Dundalk Golf Notes: Pauline Campbell and Cormac Malone set to represent club
Brian Crombie has been crowned IJM Golfer of the Year for the second time in three years after he edged out former winner Clem Walshe for the title.
After the 10th and final round, the pair were tied on 506 when their best seven cards were totalled up. Under tournament rules, the best six were then counted and Crombie edged out Walshe for the prestigious title.
The pair finished two shots ahead of Sean Og Cairns with Maurice Soraghan four shots further back with Niall Morgan completing the top five.
The first four were top in each of the four categories and they will head now into the IJM Scratch Cup competitions which will be played off between the top four in each section. All semi-finals are to be played by Tuesday, September 12. Finals will be played on Saturday, September 16.
Cormac Malone was an impressive winner of final Golfer of the Year competition, when he won the Knights of Malta Cup by one shot from Graham Purcell after shooting an eight under par 64 nett.
Playing off 16, Malone produced a round that had one birdie, eight pars and no double bogeys. Over the front nine he had birdies at the par five sixth and pars at the first, fourth, seventh and eighth as he turned in 39, which was 31 nett.
Down the back he had pars at the 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th for a 41, which was 33 nett and gave him his overall score of 64 nett.
Purcell, who was playing off 21, covered the front nine in one shot less than Malone after shooting 30 nett, but although he had three pars down the back nine, three double bogeys saw him come home in 35 nett to lose out on the overall prize by one.
Purcell did claim the Division 3 honours with Maurice Soraghan (9) taking Division 1 and David Brennan (17) winning Division 2. Peter Rogers took the gross prize with a 76. It was also a day to remember for John Farrell who had a hole in one at the fifth.
The competition was also a qualifier for the 3T’s national final and Malone will join the Ladies winner, Pauline Campbell, as well as the Captain and Lady Captain, in representing the club in that event.
Andrew Coburn (8) won the McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford on countback from Pat Davies (22) after both had finished tied on 40pts.
The Singles Stableford competition held on Saturday August 26th was won by Kieran Dunne (21) who shot 38pts which was one better than Eoin Murphy (+4), Neal Mackell (0) and Noel Crowe (27).
Entries are now being accepted for the 61st Dundalk Senior Scratch Cup, sponsored by One Finance, which will take place on Saturday, September 9th.
The 36-hole event will be limited to 66 players with a handicap of 2.4 or lower. There will be shotgun starts to both rounds at 9.30am and 2.30pm. The entry fee is €50, which includes soup & sandwiches between rounds, and bookings can be made via the Pro Shop on 042 9321731.
Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20 - Knights of Malta (GOY 10) – Singles Stroke – Overall: Cormac Malone (16) 64. Gross: Peter Rogers 76. Division 1: Maurice Soraghan (9) 69, Carl Stewart (9) 70. Division 2: David Brennan (17) 68, Kieran Arthurs (15) 71. Division 3: Graham Purcell (21) 65, Niall Morgan (29) 71.
Wednesday, August 23 - McKenna Man Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Andrew Coburn (8) 40/22pts, Patrick Davis (22) 40/20pts. Division 1: Ultan Gaughran (9) 38pts. Division 2: Stephen Fitzpatrick (20) 38pts. Division 3: Kevin Henry (20) 38pts. Gross Recognition: Neal Mackell 37pts.
Saturday, 26 August 2023 – Singles Stableford – Overall: Kieran Dunne (21) 38pts. Division 1: Neal Mackell (0) 37pts. Division 2: Pádraig Ó Gallachóir (14) 36pts. Division 3: Noel Crowe (27) 37pts. Gross Recognition: Eoin Murphy 37pts.
IJM Golfer of the Year (Final Standings – Top 10): 506 – Brian Crombie (22.0), Clem Walshe (3.8) Crombie wins on countback. 508 – Sean Og Cairns (15.8). 512 – Maurice Soraghan (7.2). 513 – Niall Morgan (25.6). 514 – Peter Rogers (2.6), Ciaran Traynor (4.6), Edward Lawrence (18.7). 517 – Laurence O’Hanlon (16.2). 518 – Billy Cairns (6.0), Bernard Laverty (8.6).
IJM Scratch Matchplay 2023 - Semi-Finals Draw - Category 1: Clem Walshe v Joseph Laverty, Peter Rogers v Aidan Lawless. Category 2: Maurice Soraghan v Bernard Laverty, Ciarán Traynor v Billy Cairns. Category 3: Seán Óg Cairns v Peter Moran Jr, Laurence O’Hanlon v Niall Boyle. Category 4: Brian Crombie v John McLaughlin, Niall Morgan v Edward Lawrence. All matches to be played by Tuesday September 12. Finals will be played on Saturday, September 16.
DUNDALK LADIES
The 3T’s competition was played on Saturday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 22. The 3T’s charity helps prevent deaths by suicide through education, research, and support. This tournament is one of their key fundraising activities, and was very kindly sponsored by Blackrock Abbey Nursing Home.
The overall winner, Pauline Campbell, returned a superb score of 38pts. Her front nine included pars at the second, seventh and ninth holes. A further three pars on the back nine followed, with a superb birdie three on the eighteenth.
Her back nine proved key in securing the top spot via countback from Nora Donaghy. Nora claimed the Division 3 title and Sinead O’Callaghan was the winner of Division 2.
Pauline will now represent the ladies with the Lady Captain, Captain and the men’s qualifier, Cormac Malone, at the 3T’s Finals. Many thanks to Blackrock Abbey for their very kind sponsorship of this event.
Congratulations to the Ladies Revive Active team who are through to the All-Ireland semi-final after their win over Greenisland last Saturday in Greenore. Good luck to the Junior Cup team who face Ballycastle this Saturday in their All-Ireland quarter-final. The match is in Dundalk at 9.30am.
Saturday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 22 - 18 Hole Stableford and 3T’s Competition sponsored by Blackrock Abbey - Division 1: Pauline Campbell (15) 38pts, Anna Rowland (12) 36pts, Mags Coburn (21) 36pts. Division 2: Sinead O’Callaghan (28) 37pts, Geraldine Hoare (28) 36pts, Breige Renaghan (25) 34pts. Division 3: Nora Donaghy (38) 38pts, Mary Horan (43) 36pts, Kate Smyth (40) 35pts. 9 Hole Competition: Carmel Cahill 20pts, Ann O’Callaghan 18pts.