Mount Juliet Golf Notes

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

Miele All Ireland Ladies Fourball / National Putting Championships & the new Winter Series for 2008/2009

Last weekend saw the Miele All Ireland Ladies Fourball decided at Mount Juliet with the ladies from Galway Golf Club playing the Northern winners Cushendall from Co. Antrim in one semi-final and local hopes Faithlegg taking on Donabate in the other semi-final.

Both semi-finals were played on Saturday in ideal conditions which is more than can be said for the final.  Both Galway and Faithlegg had easy victories over their opponents and they went head to head in the final which was played on Sunday.  In the final, victory went to the ladies from Faithlegg who won rather easily in the end in atrocious conditions with continuous rain falling throughout the whole evening.

Galway ladies had Kilkenny connections as their Lady President Mary Hanlon, originally hails from Kieran Street and she was one of the McAdams family whose father worked in the Monster House many years ago.

The Winter Series 2008/2009 was launched last week and the dates and formats between now and Christmas are as follows;

8th October 4 Person Team Event
23rd October Fourball Betterball Stableford
6th November 3 Person Rumble
20th November 3 Person Champagne Scramble
4th December 3 Person Team Event
17th December 3 Person Rumble

Mount Juliet is delighted to welcome a new sponsor for the event with Marble City Travel, James Street, Kilkenny coming on board for their first venture into the world of golf  sponsorship.  The time sheet for all events is open at present and tee reservations can be made by phoning 056 7773064 or 7773071.

Next Sunday sees the September Monthly Medal down for decision and this is the last competition for the Golfer of the Year in both the ladies and men’s section.

Both leaders, Mary Quigley and Stephen Price, seem to have a strong grip on both trophies at this stage and their nearest opponents, husband and wife pairing of Rebecca and Andrew Nixon, will do well to wrest the trophies from the leaders grasps.

Last Saturday the National Putting Championship was held on the 18 hole Championship Putting Green. The winner after a “sudden death” playoff was local golfer Niall O’ Sullivan from Callan Golf Club who beat Niall Duggan, representing Abbott Golf Society on a tie hole after both players finished locked together after 27 holes.  In third place was the former winner Pat Foley from Borris Golf Club.

Winner Niall O’Sullivan, (Callan Golf Club)
Second Niall Duggan, (Abbott Golf Society)
Third Pat Foley, (Borris Golf Club)

Niall Duggan-second, Lady Captain Rita Garvey, Niall O'Sullivan-winner, Pat Foley-third

Last Sunday saw the Lady Captain’s (Rita Garvey) Prize to the Men and the Captain’s (Peter Quigley) Prize to the Ladies played for.  These competitions usually herald the end of school holidays for parents and children alike and the reduction in daylight hours.  A good entry of competitors was the order of the day and the winners were Brona Reidy in the ladies section and David Moore in the men’s section.

The early morning starters had the best of conditions as the now customary rainfall came in the early afternoon making conditions difficult for the late starters.  However, competition was keen and the scoring good.

Brona Reidy just pipped Norma Sullivan on the back nine with both ladies scoring 38 points.  The winning of the competition for Brona was her last hole birdie which gave her 4 points as against Norma’s bogie.  In third place 3 shots adrift was Frances Doyle.

In the men’s competition, David Moore also scored 38 points to win by a shot from Michael Whelan who in turn beat Jim McGuigan on a countback as well.  Michael may well rue his failure to score on the par four 15th which made the crucial difference to his overall placing.

As a result of both competitions the Golfer of the Year categories are beginning to take shape with John Keane now joining long time leader Stephen Price at the top of the leader board followed by Andrew Nixon in third place four points adrift.  In the ladies section, Mary Quigley still leads but her lead has been reduced by Rebecca Nixon.  Both sections have two more competitions to be played for before the overall result is known.

Men’s Results
Winner:  David Moore (15), …….. ……. 38 points
Second: Michael Whelan (8), …. ……. ..37 points
Third:  Jim McGuigan (20), ……. ……. . 37 points
Fourth:  John Keane (9), ……….. ……. . 37 points
1st Nine:  Tim Kavanagh (17), . ……. ..19 points
2nd Nine:  John Carr (1), ……. ……. …. 20 points
Past Captain:  Padraic O’Connor (18),. 35 points
Par 3’s:  Jim Blanchfield (19), ……. ….. 11 points
Par 5’s:  Bill Hutchinson (14), ……. …… 9 points

Ladies Results
Winner:  Brona Reidy (15), ……. ……. .. 38 points
Second:  Norma Sullivan (31), ……. …..38 points
Third:  Frances Doyle (21), ……. ……… 35 points
1st Nine:  Rita Garvey (25), ……. …….. 20 points
2nd Nine:  Jon Hegarty (23), ……. …… 20 points
Par 3’s:  Julie Godson (32), ……. …….. 10 points
Par 5’s:  Ann Gavagan (15), ……. …….. 11 points

The very popular Summer Series for August was held last week and on another showery August day the deserving winners hailed from Woodstock Golf Club in Co. Clare.

The team led by Robert Dormer won with 91 points beating the fellow Munster led team of Jed O’Dwyer from Castletroy who had 88 points.  They in turn beat Martin Devlin’s team, some of whom hail from Ballyragget, and they had a better back nine than Philip Wardick’s team from Boystown Golf Club.

On a day when the course played every bit of its 7000 yards in length off the white tees, players found the going tough with the wet grass making scoring difficult.  The winners who started with only 2 points on the first hole and finished with only 4 points on the last, where all three scores counted, were consistent without being brilliant in between.  However, it was enough to win easily by three shots shooting nines of 46 and 45 points respectively against the runners-up score of 43 and 45 points.

Results
Winners
Robert Dormer (9)
Jason Dormer (13)
Michael O’Brien (15)
Jimmy Kelly (14)    (Woodstock Golf Club)
91 points

Second
Jed O’Dwyer (12)    (Castletroy Golf Club)
Conor Moroney (12)    (Limerick County)
Frank Moloney (14)
Tony Finan (17)    (Nenagh Golf Club)
88 points

Third
Michael Dowling (22)
Martin Devlin (13)
John Gleeson (11)    (Rathdowney Golf Club)
Willie Dempsey (17)    (Borris Golf Club)
87 points

Fourth
Philip Wardick (9)
Jack Slattery (11)    (Boystown Golf Club)
Seamus Doherty (10)
Paul Doherty (13)    (South County Golf Club)
87 points