Dundalk Golf notes: Dundalk Golf Club are through to the semi-finals of the AIG Women’s Junior Cup

DUNDALK

INTER CLUB REPORT

Dundalk Golf Club are through to the semi-finals of the AIG Women’s Junior Cup after a fantastic win over Ulster North champions Ballycastle in Dundalk last Saturday.

Teenager Anna Rowland held her nerve on the 21st hole of her match against Catherine Black to secure the winning point as Dundalk won 3-2.

In a closely fought contest Dundalk lost the top two matches as Gillian McDonnell was beaten 2&1 by Brenda McNeill while Juliette Morrison took her battle with Mary T McKiernan all the way to the 18th before losing by one hole.

Katie Rowland put the first Dundalk point on the board with a comprehensive 6&4 win over Susan Crawford while Pauline Campbell saw off Fiona McComb on the 16th green as she recorded a 3&2 win.

That left the overall outcome resting on the final match where Rowland came from three down after nine to force the match into sudden death.

She holed a clutch putt for par to halve the 20th and then finished the job off on the next hole to book Dundalk’s place in the last four.

Dundalk will now face Munster West champions Castletroy in the All-Ireland semi-finals on Thursday, September 21 in Westport after the Co Limerick club beat Royal Curragh by 3.5 to 1.5 in their quarter-final in Doneraile over the weekend.

With the Revive Active team already preparing for their All-Ireland semi-final against Gowran Park on Saturday, September 16, it promises to be a busy few weeks for the Dundalk ladies.

The Revive Active semi-final is scheduled for 11:40 in Knightsbrook with the final against either Gort or Cahir Park fixed for 10:00 the following day.

Meanwhile, the boys from Dundalk finished fourth in the Irish Boys Inter-Club Championship Final at Castletroy last Wednesday.

The eight finalists played a stableford competition with the best three cards out of five to count towards the overall score.

Dundalk finished on 117pts which was four behind the winners Lahinch and two behind second place Killeen.

They actually tied for third with Belvoir Park but ended up in fourth when the best two cards were counted.

John Clarke (10) top scored for Dundalk with 41, while Rory Henry (9) and Odhran McShane (8) both shot 38pts to make up Dundalk’s total of 117. Adam Brady (15) and Cameron Kilcoyne (13) were the other two members of the team.

Clarke’s score of 42pts saw him finish fourth in the individual competition, just two points behind the winner Daniel Wynne, a 25 handicapper from Killeen.

JUNIOR SCRATCH CUP

Robert O’Hanlon won the Park Café Junior Scratch Cup which was played over 36 holes on the last Sunday in August.

He shot rounds of 76 and 78 for a total of 154 which was one better than Peter Durnin who held a one shot lead with nine holes to go after a front nine birdie blitz in his second round.

After a shaky start to Round 1 during which he had three bogeys and a double bogey in the first six holes, O’Hanlon was one under for the final 12 holes as he carded 11 pars and a birdie at the eighth for an opening round of 76.

He maintained that steady momentum on the front nine of his second round as he parred eight of the nine holes with the only blemish being a bogey at the fourth.

That left him on 116 for the first 27 holes but he was trailing Durnin at this stage by one shot.

After shooting an 80 in the first round, Durnin charged through the field thanks to four birdies in the first seven holes of his second round as went out in 33.

However, the wheels came off down the back as a double bogey at the 11th and bogeys at the 10th, 12th, 13th, and 16th saw Durnin come home in 42 for a two round total of 155.

Hanlon also had four bogeys down the back but he also managed five pars and that was enough for him to edge past Durnin and claim the Junior Scratch Cup.

Sunday’s Singles Stableford competition was won by Michael Keating (24) with a super score of 40pts while Colin Roche (1), Gerry O’Keeffe (13) and Sean Ward (26) took the divisional honours.

On Wednesday Michael McKevitt (18) shot 41pts to win the McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford competition with Darren Myles (1), Eamon Kelly (18) and Eugene Hanratty (25) winning the three categories. Colin Roche with 37pts had the best gross score.

SENIOR SCRATCH CLUB

This Saturday sees the 61st Dundalk Senior Scratch Cup sponsored by One Finance take place with some of the country's top amateur players trying to prevent Caolan Rafferty from making it back to back wins and five in all. The 36 hole event will have a shotgun start at 9.30am.

SUMMER SOCIAL

The final of the Friday Summer Social takes place on Friday, September 15 and is sponsored by Ann McEnteggart from Smyth's Life Pharmacy.

Golf is from 3pm. to 6pm and the format is a semi-open four person scramble, with nearest the pin for the ladies and the longest drive for the men.

There will be a buffet from 7.30pm.

The presentation will take place at 8.15pm. This is followed by music at 9pm.

The cost is €20 which includes golf and food.

Tickets are available at the bar. Timesheet is now open.

Sunday, August 27 - Park Café Junior Scratch Cup – Overall: Robert O'Hanlon 154 (76, 78). Peter Durnin 155 (80, 75), Aidan Lawless 156 (83, 73). Nett: Paddy Higgins (Grange Golf Club) 145 (75, 70).

Sunday, August 27 – Singles Stableford – Overall: Michael J Keating (24) 40pts. Division 1: Colin Roche (1) 38pts. Division 2: Gerard O'Keeffe (13) 36pts. Division 3: Sean Ward (26) 38pts.

Wednesday, August 30 – Open Singles Stableford sponsored by McKenna Man – Overall: Michael McKevitt (18) 41pts. Division 1: Darren Myles (1) 39pts. Division 2: Eamon Kelly (18) 35pts. Division 3: Eugene Hanratty (25) 37pts. Gross Recognition: Colin Roche (1) 37pts.

DUNDALK LADIES

GOLFER OF THE YEAR EVENT

The penultimate Golfer of the Year event was played on Saturday, August 26 and Tuesday August 29. This was very kindly sponsored by Ultan & Deborah Herr.

The great scoring of recent weeks continued.

Gillian McDonnell, a member of both the Junior Cup and Revive Active teams, shot a superb 70 nett to win Division 1.

Colette McCrory also shot a 70 to win Division 3. The winner of Division 2 was Mary Lou Grennan with a 73. Many thanks to our very generous sponsors.

The Revive Active are in action in their semi- final clash against Gowran Park on Saturday September 16th in Knightsbrook.

We wish them both the best of luck with their preparations and in their matches.

Saturday, August 26 and Tuesday, August 29 – 18 Holes Singles Stableford - Division 1: Gillian McDonnell (8) 70, Pauline Campbell (13) 74, Mary Carthy(18) 75. Division 2: Mary Lou Grennan (22) 73, Mary Dooley (29) 74, Geraldine Hoare (27) 75. Division 3: Colette McCrory (33) 70, Mary Connor (34) 73/35.0, Joan Smith (35) 73/35.5. 9 Hole Competition: Anne Crombie (25) 21pts, Siobhan Duffy (16) 19pts.

Wednesday, August 30 - Open 18 Hole Singles Stableford - Bernie McCabe (18) 37pts.

Friday, August 25 – Nine Hole Social - Bernie McCabe & Katherina Conneally-Sloan 21pts