The Captain’s Prize to the Ladies and the Lady Captain’s Prize to the men took centre stage last Sunday with a large turnout of players for the occasion. There were two “shotgun” starts to cope with the large numbers, one at 9am and the second one at 2pm. After the customary heavy rain early in the morning the day turned out to be fine and dry for all competitors. The scoring reflected in the good conditions enjoyed by all with some very exciting scores being returned in both competitions.

Best score of the day was returned by Brian Blanchfield who scored a magnificent 44 points in the morning round. This prize looked to be in safe hands but Bryan Higgins almost caught the clubhouse leader in the afternoon by scoring a great 43 points. It was testament to the standard of golf played that some scores of 38 points failed to get among the prizewinners.

In the ladies section the lady in form, Rebecca Nixon, had another dream round by returning 42 points. Fresh from winning the Lady Captain’s Prize some weeks ago she has reduced her handicap by six shots in the past few weeks and hopes to reduce it further by season’s end.

Last week the August Ladies Invitation Day took place and the competition was a 3 person team event with only 3 shots separating the top four teams. The winning team was led by the Lady Captain, Ruth Mulholland, who won by a shot from Aileen Magee’s team with Kathleen Gaffney’s team and Margaret Clandillon’s team in third and fourth place.

The member/Guest Fourball last Thursday was won by the Callan based pairing of John O’ Dwyer and Sean Brett and they had four points to spare over Peter O’ Flaherty and John O’ Neill.

Next Sunday is another Member/Guest competition day with a three person rumble scheduled for play.

Results Member/Guest Fourball Thursday 9th August

Winner

John O’ Dwyer (5)
Sean Brett (10)……………………….45 points

Second

Peter O’ Flaherty (12)
John O’ Neill (17)Waterford Castle…..41 points

Results August Ladies Invitation Day Wednesday 8th August

Winners

Ruth Mulholland(12)
Marian Booth(11) The Heritage G.C.
Noreen O’ Grady(13) The K Club…………..69 points.

Second

Aileen Magee(28)
Siobhan Kearney(22) Greenore G.C.
Mgt. McNulty(25)Milltown G.C……………68 points.

Third

Kathleen Gaffney(22)
Nano Brennan(6)Kilkenny G.C.
Nuala Crotty(12)Kilkenny G.C………………67 points.

Fourth

Mgt. Clandillon(26)
Eliz. McCalmont(32)
Gillian Kelly(24) Powerscourt G.C…………..66 points.

Results Lady Captain’s Prize to Men

Winner: Brian Blanchfield(12)…………………..44 points.
Second: Bryan Higgins(25)………………………43 points.
Third: Chris McHugh(16)………………………40 points.
Fourth: John Thompson(11)………………………38 points.
Best Gross: John O’Dwyer(5)………………………..31 points.
Past Capt: Tom Duggan(9)…………………………. 35points.
1st Nine: Alan Hoyne(7)……………………………21 points
2nd Nine: Owen Phelan(9)…………………………..21 points.

Captain’s Prize to the Ladies

Winner: Rebecca Nixon(15)………………………42 points.
Second: Ruth Mulholland(12)…………………….37 points.
Third: Brenda O’ Sullivan(29)…………………..36 points.
Best Gross: Bernie Madigan( )………………………
Past Capt. :Helen Comerford(22)…………………….30 points.
1st Nine: Sandra Carr(19)……………………………21 points.
2nd Nine: Lucia Ahern O’Flaherty(15)………………17 points.

Last Sunday the J. B. Carr Trophy was played for in ideal conditions and this proved to be an easy win for Neil Magee who playing off a handicap of 11 had two shots to spare from his nearest rival. Neil scored 39 stableford points which puts him well on his way to his ambition of playing off single figures. Neil played very steadily throughout his round and now reduces his handicap to 9.5 as a result of his win. Runner-up was Joe Healy on 37 points and Joe in turn was a shot clear of Owen Phelan who won third place by virtue of a better back nine holes. Prizes for each nine holes were won by Gary Walsh and Hugh O’ Connor with each player scoring 20 points.

