Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The final qualifying round of the Winter Series took place last week and the winning team’s score was well clear of the runners-up. The winning team was led by well known racing commentator, Des Scahill, and his team consisted of a combination of Laois, Kilkenny and Kildare personnel. The winners had an impressive round of 97 points with nines of 47 and 50 points respectively. They had three shots to spare over a team comprised of four members from Galway Golf Club. The winners qualified for the final day which will be decided over 18 holes this Wednesday and the format of the final, as always, will be stableford singles.

The first of the inter club teams in action for 2011 was the Fourball Trophy Team and their opponents were Athy Golf Club. The draw advantage was with Athy, with three matches at Athy and two matches at Mount Juliet. The overall match was won in thrilling style by Mount Juliet by a three matches to two aggregate. Heroes of the tie were Ken MacDonald and Ronan Murphy who won at Athy by a margin of 5 and 4. Both matches at Mount Juliet were won narrowly, but decisively, with John O’Connor and Bryan Higgins winning by 2 and 1. The final pairing of Dermot Divilly and Pat Hegarty won 2 up with Pat closing the door on the 18th by sinking a 25ft., putt to seal the victory.

The other pairings of John Mulholland / Frank Kelly and Billy Murphy / Padraic O’Connor lost narrowly at Athy. Hopefully this early vein of form will act as a catalyst for some of the remaining teams in competitions.

Results Winter Series

Winners

Des Scahill (9) (The Heritage)

James Farrell (8) (Kilkenny)

Lar Ryan (9) (Rathdowney)

Shay Quinn (17) (The Heritage) 97 points

Runners-Up

B. McGraughan (8) (Galway)

D. O’Kelly (6)

P. Shallow (6)

R. Ramberg (12)

(Galway) 94 points

Winter Series

The final of the Winter Series was played last Thursday and it resulted in a victory for regular competitor, Pat McEvoy, who hails from Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny but plays his golf at Thurles Golf Club. Pat returned an excellent 38 points off the white tees. It was intended that the final would be played from the blue tees but because of the present spell of wet weather the finalists felt that the course of almost 7000 yards was long enough from the whites.

Some of the scoring on the day was of a very high standard and none more so than the winner who had nines of 17 and 21 points respectively.

The runner-up, Trevor Gough, scored 21 points on the first nine holes and 15 points on the last nine holes. In third place came Matty Byrne with 32 points. All qualifiers in the final were entertained to dinner and presented with their prizes and the overall winners on the day received very attractive prizes compliments of Mount Juliet Golf Club.

Results Winter Series

Winner : Pat McEvoy (14)      Thurles G.C.           38 points

Second : Trevor Gough (17)  Clonmel G.C.            36 points

Third :     Matty Byrne (15)     Gowran Park G.C.   32 points

Inter Club Competitions

The first round of the Inter Club Competitions was played last weekend when the club was pitted against Waterford in the Leinster Fourball. Unfortunately after winning the two home matches they lost all three matches away in Waterford. This was a disappointing result for the manager of the team, Kevin McCartan, who had put so much effort into preparing his charges.

One of the highlights of Bryan Phelan’s round in his match with his partner, Frank Kelly, at Mount Juliet was holing out his second shot at the 12th which helped both of them to a convincing victory over their southern opponents. The other home pairing of Padraic O’Connor and Ken MacDonald won their match on the 16th. At Waterford the home team was in control throughout and Jim Blanchfield and his partner Ronan Murphy came nearest to causing a surprise by bringing their opponents to the 17th before succumbing. The next match in the Inter Club series is in the Barton Cup against neighbours Kilkenny.

The Grand Final of the Waterford Crystal sponsored Winter Series was played on Monday 14th April and it produced some very good scoring on a fine sunny day, with very little breeze.
The worthy winner, on a countback, was Anthony O’Connell from Harbour Point in Cork. He just beat Liam Troy from Thurles by virtue of a better back nine. Both players had 37 points stableford, which was exceptional scoring off the Blue Championship tees which measure almost 7300 yards in length.

Liam and Anthony, both of whom are single figure golfers, revelled in the conditions and Liam held the upper hand with one hole to play but unfortunately for him he failed to score on the 18th. Anthony seized the chance to score two points thereby drawing level with Liam and claiming the overall prize. In third place came Sean Keane from Williamstown in Waterford with 35 points.

Winter Series Final (L to R) – Sean Keane, Williamstown Golf Club, third, Liam Troy, Thurles Golf Club, second, Anthony Condon – Waterford Crystal, Anthony O’Connell – winner

It was a fitting end to a very successful series but unfortunately the last one to be sponsored by Waterford Crystal, who have been great supporters of the series over the last 10 years. After the presentation of prizes all competitors sat down to dinner and some Mount Juliet hospitality.

Results:
Winner
Anthony O’Connell (8)
Harbour Point Golf Club, 37 points

Second
Liam Troy (9)
Thurles Golf Club, 37 points

Third
Sean Keane (7)
Williamstown Golf Club, 35 points

Three more teams were involved in Inter Club competitions over the weekend and two of the three teams made it through to the next round. The odd team out was the Barton Cup team who were convincingly beaten by a strong Waterford team. The successful teams were the Ladies Challenge Cup team who accounted for near neighbours Kilkenny and they now meet the winners of Faithlegg or Rosslare in the next round. Also the Irish Mixed Foursomes team had a great victory against Baltinglass winning all three matches away. Their next round opponents are Woodenbridge.

In the Challenge Cup three of the ladies made their debut on the Inter Club scene and very much enjoyed the experience with two of them, Mary Quigley and Ann Murphy, winning their respective matches. The Vice Captain, Billy Murphy, also made a successful debut for the mixed foursomes team at Baltinglass.

Next Saturday sees the Leinster Fourball Trophy team in action against neighbours Mountain View and the Ladies Junior Foursomes team play The Curragh this week also.