Golf notes
The latest results from Dundalk Golf Club and Mannan Castle Golf Club
Dundalk Golf Club
There was a clear signal that a new golfing year is truly up and running with the return over 18 holes of the Open Singles Stableford competition, sponsored by McKenna Man, on Wednesday, March 6th.
The winner with an impressive 46 points was Gerry O’Keeffe playing off a 14 handicap.
A par on the par four-second hole for three points was followed with a birdie three on the third hole for four points and two more three-pointers at the fifth and ninth holes saw him on 21 points.
He went on a scoring spree on the back nine with five consecutive three-pointers from the 11th to the 15th holes and boosted his score further with a birdie on the par three 17th for four points, finishing the back nine with 25 points.
Runner up on 44 points was John McLaughlin (22) who matched O’Keeffe with 21 points on the front nine but came up short with 23 points on a back nine that included four three-pointers and a par on the par four 16th for four points.
Our 2024 Captain Ultan Herr and our Boys Junior Captain Rory Henry took part in the annual Captains’ Drive-In on Sunday, March 3rd along with Lady Captain Mags Coburn and Girls Junior Captain Katie Rowland.
A large crowd of club members, family members and friends gathered around the first tee to watch the ceremonial drives.
The Captains’ Drive-Ins were preceded in the morning by a four man team competition over 14 holes which was won by the quartet of Sean Gallagher, Conor McCleneghan, Andrew Shekleton and Gary O’Brien with a score of 71 points.
It took a back nine countback for them to pip the team of Mark Cumiskey, Pearse Murphy, John Paul Casey and Mark Soraghan who also finished on 71pts but lost out by one point, 47 to 46, on the first countback.
Mannan Castle
Mannan Castle Men - Winter League Stableford Week 9 - 2nd/3rd March
Golf was played in some early spring sunshine at times, with light at the end of the tunnel after a long winter.
Winning Division 1 this weekend was Alan Birdy with a great score of 29pts.
The highlight of Alan’s round came on the 10th with a brilliant birdie 2, and he followed that with a birdie at the last. Runner up was Oran Martin also on a score of 29pts.
Division 2 was won by George Farrelly on a brilliant score of 31pts. George has been very consistent throughout the winter league and showed again this weekend. Rory Lennon finished in second place with a score of 30pts.
One of our hard-working Mannan Gangers (volunteers) won Division 3. Jim Hanratty shot an outstanding 33pts on Sunday.
Jim had 11pts on his final four holes. Runner-up was Kevin Gavigan who also shot 33pts.
Division 1
1st - Alan Birdy (PH.10) - 29pts c/b
2nd - Oran Martin (PH.10) - 29pts
Division 2
1st - George Farrelly (PH.16) - 31pts
2nd - Rory Lennon (PH.16) - 30pts
Division 3
1st - James Hanratty (PH.26) - 33pts c/b
2nd - Kevin Gavigan (PH.23) – 33pts
Mannan Castle Seniors
Mannan Castle Seniors held their weekly competition over 9 holes on Tuesday last. After a damp start conditions improved and finished in sunshine.
Category 1 saw Paddy Kingham have a steady round to defeat Tony Rooney on countback, each with a score of 19 points.
Con Hanneffy had the best score of 20 points but had a two-point penalty.
In Category 2 Tom Lynch had a poor start to his round but recovered well to post a score of 18 points for victory.
Liam Kenny was the winner of category 3 despite a two shot penalty from last week. His 22 point score was the best of the day and his nett 20 points was enough for a comfortable win. Next time out he will have a 4 shot penalty.
Result: Tuesday,5th March – 9 Hole Competition
Category 1: Paddy Kingham (9) 19pts c/b
Category 2: Tom Lynch (10) 18pts
Category 3: Liam Kenny (13) 20pts (22-2)
Mannan Castle Ladies
Marie McKeown had an excellent day on the course playing steady consistent golf to win this week with 29 points.
On the same score, Evelyn Brady came second on countback by being super consistent over the thirteen holes.
In a high scoring week, Rose O'Reilly who has been playing a blinder for her Spring League team so far was just one point behind on 28 points in third place.
Women’s Weekly 13 Hole Week 5th & 6th March 2024
1st Marie McKeown (35) 29 pts c/b
2nd Evelyn Brady (41) 29 pts
3rd Rose O'Reilly (27) 28 pts
In the Spring League sponsored by Dundalk Credit Union Ltd. the race for first and second is hotting with a point or two being the difference each week to take top marks.