Mount Juliet Golf Notes

Golf news and competition results from Mount Juliet Golf Club, Co. Kilkenny

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Archive for April, 2008

On the Inter Club scene two teams progressed to the next round of their respective competitions. The ladies won a hard fought victory over Rosslare in the second round of the Ladies Challenge Cup and now progress to the third round where they will meet the winners of Waterford or Tramore. Mary Quigley won the vital away match of three in Rosslare and this added to the two matches won at home by Anne Murphy and Mary Cotter to give the overall result reading of a 3/2 victory having lost the other two matches at Rosslare.

The second team to win were the Ladies Junior Foursomes Team who defeated The Curragh in rather unusual circumstances. After the first leg at The Curragh, Mount Juliet ladies stared defeat in the face with the Co. Kildare ladies holding the upper hand after winning all three matches comfortably. But they were dealt a cruel blow of fate when it was discovered some days later that one of their ladies, Maria Donnelly, had unknowingly played with a non-conforming driver and then in a very sporting gesture informed her team manager of the situation and she in turn conceded the particular match to Mount Juliet. So it meant that instead of being 3-0 down they were now 2 matches to 1 down but with an advantage of holes won as the concession meant that it was a 10/8 victory in that particular match. So low and behold in the second leg Mount Juliet won two matches and lost one to draw level overall and on a countback of holes up Mount Juliet just had the upper hand as a result of the conceded match. This indeed was a very sporting gesture on behalf of Maria and the ladies from The Curragh and one that has to be congratulated.

Junior Foursomes Team
Junior Foursomes Team: Maire Shee, Susan Mahony, Rita Garvey – Lady Captain, Pearl Brennan, Margaret O’Rourke, Gwen Walshe

The only team to make their exit was the Irish Mixed Foursomes team who conceded a walkover to Woodenbridge in rather different circumstances and unfortunately was not in the same sporting manner as the match outlined against The Curragh.

The Golfer of the Year competitions are now beginning to take shape and with two rounds completed the early leaders are Stephen Price and Lynda Hickey in their respective divisions. Some fascinating matches will be played in the McCalmont Cup matchplay as a result of the draw after the qualifying round. Four ladies have made the matchplay proper and they are Mary Quigley who plays Bill Hutchinson, Lynda Hickey plays Ray O’Malley, Rita Garvey plays Richard Duggan and Noel Murphy plays Una O’Sullivan. Richie Guilfoyle will have to be at his best to give John Mulholland 18 shots in his first round. A new name will be added to the trophy this year as the 2007 winner Rebecca Nixon failed to make it through to the matchplay.

The next round of the Summer Series takes place on Tuesday 13th May with a shotgun start at 2pm. The presentation of prizes takes place immediately after play and the format is a four person team event over 18 holes with two scores to count on 17 holes and three scores on the last. The prizes for this round are sponsored by Heineken Ireland. The time sheet for this competition is filling up fast so intending players should ring 056 7773071 or 056 7773064 for a tee time.

The first round of the new Summer Series was played last week. This series will be played once a month for the next six months and each competition will stand alone with valuable prizes for each day. The format will be a four person team event with a shotgun start at 2pm. each day.

Last Wednesday a team from Galway were runaway winners with a score of 90 points. They were seven shots clear of a team from Carrick on Suir, who in turn were a point clear of their nearest rivals. The magnificent prizes for the day were sponsored by Callaway Golf and all four teams involved in the prizes walked away with Drivers, Golf Bags, Putters and Watches.

The day itself was dry but a very chill wind blew from the east and this made scoring quite difficult but it proved to be no deterrent to the winners. The series continues on Tuesday 13th May and reservations can be made by phoning 056/7773071 or 7773064.