The ladies section was won by new member, Laila Balacuit, with 35 points and she was three shots clear of Fiona Corbett with Lucia O’ Flaherty in third spot. The nines were won by Sandra Carr, a daughter in law of J. B., and Helen Comerford. This is Laila’s first win at Mount Juliet and we wish her well for the reminder of the 2012 season. The perpetual trophy and prizes were presented to the winners later that evening by Georgia Carr, a grandaughter of J.B.

The Leinster Boys under 15 Team recorded their second win in the round robin series by beating Carlow Boys but have suffered defeat at the hands of Coolattin and Gowran Park in their quest for honours. The panel consists of Luke Donnelly, Conor Mulholland, John Hession, Tim Howes, Jack Collins, Ned Kirwan and Brian Staunton.

Results J. B. Carr Trophy Sunday 24th June

Men:
Winner; Neil Magee (11)……………………….39 points.
Second: Joe Healy (10)…………………………37 points.
Third: Owen Phelan (11)……………………..36 points.
1st Nine: Gary Walsh (Scr)………………………20 points.
2nd Nine: Hugh O’ Connor (6)……………………20 points.

Ladies:
Winner: Laila Balacuit (36)……………………..35 points.
Second: Fiona Corbett (6)……………………….32 points.
Third: Lucia O’ Flaherty (15)………………….31 points.
1st Nine: Sandra Carr (17)………………………..20 points.
2nd Nine: Helen Comerford (22)………………….18 points.

Next Sunday 1st July sees the next round of the Summer League down for decision and tee times can be booked through the usual channels and members are reminded that the following weekend sees the Captains’ Prizes scheduled with two “shotgun” starts at 9a.m. and 2p.m. on Saturday7th July and some tee times on Friday for players who are unable to play on Saturday.

There was no joy for the last two men’s teams standing in the Inter Club activity held at various venues last weekend with the elimination of the Junior Cup team and also the Pierce Purcell team. Both teams acquitted themselves well before succumbing to their opponents. The Junior Cup team failed to qualify for the match play stages at Arklow G. C. on Saturday but the Pierce Purcell team excelled by qualifying for the match play stages for the first time. They finished third in the stroke play qualifying round on Saturday which was held at St. Helens Bay G. C. and unfortunately for Mount Juliet they exited to the eventual winners, Wexford G. C., in the semi-final on Sunday morning but only after a titanic struggle by a score of 3/2 with the last match going the full distance. The team and panel deserve enormous credit for their fine showing and none more so than manager, Pat Doyle, who unflinchingly gave a great deal of time and planning in trying to win that elusive pennant. The team on Saturday consisted of Brian Blanchfield & David Wyer, Pat Garvey & Chris McHugh, Jim Cusack & Terry O’ Reilly, John Kennedy & Shay Quinn and Frank Smyth & Norman Williams with John O’ Connor replacing Shay Quinn on Sunday morning for the match play.
Last Sunday saw a Member/Guest Fourball Stableford competition played at Mount Juliet and this proved to be some compensation for Niall Magee who was an unlucky loser in the medal competition the previous week. Niall and his partner Ronan Kelly returned a winning score of 45 points to edge out the mother and daughter combination of Sandra and Darcey Carr by two points. The winners had nines of 24 and 21 points respectively against the runners-up score of 43 points made up of nines of 23 and 20 points.
This Friday sees the Charity Team Day for the Special Olympics down for decision with a full timesheet and on Sunday the Jack Nicklaus Trophy will be played for with the added bonus of G. O. Y. points on offer. This competition is one of the principal competitions of the Mount Juliet year and honours the great man himself who designed the course.

Results Member/Guest Fourball Stableford Sunday 20th May

Winners
Niall Magee (10)
Ronan Kelly (8) Ashbourne G.C. ………….45 points.

Runners-Up
Sandra Carr (17)
Darcey Carr (6) Milltown G.C………………43 points.