Mount Juliet Golf Notes

Some excellent scoring was returned in the May Monthly Medal last Sunday played in blustery conditions. Gavin Smyth really hit the high spots with the best score of the day of 38 points to win his category. Off his plus one handicap, this represented a gross score of three under par 69 gross. On his outward nine holes, he dropped a shot on the short par three, 3rd hole, but had birdies on the 2nd and 5th for 18 points. On the second nine holes he scored further birdies on the 12th and 17th together with 7 pars for a back nine holes of 20 points.

Category 2 was won with another 38 points and this was returned by Mark Magnier. Mark had nines of 16 and 22 points. He failed to register a score on the 4th and 11th holes but otherwise played very steadily to register an easy win in his category. Bryan Phelan just got home in category 3 with 34 points and won on a countback. The ladies section was won by Geraldine Higgins with 37 points with nines of 16 and 21 points respectively. After a shaky start when Geraldine failed to register a point on the 2nd and 3rd holes, she settled down for the remainder of her round to score a further 35 points. This was just good enough to win the medal on a countback from Myra Phelan who also returned 37 points.

Another three teams exited from the inter club scene and two of them were beaten by neighbours, Callan, who had convincing victories in both the Ladies Intermediate Trophy and the Duggan Cup for men. The ladies team were beaten by a margin of 3½ matches to 1½ matches while the men’s team were beaten by a margin of 4 matches to 1. The third team was the Ladies Challenge Cup team and they were beaten by Rathsallagh Golf Club and this match was played at Mount Wolseley.

Last Wednesday, the May Ladies Invitation Day took place and the competition was a 4 person team event. This competition was won with a fine score of 104 points by a team led by Margaret O’Rourke and the winning team was eight shots clear of their nearest opponents who in turn were a further three shots clear of third place.

May Ladies Invitation Day – Wednesday 8th May 2013

Winners

Margaret O’Rourke (23)
Pauline McEnery (33)
Bridget Mullins (30) (Gowran Park)
Annette Whelan (28) (Kilkenny) 104 points

Second

Aileen Magee (29)
Marcella Kelly (18) (Ashbourne)
Mary Carey (23) (Ashbourne)
Kathleen Gleeson (18) (Roganstown) 96 points

Third

Helen Scully (17)
Margaret McCreery (18) (Kilkenny)
Pauline Dwan (28) (Grange)
Ruth Mulholland (12) 93 points

Results – May Monthly Medal Sunday 12th May 2013

Category 1 Gavin Smyth (+1) 38 points
Category 2 Mark Magnier (15) 38 points
Category 3 Bryan Phelan (18) 34 points
Ladies Geraldine Higgins (33) 37 points

The last “major” for the ladies took place last week with the Lady President’s(Mrs. Mary Jones) Prize down for decision and this proved to be an exciting affair with Pauline McEnery just getting the better of Rita Garvey on a countback after both players finished with 36 points. Pauline played very consistent golf throughout her round with nines of 19 and 17 points respectively and scored on all holes. Rita started impressively and recorded 21 points for her first nine holes but failed to score on the 15th and 16th holes and this proved to be the losing of first prize as she only scored a total of 15 points on the last nine holes to add to her first nine score. Third place was won by Myra Phelan with 34 points and she just pipped the newly crowned Golfer of the Year, Brenda O Sullivan, by virtue of a better last nine holes. Presentation of prizes took place after a superb dinner and the evening finished with an enjoyable social night.

