Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The July Monthly Medal produced some fine scoring last Sunday and none more so than the lady in form, Rebecca Nixon, who fresh from her triumph of winning the Lady Captain’s Prize the previous week hit top form again to spread-eagle the field last Sunday. Rebecca returned a remarkable 45 points to easily win the medal and in doing so saw her handicap trimmed by three shots to 15. Rebecca started in a blaze of glory by scoring a birdie on the 1st and proceeded to cover the first nine holes in two over gross for 25 points. Unfortunately the blitz did not continue but she still added a further 20 points to her score on the last nine holes to win by 10 shots from her nearest competitor, Helen Scully, who returned 35 points.

The best score in the men’s section was returned by Michael Collins with 40 points. Michael, playing very steadily, scored 20 points on each nine and beat John Keane by a shot to win Category 1. Category 2 was won by James E. Brett with 37 points and he beat his cousin James J. Brett by a shot also. James E had nines of 14 and 23 points respectively and he covered the back nine holes in a very impressive 39 shots which was three over par gross. Category 3 went to Ronan Baird who won his section with 34 points and may have improved his overall total but for having failed to score on the 7th and 18th holes. The C.S.S. for the men was 35 points and was 36 points for the ladies.

Last Wednesday saw a Member/Guest 3 Person Rumble played and this proved to be an easy victory for John O’ Dwyer and his guests who had 3 shots to spare over their nearest rivals.

In the Club Matchplay, the ladies section has reached the semi-final stage with Helen Hedigan pitted against Brenda O’ Sullivan and Rebecca Nixon down to play Bernie Madigan. These matches will be played before the end of July. The men’s section has reached the quarter-final stage with Alan Hearne playing Billy Fanning, David Kelly v Mark Delahunty, John O’ Dwyer v Brian Nevin and John Thornton v Frank Smyth. These matches are due to be played by the end of July also.

Results Member/Guest 3 Person Rumble

Winners:
John O’ Dwyer (6)
Denis Ryan (15)  Woodenbridge G.C.
Dan Byrne (19)  Woodenbridge G.C……….80 points.

Second:
Frank Smyth(15)
Tony O’ Brien(15) Clonmel G.C.
Gus Grace(8)………………………………77 points.

July Monthly Medal

Category 1. Michael Collins (11)………………..40 points.
Category 2. James E. Brett (15)………………….37 points.
Category 3. Ronan Baird (19)……………………34 points.
Ladies: Rebecca Nixon (18)…………………45 points.

Next Saturday sees another Member/Guest competition down for play with an 18 holes singles competition scheduled and the Summer League for members resumes again on Sunday next.

The Captains Prizes were the main focus of attention last weekend and after the present inclement weather fingers were crossed for favourable conditions. Unfortunately play on the Friday evening was abandoned due to incessant rain from early morning. It meant that players who intended to play on Friday had to be fitted in on the timesheet for Saturday which was a “shotgun” start at 9am and 2pm. Glad to report that all players were accommodated which made a line-up of almost 180 people partaking on the day and to everybody’s relief, the rain stayed away all day which added to a great day’s enjoyment for all concerned with the day.

Best score on the day was in the men’s section with 39 points winning the prestigious prize and the ladie’s section was won with 34 points. The conditions on the day, after all the wet weather, made the course play very long with no run on the ball. The course, as usual, was in pristine condition and as is obvious from the scoring it suited the longer hitters on the day. Gavin Pierce returned the winning score of 39 points to clinch Alan Hoyne’s Prize on a countback from Neil Magee. Gavin had a gross 74 which is a total of two over par for the white course. On his first nine holes Gavin dropped three shots to par on the 1st, 6th and 9th holes and birdied the long 5th to be out in 38 shots which was converted to 18 points stableford. On his back nine holes he had a birdie on the 12th but dropped a shot on the 15th and scored pars the rest of the back nine holes which counted for a further 21 points. Neil had nines of 19 points and 20 points respectively and but for a double bogie, six, on the final hole would have claimed the first prize.

In the ladies section Rebecca Nixon secured victory, much to her surprise, with 34 points. Rebecca failed to score points at the 1st, 4th, 10th and 15th but scored steadily for the remaining holes to clinch victory and win Ruth Mulholland’s lovely prize. Geraldine Higgins had a winning score of 35 points but because she had not the required number of cards returned beforehand she was awarded the second prize. In third place came Nora Deane on 32 points. A very enjoyable social day was rounded off by a dinner for over 200 people in the Hunter’s Yard in a specially erected marquee for the occasion.

Results Captains’ (Alan Hoyne & Ruth Mulholland) Saturday 7th July

Men’s Section:

Winner: … Gavin Pierce(5)…………………39 points.
Second…. Neil Magee(10)…………………39 points.
Cat. 1..……Owen Phelan(10)……………….37 points.
Cat 2.……..Bill Fanning(15)………………..35 points.
Cat 3.……..Ronan Murphy(25)……………..35 points.
Gross……..Gary Walsh(Scr)..………………32 points.
Past Capt….Billy Murphy((21).……………34 points.
1st Nine……Noel O’ Halloran(14)..…………19 points.
2nd Nine……John E. Hegarty(12).…………..19 points.
Par 3’s……..Finbar O’ Neill(15).……………10 points.
Par 5’s……..Shay Quinn(14) ….…………….13 points.
Visitors…….Ben Halpenny(17).…………….35 points.

Ladies Section:

Winner:…….Rebecca Nixon(18)…………….34 points.
Second:…….Geraldine Higgins(36)………….35 points.
Third:………Nora Deane(13)………………..32 points.
Gross:………Fiona Corbett(6)………………..24 points.
Past Capt…..Brona Reidy(13).……………….31 points.
1st Nine…….Ann Daly(34).…………………..18 points.
2nd Nine……..Paula Moore(35)……………….19 points.
Par 5’s……….Helen Comerford(22)…………..11 points.
Par 3’s..……..Joan McHugh(36)……………….12 points.

Fixtures Diary:

This Wednesday is a Member/Guest day with a three person rumble scheduled to take place and next Sunday the July Monthly Medal which carries Golfer of the Year points will be played.