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 Member/Guest Fourball Stableford was played last Sunday and this competition was won in decisive manner by Tom Butler and his guest, Ray Kent, with 47 points. They were three shots clear of their nearest rivals who were led by  Pat Stakelum and his guest Johnny Nevin and this pairring just pipped the mother and son combination of Stephen O’ Reilly and Ger O’Reilly on a countback. Feature of the winners round was an eagle on the long 5^th by Ray Kent which he followed up with a trio of birdies on the 14^th, 16^th and 17^th holes. The pairing had nines of 24 and 23 points respectively. The runners-up had nines of 21 and 23 points respectively and Pat Stakelum had a vital birdie on the 16^th hole for four points which was to prove decisive in the overall countback for second place.  The mother and son pairing just got home for third place on a countback as well.

Last Wednesday the penultimate round of the Winter Series was played and this was a 3 person rumble with honours going to the  Wexford team of Louis Flanagan, Larry Cranford and Fran Thomas. There was a small turnout of players for this competition and the winners have now qualified for the Grand Final. The last round of the present Winter Series will take place next Wednesday 28^th March and this competition will be a four person team event with the winners making up the last places for the Grand Final. Reservation for this competition can be made at the golf shop in Mount Juliet.

Next Sunday sees the first of the monthly medals down for decision and this competition heralds the arrival of the first round of the Golfer of the Year  for ladies and men with tee times filling up rapidly.

Results Member/Guest Fourball Stableford Sunday 18^th March.

Winners
Tom Butler (20)

Ray Kent (8) Gowran Park G.C ………… 47 points

Second:
Pat Stakelum (17)

John Nevin (14) Thurles G.C ……………. 44 points

Third:       
Stephen O’ Reilly (8)

Ger O’ Reilly (36) Coolattin G.C ………… 44 points

Winter Series Wednesday 14^th March – 3 Person Rumble.

Winners:     

Louis Flanagan (17) Wexford G.C.

Larry Cranford (14)

Fran Thomas (8)……………………..77 points.