Two competitions were played on the Saturday and Sunday of All Ireland Hurling Weekend. The Saturday competition was a Member and Guest Fourball Betterball Stableford and this was won by Paul Madigan and his guest Liam Delahunty on a countback from Pat and John Stakelum. Both partnerships scored a fine 46 points with the winners just edging out the Tipperary pairing on the back nine holes.
On Sunday there was an 18 holes singles stableford and again this competition ended in a tie for first prize with Aidan Keegan from Waterford just getting the better of Mick O’ Riordan from the K Club. Both players finished on 36 points.
Last Sunday saw a team representing the Captain, Alan Hoyne, taking on a team representing the Lady Captain, Ruth Mulholland. The format of the competition was an 18 holes singles stableford with the best 5 cards from each team to count for the overall prize. Victory was achieved by the Captain’s team who defeated the Lady Captain’s team by an emphatic margin on this occasion.
Best score of the day was achieved by the lady in form, Brenda O’ Sullivan, who together with Mark Logan scored animpressive 39 points to win both their respective categories. Presentation of prizes took place afterwards where the Lady Captain was presented with the wooden spoon.
This week will be a busy one at Mount Juliet with the big Pro-Am taking place on Wednesday prior to the Irish P.G.A. Championship which commences on Thursday and this will continue through to Sunday. The competition will be 72 holes stroke play over four days with the top 50 players plus ties qualifying for the final 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday and there is substantial money on offer for the overall leaders on Sunday. There should be some excellent golf played over the four days and spectators will be able to follow play over all four days.

Results Lady President’s(Mrs Mary Jones) Prize
Winner: Pauline McEnery (34)…………….36 points.
Second: Rita Garvey (23)…………………..36 points.
Third: Myra Phelan (23)………………….34 points.
Fourth: Brenda O’ Sullivan (26)……………34 points.
1st Nine: Geraldine Higgins (35)…………….18 points.
2nd Nine: Helen Scully (16)…………………..17 points.
Nearest Pin: Emer Foley.

Member/Guest Fourball Betterball Stableford Saturday 29th Sept
Winners;
Paul Madigan (3) Callan G.C.
Liam Delahunty (16) Rathdowney G.C….46 points

Runners-Up;
Pat Stakelum (18) Thurles G.C.
John Stakelum (14) Thurles G.C…………46 points.

Open 18 Holes Singles Stableford Sunday 30th September
Winner: Aidan Keegan (15) Waterford G.C………..36 points.
Runner-Up: Mick O’ Riordan (6) The K Club…………36 points.

Lady Captain’s Team v Captain’s Team Sunday 7th October
Lady Winner: Brenda O’ Sullivan (26)…………………..39 points.
Second: Myra Phelan (23)………………………….38 points.
Third: Marie Costello (16)………………………..34 points.
Men’s Winner: Mark Logan (11)…………………………..39 points.
Second: Ken MacDonald (26)……………………….38 points.
Third: John O’ Dwyer (5)…………………………..37 points.

The last team standing in the Inter Club competitions made its exit on Monday last. The Ladies Challenge Cup team tasted defeat at the hands of the ladies from Woodenbridge Golf Club in the semi-final stage which was played at the neutral venue of Baltinglass Golf Club.

Needless to say they went down fighting but Woodenbridge were the stronger team on the day and won on a scoreline of 3½ to 1½ matches. The team and panel consisted of Brenda O’Sullivan, Wendy Beirne, Ann Murphy, Joan Pierce, Mary Cotter, Ann Daly and Dorothy Kilroy. They were managed throughout the competition by Helen Comerford and the panel and manager deserve congratulations on a fine effort to progress so far in a very keenly fought tournament.

The most recent round of the Summer Series produced some excellent scoring by the winning team comprised of four members of Portlaoise Golf Club. They scored a total of 102 points and were 12 points clear of the runners-up who all hailed from Carlow Golf Club. The entry sheet was full on the day but no one could get near the winning score. The winners had nines of 49 points and 53 points respectively and hardly put a foot wrong on their way to a convincing victory.

Last Sunday saw a Member/Guest Scotch Mixed Foursomes down for decision and this proved to be a triumph for the mother and son pairing of Tim and Sally Gleeson. They just got home from Phelim O’Connor and Helen Scully on a countback with both pairings scoring 35 points each.