Mount Juliet Golf Notes

The Winter Series was played last week and this resulted in a win for three friends from Laois and Kilkenny who returned a winning score of 78 points. The format was a three person rumble over 18 holes and the winners had a comfortable victory over the opposition. The next round of the series takes place on Wednesday 7th December and tee reservations for this competition can be made by telephoning 056 7773071.

Last Sunday saw the Member/Guest competition over 16 holes for hampers. The format was a fourball stableford and the winners scored an impressive 40 points. They were two shots clear of their nearest rivals who scored 38 points each. Conditions were good for scoring with no rain but the course played long after the heavy rainfall on Friday. The winners, Gerard Magee and his guest, Paul Lawlor, scored 23 points for the first nine holes and added a further 17 points on the last seven holes. The runners-up also scored 23 points on their first nine holes but could only manage a further 15 points on their homeward journey. This was sufficient to beat the third pairing on a countback.

Results Winter Series

Winners

Shay Quinn (14) (The Heritage)

James Farrell (7) (Kilkenny)

Lar Ryan (8) (Rathdowney) 78 points

Member/Guest Fourball Stableford

Winners
Gerard Magee (18)
Paul Lawlor (8) 40 points

Second
Sean O’Neill (14)
Liam Duggan (12) 38 points

Third
Alan Hearn (9)
Maurice Neligan (11) 38 points

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

The final round of the monthly medals for 2009 was played on Sunday last and some very good scores were returned on another pleasant September day. The best score of the day was returned by Colm Dennehy with 39 points and he duly won category 3 with a little to spare. It was nice to see Colm in the winners enclosure as his incursions to this area are all too infrequent. Category 2 was won by Kevin McCartan with 38 points and Category 1 was won by Killian Pierce with 35 points. In the ladies section Sandra Carr was a clear cut winner with an excellent score of 38 points. Sandra has been steadily reducing her handicap this year.

As this was the final medal competition for 2009 it was also the final competition in both of the Golfer of the Year  trophy competitions. The ladies winner is Lynda Hickey who ran away with her section. The men’s section hinged on results of the September medal. The two people concerned in the outcome, Alan Hoyne and Andrew Nixon, did not score any points in the medal. Alan, who was also involved in the McCalmont Cup Matchplay final, came out on top by virtue of the fact that he won the matchplay over the weekend and passed out Andrew who was marginally in front. Alan scored 8 points for winning the matchplay and scored 40 points in total in the G.O.Y. and Andrew had a total of 38
points.

Alan beat James Brett in the final of the matchplay which went to the 18th hole before a decision was reached. Alan, although conceding shots to his opponent, was dormie 3 up after the 15th hole but was made to fight to the last when James won both the 16th and 17th holes. So a very rewarding weekend for Alan by taking the two titles.

Congratulations are in order for both Lynda and Alan on their achievements. As we are giving out plaudits,  congratulations must be extended to our neighbours Kilkenny and Gowran Park on their achievements in winning the Barton Shield and All Ireland Ladies Senior Cup while Gowran Park have to be commended also for their fine victory in the Barton Cup.

Last week the last round of the Summer Series was played and this resulted in a win for a team consisting of four  members of Gowran Park who beat a team from Rathdowney by a clear 5 points.

Results September Medal

Results Summer Series Team of Four.