Mount Juliet Golf Notes

Success on the Inter Club scene with three teams coming through out of four teams competing.
Two teams from the ladies were in action, the Intermediate Cup team and the Challenge Cup team and both of them were successful. The Intermediate Cup team beat the ladies from Borris G.C. at Enniscorthy by a margin of 4 matches to 1 and the Challenge Cup team beat Bunclody ladies by the same margin at Rathsallagh.

Congratulations to both teams and their managers, Rita Garvey and Myra Phelan. Team Members were Mary Fulton, Jan Hyland, Myra Phelan, Helen Hedigan and Amelia Drumm in the Intermediate Cup. The Challenge Cup team comprised of Ruth Skehan, Ann Daly, Mary Cotter, Wendy Beirne and Brenda O’ Sullivan
The men’s Duggan Cup team also made a winning start to their campaign by beating New Ross but only by the odd match of five.

All five matches were close affairs with two matches winning on the 18th and a third match losing on the 19th. At New Ross ,Pat Garvey and John Browne, after a bad start, got right back in contention in their match but eventually succumbed at the 17th. Tom Duggan and Jim Cusack were in firm command for the majority of their match but the opposition fought back from dormie 2 down and New Ross just edged home on the 19th. The only winners away were Tadgh Gleeson and Kevin McCartan who won on the 17th.

At Mount Juliet Bryan Phelan and Jeff Howes won on the 18th after a titanic struggle and Terry O’ Sullivan and Sean O’ Neill just got the better of their opponents on the 17th.

The last team in action were the Pierce Purcell team in the qualifying round of the competition at Enniscorthy but sad to relate they failed to make the match play stages of the competition.

Next Sunday sees the first of the “majors” down for decision with the running of the Jack Nicklaus Trophy which is an 18 holes singles stableford.This is also a Golfer of the Year competition and extra points are available to competitors. The following Wednesday the June Ladies Invitation Day takes place and this will be a fourball betterball competition for members and their guests. Timesheets for both competitions can be obtained by phoning golf reservations or by booking “on line“.

The ladies course at Mount Juliet has now been slope rated by the authorities and has received a rating of 133. This rating now completes the ratings for both the mens(green and white) and ladies courses for the future and will be good news for our visitors.

The first round of the Summer Series was played last week and it resulted in a win for a team from Woodenbridge Golf Club in Co. Wicklow. This was a first win for this group of golfers and they did so very emphatically. They scored a total of 92 points and won by three shots from a local team of golfers based at Callan and Kilkenny. The winners turned with 43 points after nine holes but they really came to life on the back nine with a very good 49 points. The runners-up had nines of 44 and 45 points. The next round for this popular series will take place on Wednesday 16th June. The format is a 4 person team event with two scores to count on the first seventeen holes and three scores to count on the last hole. Teams may consist of ladies or gents or a combination of both. There is a timesheet for each event and tee times can be reserved by phoning 056 7773071 or 7773064.

On the inter club scene, the ladies are in action next week in the Challenge Cup where they play Bunclody at Rathsallagh. They are then pitted against Borris at Enniscorthy in the Intermediate Cup. The men are to play New Ross in the Duggan Cup and they also have the qualifying round of the Pierce Purcell Shield.

This Wednesday the May Ladies Invitation Day takes place and on Sunday next the May Monthly Medal will be decided and the latter competition will count towards Golfer of the Year points.

Results Summer Series for May

Two competitions were held in the past week, one for members only and the other was the 3^rd round of the Winter Series.

The members competition consisted of a 16 holes singles stableford for hampers and the competition was played over the first sixteen holes as daylight hours would have restricted a full eighteen holes being played.

Some good scoring was achieved on the day with the best score of 35 points returned by Jake Beirne, who at 15 years of age, is developing into a very promising player and now plays off a handicap of 2.  Jake easily won the junior section of the competition.  The senior section was won by Alan Byrne who scored 33 points and won by a shot from Terry O’Sullivan and Padraic O’Connor.  The ladies section was won by Sally Gleeson who returned a creditable 29 points.

Results – 16 Holes Hamper for Members:

Winner        Alan Byrne (10)              33 points

Second       Terry O’Sullivan (17)       32 points

Third           Padraic O’Connor (18)    32 points

Ladies         Sally Gleeson (12)         29 points

Junior          Jake Beirne (2)              35 points

In the Winter Series, which was played in ideal conditions last Thursday, the winners had a very achievable score of 75 points, one of the lowest scores to win this type of competition.  The format for the day was a 3 person rumble and whilst the winners played steady, but not spectacular golf, they were mildly surprised to come out on top afterwards. They now go forward to the Grand Final next March.

The next round of the series takes place on Thursday 20^th November and the format is a 3 person “champagne” scramble which should throw up some interesting scores.  Bookings can be made by phoning golf reservations at 056/7773071 or 7773064

Results – Winter Series; 3 Person Rumble:

Winners

Tom Hogan (14)

(Rathdowney Golf Club)

Tom O’Dwyer (18)

(Thurles Golf Club)

John O’Grady (14)

(Borris Golf Club)           75 points