Mount Juliet Golf Notes

There was no joy for the last two men’s teams standing in the Inter Club activity held at various venues last weekend with the elimination of the Junior Cup team and also the Pierce Purcell team. Both teams acquitted themselves well before succumbing to their opponents. The Junior Cup team failed to qualify for the match play stages at Arklow G. C. on Saturday but the Pierce Purcell team excelled by qualifying for the match play stages for the first time. They finished third in the stroke play qualifying round on Saturday which was held at St. Helens Bay G. C. and unfortunately for Mount Juliet they exited to the eventual winners, Wexford G. C., in the semi-final on Sunday morning but only after a titanic struggle by a score of 3/2 with the last match going the full distance. The team and panel deserve enormous credit for their fine showing and none more so than manager, Pat Doyle, who unflinchingly gave a great deal of time and planning in trying to win that elusive pennant. The team on Saturday consisted of Brian Blanchfield & David Wyer, Pat Garvey & Chris McHugh, Jim Cusack & Terry O’ Reilly, John Kennedy & Shay Quinn and Frank Smyth & Norman Williams with John O’ Connor replacing Shay Quinn on Sunday morning for the match play.
Last Sunday saw a Member/Guest Fourball Stableford competition played at Mount Juliet and this proved to be some compensation for Niall Magee who was an unlucky loser in the medal competition the previous week. Niall and his partner Ronan Kelly returned a winning score of 45 points to edge out the mother and daughter combination of Sandra and Darcey Carr by two points. The winners had nines of 24 and 21 points respectively against the runners-up score of 43 points made up of nines of 23 and 20 points.
This Friday sees the Charity Team Day for the Special Olympics down for decision with a full timesheet and on Sunday the Jack Nicklaus Trophy will be played for with the added bonus of G. O. Y. points on offer. This competition is one of the principal competitions of the Mount Juliet year and honours the great man himself who designed the course.

Results Member/Guest Fourball Stableford Sunday 20th May

Winners
Niall Magee (10)
Ronan Kelly (8) Ashbourne G.C. ………….45 points.

Runners-Up
Sandra Carr (17)
Darcey Carr (6) Milltown G.C………………43 points.

Last week was an important one for our junior members as the competition for the Captain’s (James J. Brett) prize and the Lady Captain‘s (Margaret Twomey) prize took place. This competition was washed out last June when it should have taken place in conjunction with the adult competition. Some fine scoring was recorded by our Junior members as both Darcey Carr, a granddaughter of J.B. and Luke Donnelly, nephew to the hurling Fennellys, scored 42 points and were winners in their respective sections. Darcey, playing off the ladies red tees, had a remarkable two over par gross. She dropped a total of four shots to par but struck back with birdies on the 13th and 15th holes, a fine achievement indeed. As a result Darcey now sees her handicap of 8 reduced further.

Luke Donnelly playing off the yellow tees had a level par round for 42 points and will see his handicap of 6 reducing further in the near future as well. Luke dropped two shots to par at the 9th and 16th holes but made up for these lapses with birdies at the 2nd and 15th. No doubt there is a bright golfing future in store for both of these young players. Other notable scores were recorded by Brian Staunton, Jack Cullen in the boys section and Elizabeth Shields scoring 40 points in the girls section, with the Mulcahy brothers scoring well on each nine holes. Prizes were presented in the clubhouse with proceedings ending with a social get-together for all contestants.

Myra Phelan, followed in the footsteps of her husband Bryan, a previous winner, by capturing the Residential Trophy last week. This annual competition which has a much sought after prize and is confined to the many residents who grace the estate and add great life to the social scene at Mount Juliet. Myra recorded a fine score of 38 points and had a shot to spare from her nearest rivals. Myra scored a first nine holes of 17 points but really came to life on the back nine holes by scoring a further 21 points to clinch victory from John Thompson. The youthful Iona Stevenson won the Junior Prize with a very commendable 37 points and so reduced her playing handicap further in the past week. Myra, who is also Lady Handicap Secretary, will no doubt have to adjust her own handicap accordingly after her fine winning score.