Mark Wyse, Kevin Greely, Derek Keane, Paul Keane, Michael Keane, Mark Swan,
Winners Cregmore Park and Loughrea Golf Clubs

Results

Winners

Paul Keane (12)
Kevin Greely (12)
(Cregmore Park Golf Club)

Derek Keane (15)
Michael Keane (18)
(Loughrea Golf Club) 90 points

Second

John Mahon (11)
John O’Reilly (12)
Jim Kirwan (17)
Nicky Long (17)
(Carrick-on-Suir Golf Club) 83 points

Third

Dominic Carolan (10)
Cathal MacCanna (15)
(Luttrellstown Golf Club)

Alan McKnight (17)
Donnacadh Casey (7)
(Cork Golf Club) 82 points

Fourth

Anthony Kenny (13)
Paddy Naughton (17)
Tom Kenny (14)
(Mallow Golf Club)

Denis O’Brien (6)
(Lee Valley Golf Club) 78 points


On the Inter Club front, Mount Juliet teams had mixed fortunes with the Duggan Cup team just edging past Castlecomer on a tie hole. Unfortunately the Leinster Fourball Trophy team were just pipped by the final putt on the 18th hole to lose to neighbours Mountain View. The Ladies Junior Foursomes team have a mountain to climb in the second leg of their match against The Curragh having lost all three matches in the first leg. The second leg takes place next Sunday at Mount Juliet.

The April Monthly Medal was decided last Sunday and because of the present dry spell some good scoring was the order of the day. The four category winners were Richie Guilfoyle, Norman Kilroy, Michael Meagher and Lynda Hickey.

In Category 1, Richie had a fine score of one over par gross to just pip Denis Treacy on the back nine countback. Denis failed to score on the par three 14th hole and this proved to be the crucial difference. In Category 2 Norman beat Pat Doyle by a shot to claim his medal whilst Michael Meagher had three shots to spare in Category 3. Lynda Hickey hit a rich vein of form with 39 points to beat Mary Quigley by two shots to claim the ladies section. Thirty two players have now qualified for the matchplay stages of the McCalmont Cup as a result of this April Medal and the full draw will be made this week.

Results – April Monthly Medal

Category 1 Richard Guilfoyle (3) 38 points
Category 2 Norman Kilroy (15) 37 points
Category 3 Michael Meagher (20) 35 points

Ladies Lynda Hickey (28) 39 points

Men’ CSS – 36 points, Ladies CSS – 36 points


Next week the course closes for three days for the Spring maintenance.

The Grand Final of the Waterford Crystal sponsored Winter Series was played on Monday 14th April and it produced some very good scoring on a fine sunny day, with very little breeze.
The worthy winner, on a countback, was Anthony O’Connell from Harbour Point in Cork. He just beat Liam Troy from Thurles by virtue of a better back nine. Both players had 37 points stableford, which was exceptional scoring off the Blue Championship tees which measure almost 7300 yards in length.

Liam and Anthony, both of whom are single figure golfers, revelled in the conditions and Liam held the upper hand with one hole to play but unfortunately for him he failed to score on the 18th. Anthony seized the chance to score two points thereby drawing level with Liam and claiming the overall prize. In third place came Sean Keane from Williamstown in Waterford with 35 points.

Winter Series Winners
Winter Series Final (L to R) – Sean Keane, Williamstown Golf Club, third, Liam Troy, Thurles Golf Club, second, Anthony Condon – Waterford Crystal, Anthony O’Connell – winner

It was a fitting end to a very successful series but unfortunately the last one to be sponsored by Waterford Crystal, who have been great supporters of the series over the last 10 years. After the presentation of prizes all competitors sat down to dinner and some Mount Juliet hospitality.

Results:
Winner
Anthony O’Connell (8)
Harbour Point Golf Club, 37 points

Second
Liam Troy (9)
Thurles Golf Club, 37 points

Third
Sean Keane (7)
Williamstown Golf Club, 35 points

Three more teams were involved in Inter Club competitions over the weekend and two of the three teams made it through to the next round. The odd team out was the Barton Cup team who were convincingly beaten by a strong Waterford team. The successful teams were the Ladies Challenge Cup team who accounted for near neighbours Kilkenny and they now meet the winners of Faithlegg or Rosslare in the next round. Also the Irish Mixed Foursomes team had a great victory against Baltinglass winning all three matches away. Their next round opponents are Woodenbridge.

In the Challenge Cup three of the ladies made their debut on the Inter Club scene and very much enjoyed the experience with two of them, Mary Quigley and Ann Murphy, winning their respective matches. The Vice Captain, Billy Murphy, also made a successful debut for the mixed foursomes team at Baltinglass.

Next Saturday sees the Leinster Fourball Trophy team in action against neighbours Mountain View and the Ladies Junior Foursomes team play The Curragh this week also.