Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The first team in the Inter Club competitions run under the auspices of the Golfing Union of Ireland was in action last Saturday. The competition was the Leinster Fourball and the opposition was Waterford Golf Club. Due to the present inclement weather, all five matches had to be played at Mount Juliet as the Waterford course was unplayable. Unfortunately for the home side, Waterford prevailed on a score of 3 matches to 2 with the visitors holding the upper hand in all three matches that they won. The winning pairs were Padraic O’Connor/Dermot Divilly and Pat Stakelum/Bryan Higgins and the team was ably managed by Kevin McCartan.

Two stroke competitions were also held over the past week and the most important one was the March Monthly Medal which took place last Sunday. This was the first competition carrying points to decide the Golfer of the Year for 2013. As is usual in all member’s medal competitions, play was off the white tees for the men and with a bitter wind blowing from the east throughout the day, conditions for good scoring proved to be very difficult for all competitors. The target for the day proved to be 35 points which was achieved by Alan Hearne in Category I. The nearest to Alan’s score was Ronan Murphy who had 34 points in Category III. The other men’s category was won by Ger Dowling and nice to see Adrienne Walsh winning the ladies category with 31 points.

On St. Patrick’s Day there was an open singles played and scoring was very good with Richie Guilfoyle proving to be a convincing overall winner. Richie scored 40 points which equated to a one under par gross for the 18 holes. In second place, former Lady Captain Myra Phelan scored 38 points with John O’Dwyer filling third spot with 36 points.

On Sunday next, Easter Sunday, a Member/Guest Fourball Stableford will take place and the following Wednesday the first Ladies Invitation Day for 2013 will also take place and the format for this will be a 3 Person Rumble.

Results St. Patrick’s Day 18 Holes Open Singles

Winner Richie Guilfoyle (3) (Kilkenny) 40 points
Second Myra Phelan (22) 38 points
Third John O’Dwyer (5) (Callan) 36 points

Results, March Monthly Medal Sunday 24th March 18 Holes Singles

Category 1 Alan Hearne (7) 35 points
Category 2 Ger Dowling (16) 33 points
Category 3 Ronan Murphy (25) 34 points
Ladies Adrienne Walsh (23) 31 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.

Last week saw the continuation of the popular Summer Series and this proved to be another victory for a team from Rathsallagh Golf Club ably led by James Fitzpatrick. This team were also victorious in the Winter Series some months ago and so continued their rich vein of form. Played on Wednesday last, during our continued troubled summer, they emerged convincing winners with 93 points.

On Sunday last the Member/Guest series also continued with a 3 person rumble over 18 holes. On a day that Tipperary people might rather forget, the winning team were a family of Clonmel Golf Club members who kept the blue and gold colours flying by returning a winning score of 83 points. They were 4 shots clear of their nearest rivals, who are from just across the border in the Windgap area, and they returned a score of 79 points.

This week members are reminded that the Autumn maintenance is taking place which is due to finish today, Wednesday, and this will have the course in pristine condition for the President‘s, (Des Fitzgerald) Prize due to take place on 15th September.

Results Summer Series Wednesday 15th August

Winners:
James Fitzpatrick (9) Rathsallagh G.C.
Paul Sheill (16)
John Fanning (12)
Gavin Flood (12)……………………..93 points.

Member/Guest 18 Hole Rumble Sunday 19th August

Winners:
Frank Smyth (10) Clonmel G.C.
Gavin Smyth (+1)
Mary Smyth (15)……………………..83 points.

Second:
Alan Hearne (7)
Paul Madigan (3)
Bernie Madigan (12)…………………79 points.