On Saturday afternoon last a Member/Guest 18 hole singles competition was held and competitors had to endure some heavy, thunder showers during the course of play. The winning score of 33 points was returned by Conor Spain with Martin Holohan and Liz Hedigan finishing second and third respectively.

Next Sunday sees the “vice-versa” competition down for decision and this is a Golfer of the Year competition. The competition is officially the Captain’s Prize to the Ladies and the Lady Captain’s Prize to the Men and both competitions are run off together with a “shotgun start” at 11a.m. sharp. Starting holes will be allotted to all competitors on Sunday morning. This competition is another of the “majors” on the golfing calendar and could clinch the G.O.Y. competition as the “Summer Golf” nears a conclusion.

Also the next round of the popular Summer Series takes place on Tuesday 16th August and as usual this is a 4 person team event over 18 holes with any combination eligible to partake and 2 scores to count on each hole.

Results Captains Prize for Juniors

Results Residential Trophy

Member/Guest 18 Holes Singles 6th August

A very busy weekend at Mount Juliet saw the Pro-Am take place on Friday last with the top 30 Irish professionals teaming up with 30 teams of three amateurs to play over 18 holes for valuable prizes. This was followed by the Lexus Race to Mount Juliet on Saturday and this was the last round of the order of merit for the members of the Irish P.G.A. with an impressive €50,000 up for grabs.

On Sunday the Member/Guest competition took place and like the professional tournament of Saturday both sections of this competition was won with an impressive score as well. The final round of Ladies Invitation days took place on Wednesday last also. Plenty of golf with the condition of the course coming in for loud praise from the professionals and amateurs alike.

A great week of golf was enjoyed by the Lady Captain, Sally Gleeson, who featured in the three competitions on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Sally led her team to victory on Wednesday in the 3 person rumble on Lady Invitation day. She then proceeded to be third in the pro-am on Friday and was second in the 18 holes singles on Sunday.

On Friday last the Pro-Am was won by a team from Lexus with 93 points led by professional, John Dignam. In second place with 90 points came the team led by Robert Giles who just beat the Mount Juliet team on a countback. The format of the team event was two scores to count on each hole and a very enjoyable day was had by all with the day finishing with a dinner in Kendals Restaurant with after dinner entertainment by Barry Murphy of Aprés Match fame.

On Sunday the member/guest 18 holes singles was played for and after an initial delay of nearly 2 hours, due to frost, all players got finished with some hot scoring deciding the outcome of the prizes. Best score of the day was returned by Brendan Meehan from Galway who had a remarkable 43 points. This score was made up of nines of 21 and 22 points respectively. Brendan was level par for seventeen holes and the only slip-up he made was at the 15th where he failed to score. He just edged out Liam Brett from Callan by a point and this result could have been reversed if Liam had scored on the 15th or the 18th where he drew blanks on both holes.

The ladies section was won by young Darcey Carr who returned an impressive score of 40 points off her handicap of 9. The good weather meant a great turnout of competitors for all competitions last week.

Results Ladies Invitation Day 3 Person Rumble
Wednesday 13th October

Winners

Sally Gleeson (14)

Judy Daly (14) Little Island G.C.

Anna Maloney (9) Clonmel G.C. 79 points

Second

Brona Reidy (13)

Maeve O’Reilly (14) Powerscourt G.C.

Edel Barron (12) Powerscourt G.C. 78 points

Third

Helen Scully (19)

Ann O’Shea (12) Powerscourt G.C.

Siobhan Fahey (14) Powerscourt G.C. 72 points

Results Member/Guest 18 holes Singles
Sunday 17th October

Men

Winner Brendan Meehan (9) Galway G.C. 43 points
Second Liam Brett (18) Callan G.C. 42 points
Third Bryan Phelan (15) 39 points

Ladies

Winner Darcey Carr (9) Milltown G.C. 40 points
Second Sally Gleeson (14) 37 points