Mount Juliet Golf Notes

Last Saturday the annual Residential Trophy was decided over 18 holes and scoring as usual was stable ford system. This competition was a triumph for the O’ Halloran family as Richard O’ Halloran returned the overall winning score of 38 points to just get the better of David Kelly by virtue of a better back nine holes. Richard scored 17 and 21 points respectively for each nine holes in the men’s section as against David’s consistent score of 19 points for each nine. The ladies section had a small turnout of players and this was won by Richard’s mother, Catherine O’ Halloran, who returned 29 points to win her section. Another of our young brigade of players, Laurence Shields Jr., had his first win by returning a great score of 39 points to win the Junior Section and this score will now help reduce his handicap. Laurence had nines of 22 and 17 points respectively and only for failing to score on the long and difficult 18th might have seen his handicap further reduced.

The McCalmont match play has reached the semi-final stages with Mark Delahunty to play the winners of Alan Hearne and Bill Fanning in the top half. In the bottom half John O’ Dwyer plays Frank Smyth with the final scheduled to finish before September.

The final of the ladies match play section will see Rebecca Nixon take on Brenda O’ Sullivan after both players came through their semi-finals with Rebecca beating Bernie Madigan and Brenda accounting for Helen Hedigan.

The Golfer of the Year competitions are slowlydrawing to a conclusion and the tables look like this after the completion of the July Medal. Neil Magee leads the men’s section on 32 points with Michael Collins in close pursuit on 29 points. Michael, in turn, is just a point ahead of John O’ Dwyer with Sean Brett and Owen Phelan bringing up fourth and fifth positions
The Ladies section is headed by Rebecca Nixon who is 5 points clear of Bernie Madigan and is in a very strong position to win the trophy outright. In third place comes Lady Captain, Ruth Mulholland, with Amelia Drumm and Brenda O’ Sullivan filling the minor places.

This week sees the August Ladies Invitation Day on Wednesday with a Member/Guest Fourball Stableford down for play on Thursday. Then on Sunday next the “Vice/Versa” Captains Day will be decided with “shotgun” starts at 9 am and 2 pm for intending competitors.

Results Residential Trophy Saturday 4th August

Winner: Richard O’ Halloran (20)………………38 points.

Second: David Kelly (5)…………………………38 points.

Junior: Laurence Sheilds Jr. (22)……………….39 points.

Ladies Section

Winner: Catherine O’ Halloran (24)……………..29 points.

The Summer Series Team Event continued last Wednesday and this proved to be a runaway success for a team from Rathsallagh Golf Club. In returning a whopping score of 101 points they had 10 shots to spare from their nearest rivals team of four from Bellewstown Golf Club. The Rathsallagh team had nines of 47 and 54 points respectively. With only two scores to count on all holes their score included four holes where they scored seven points. These were at the 7th, 10th , 17th and 18th holes and these scores helped in no small way to amass their impressive total and leave the remainder of the field trailing in their wake. The runners-up had nines of 45 and 46 points which also contained two seven points at the 13th and 14th holes.

Last Sunday saw a Member/Guest Scotch Mixed Foursomes played with a good turnout of players despite various other activities in London and Thurles. This competition proved to be a success for husband and wife pairings who filled the top three spots in the competition. The winners were Paul and Bernie Madigan and they just prevailed from John and Brenda O’ Sullivan by virtue of a better back nine holes. The winners had 42 points made up of two nines of 21 points each and they got through against the O’ Sullivans nines of 22 and 20 points. In third place came Alan and Alison Hoyne on 40 points.

Next weekend sees the popular Residential Trophy played for on Saturday with the Members Summer League resuming on Sunday. The August Ladies Invitation Day will be held on Wednesday 8th August and a Member/Guest Fourball to be held on Thursday 9th August.

Results Summer Series team Event 25th July

Winners;
Gavin Flood (12) Rathsallagh G.C.
Paul Sheill (18)
James Fitzpatrick (9)
John Fanning (12)……………………..101 points.

Second:
Dave Kelliher (18) Bellewstown G.C.
Barry Kretsch (3)
Mike Finnegan (10)
Stephen Finnegan (20)…………………91 points.

Results Member /Guest Scotch Mixed Foursomes Sunday 29th July

Winners:
Paul Madigan (3)
Bernie Madigan (12)……………….42 points.

Second:
John O’ Sullivan (21)
Brenda O’ Sullivan (28) ……………42 points.

Third:
Alan Hoyne (8)
Alison Hoyne (36)…………………..40 points.

There was another competition in the popular Member/Guest Series played last Saturday with an 18 holes singles stableford for a member and two guests. On a day when most ardent golfers were “glued to the box” watching the comings and goings of the British Open a good sized number of competitors partook in nice conditions. The best score of the day was returned in the men’s section where Shane Garvey from the Knightsbrook club returned 37 points. He was closely followed by another visitor, Jim Pender, from The Castle Golf Club on 36 points who beat off local, John O’ Dwyer, by virtue of a better back nine holes.

In the ladie’s section victory went to Brenda O’ Sullivan who beat Lady Captain, Ruth Mulholland, by three shots.
Last Tuesday saw the continuation of the Juniors Competition over 18 holes and this was won by Ned Kirwan with a good score of 39 points and he was 3 shots clear of this year’s Junior Captain, Luke Donnelly, who scored 36 points. It is intended to run the junior competitions on Tuesdays right through until the end of August.

Next Sunday sees the next round of the Member/Guest series with an 18 holes Scotch Mixed Foursomes down for decision. Bookings for this competition can be made online or by phoning the Golf Shop.

Results Member/Guest 18 Holes Stableford Saturday 21st July

Men

Winner:  Shane Garvey (13) Knightsbrook G.C…………37 points.
Second:  Jim Pender (6) The Castle G.C…………………36 points.
Third:  John O’ Dwyer (6)……………………………..36 points.

Ladies

Winner: Brenda O’ Sullivan (29)………………………35 points.
Second: Ruth Mulholland (12)…………………………32 points.

Junior Competition Tuesday 17th July

Winner: Ned Kirwan (22)………………………………..39 points.
Second: Luke Donnelly (6)………………………………36 points.