Mount Juliet Golf Notes

There were two competitions played during last week and both were 18 hole singles stableford. The first one took place on last Wednesday for members and the second one took place on Saturday and this was a Member/Guest competition. On Wednesday last Alan Hearne, who has had a wonderful year of golf, was again the winner with a score of 37 points. Alan’s handicap has come tumbling down this year and he has now reached single figures, quite a commendable feat. Alan had nines of 18 and 19 points respectively and was two shots clear of his nearest opponent, Tom Mulcahy, who returned 35 points. The C.S.S. for this competition was 36 points and so Alan will reduce his handicap even further before the end of the year.

On Saturday last the Member/Guest competition was won by Robert Brassil on a countback from Ted Hoyne with both players returning 35 points. The weather on Saturday was testing for all golfers and it was a precursor for Sunday’s weather. With the testing conditions the C.S.S. for Saturday was 34 points.

This Thursday sees the resumption of the Winter Series and the competition will be an 18 holes singles which is an open to all golfers and tee times can be reserved by phoning the golf shop.

Results Wednesday 19th October 18 hole Singles

Winner Alan Hearne (9) 37 points

Second Tom Mulcahy (17) 35 points

Results Saturday 22nd October 18 hole Singles

Winner Robert Brassil (3) (Rathsallagh) 35 points

Second Ted Hoyne (9) (Gowran Park) 35 points

The final lap of the “Lexus Race to Mount Juliet” was decided last Sunday when Barrie Trainor clinched the title over 36 holes in Mount Juliet. Barrie, who was a former Senior Cup player with his home club, Warrenpoint, had rounds of 68 and 70 for a total of 6 under par to win by four strokes from his playing partner on Sunday, Brendan McGovern and by winning the final he just pipped last year’s winner, David Higgins, for the Order of Merit title as well. Barrie collected €4,000 for winning in Mount Juliet and he collected a further €10,000 for the Order of Merit title.

He beat a select field of his professional compatriots to end his year on top of the pile. This is his sixth year as a professional, having won the Irish Amateur Championship and the PGA Ulster Championship, on the way to the biggest win of his career so far. Both Trainor and McGovern led the field on Saturday after they both had recorded rounds of four under par, 68’s, over the blue championship course. Trainor started his round with eight straight pars on Sunday before he birdied the par four 9th. He dropped two shots on the 11th and 12th before he finished his round with three further birdies on the 13th, 14th and 17th holes for a two under round of 70 shots. In the meantime, McGovern, who lost a ball on the 4th and try as he might could not catch Trainor to finish his round with a 74 which was two over par and this was enough to earn him second place on Sunday. Jimmy Bolger, Kilkenny, finished joint third with David Higgins on Sunday for a good week-end.

The Pro-Am on Friday was contested by 33 teams of four comprising of a professional and three amateur golfers. This event was won by a team led by Old Conna professional, Donal Gleeson, who beat the Jimmy Bolger led team on a countback. Both teams having scored 95 points and were 3 shots clear of the team led by Greenore professional, Robert Giles. The evening concluded with a dinner and presentation of prizes in Kendals Restaurant with some lively and funny entertainment from Barry Murphy of Apres Match fame.

On the amateur scene last week there were two competitions played and the first one was the opening round of the popular Winter Series. This proved to be benefit for some members of Thurles Golf Club as they won the first two prizes. The winners had a great score of 99 points and they had 5 shots to spare from their fellow club members.

The last of the Ladies Invitation Days was held on Wednesday and the format was a Three Person Rumble. This proved to be a successful outing for the team led by Brona Reidy who had a convincing win with 71 points. Brona’s partners were Edel Banim (11) from Woodbrook G.C. and Maeve O’Reilly (12) from Powerscourt G.C.

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Results Winter Series 4 Person Team Event

Winners

Pat Stakelum (18) Thurles G.C.

Pat McEvoy (13)

John Nevin (15)

John McGrath (15) 99points

Second

Jack O’Keeffe (15) Thurles G.C.

V. O’Keeffe (17)

Eamon O’Kennedy (12)

David O’Kennedy (13) 94 points

Results Pro-Am Friday 14th October

Winners

Donal Gleeson, Old Conna

Hugh O’Connor (6)

Helen Hedigan (20)

Geraldine Forde (32) 95 points

Second

Jimmy Bolger, Kilkenny

Bill Connolly (16)

P.J. Butler (15)

Billy Fanning (14) 95 points

Third

Robert Giles, Greenore

Alan Hoyne (7)

Mark Adamson (10)

Gary Stewart (6) 92 points

The Lady President’s (Mrs. Mary Jones) Prize was played on Thursday last in very testing conditions with a very strong South Westerly wind blowing which made scoring very difficult. The very convincing winner was Sandra Carr who returned 32 points to win by four shots from her nearest opponent. It was a case of keeping the ball in play in the conditions and Sandra executed this to her advantage over the eighteen holes. In second place came the Lady Captain (Margaret Twomey) with 28 points. No player broke the C.S.S. for the day so the competition became a non-counting one as it was deemed to be for reduction only for handicap purposes. Mrs. Jones made the long trip over from the South of England for the occasion. The evening ended with a dinner and presentation of prizes in Mount Juliet House.

This week-end sees the final of the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet with the top Irish Professional Golfers playing for the Order of Merit title which will be defended by the 2010 winner, David Higgins, and will include Kilkenny Professional, Jimmy Bolger, in the line-up. The Pro-Am takes place this Friday with the professionals taking pride of place on Saturday and Sunday.

Results of Lady President’s (Mrs. Mary Jones) Prize

Winner Sandra Carr (18) 32 points

Second Margaret Twomey (36) 28 points

Third Laura Mahony (17) 27 points

Fourth Myra Phelan (22) 27 points

1st Nine Mary Divilly (25) 14 points

2nd Nine Brenda Fitzgerald (21) 14 points

Par 3’s Hilary Hegarty 8 points

Par 5‘s Ursula Mason 9 points

Longest Drive Ruth Mulholland