browne wins President’s Prize

Michael Browne won Paul O’Reilly’s President’s Prize over the weekend of July 15 and 16 but he needed countback to claim the top prize after four players had finished on 69 nett.

In the end he won by half-a-shot from Billy Cairns (7) who took second place overall while Jimmy O’Connor (20) had to settle for winning the Veteran’s prize and Christy Ward (8) won the Division 1 category.

Playing off 20, Browne got off to a positive start with a par at the first but he followed it with a double bogey at the second. However four single bogeys followed before a triple bogey eight at the par five seventh. He steadied the ship with five successive singe bogies around the turn to the 12th and then parred the par three 13th and birdied the short par four 14th. He finished with four successive bogies to end with a gross score of 89 and a nett total of 69.

That was enough to edge out Cairns who had played in difficult conditions on the  Saturday and set the target of 69 nett. Like Browne, the seven handicapper played his best golf after a double bogey at the seventh as he reeled off 11 succussive pars to finish on 76 gross and 69 nett.

Martin Cairns (18) and Paul Morgan (19) came out top on in Division 2 and 3 respectively while Jim Dwyer (10) won the Super Veteran prize.  Boys Captain Ben Cahill shot a one over par 73 to win the gross prize while Robert White had a hole in one on the 13th.

On the inter-club scene the Provincial Towns Cup team are through to the next round after a win over Ardee.

Saturday, July President's Prize (GOY 7) – Overall: Michael Browne (20) 69/32, Billy Cairns (7) 69/32.5. Gross: Ben Cahill (3) 73. Veteran: Jimmy O'Connor (20) 69/35. Super Veteran: Jim Dwyer (10) 73. Division 1: Christy Ward (8) 69/36, Fergal Harte (8) 70, Clem Walshe (5) 70. Division 2: Martin Cairns (18) 71, David Smyth (11) 72/34.5, David Murden (12) 72/36. Division 3: Paul Morgan (19) 70, Conor Marron (23) 72/31.5, Eamon Kelly (19) 72/37.5.

Wednesday, July 19 - Deluxe Bathrooms Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Steve Cowman (13) 42pts, Mark Coan (24) 41pts. Division 1: Ben Cahill (3) 40pts. Division 2: Frank P. Byrne (12) 40pts. Division 3: Daniel Keane (25) 37pts. Gross Recognition: Caolan Rafferty 42pts.