Letterkenny Golf News
A hearty congratulations and a standing ovation greeted ex-captain and ex-president of Letterkenny Golf Club Eamonn O’Carroll on Saturday evening when he rose to receive the first ever “major” of his golfing career – Mr. Barry Ramsay’s President’s Prize. 
A great coincidence for both gentlemen was that Barry, also an ex-captain, had been Eamonn’s vice-captain!
Playing the very popular format of “V.PAR”, the inconsistant Irish weather did little to deter the one hundred odd members who turned out to honour their most popular President, and it was Eamonn who showed them the way home with a winning total of +5. With birdies at 5th and 8th holes
helping to accumulate the equivalent of 37shots on front nine, Eamonn’s “blanks” at 13th and 18th had no effect on the final outcome and a very popular winner was in
the clubhouse. Claiming runner-up spot was club team stalwart Kieron Walsh [12] who topped a 4-way BOT on +3 despite bogeys on the last quadruple holes.
Also on a score of +3 was Liam Sweeney [14] who responded to a “blank” at 4th with a birdie at 5th followed by another birdie at 15th only to lose out on the countback.
In fourth place was Malcolm Crawford [18] and Joe Mc Nulty [23] relegated to fifth on that BOT split.Best Gross on the day was returned by competitions committee member
Eamon Mc Glinchey [6] +2, recording birdies at 2nd, 13th and 16th, whilst Cat 4. prize was won by local Ronald Mc Donald House charity volunteer Victor Byrne [23] on +2.
Past President’s prize was won by Pat Keating on –3 and veteran’s prizewinner was M.J.Gallagher on –1.
A word of consolation to club house-convenor Enda Mannion, who followed his birdie [3] at 3rd with an eagle [2] at 4th, recorded with a six iron on his approach shot,
only to allow the excitement get too much for him and………well, the story ends there! Mr. President, Barry ,would like to thank all those members and guests who took part in all competitions,
all the lady members and those who helped in any way during the week, and those who made charitable contributions to his chosen charity, Ronald Mc Donald House.
“EVAN WINS PRESIDENT’S JUNIOR PRIZE”
Congratulations to Evan Mc Croary [18] who won the President’s Prize to Juniors [Mr. Barry Ramsay] at Letterkenny Golf Club.
Beating off a large entry of junior golfers, Evan’s score of 40pts was two points clear of his nearest rival. Recording a birdie at 6th,
helping him to return a front nine score of 21pts., Evan kept a “steady head” on back nine to finish outright winner of this prestigious prize.
In runner-up spot was Eoghan Harkin [25] on 38pts and in third place was James Tourish [28] winning through on a 5-way BOT with 37pts.
Gross prize was won by the ever consistant Christopher Duffy [5] and the cat.4 for Juniors was won by Darragh Mc Grath [28 with 37pts.
The President’s prize to Cat.4., played over 11 holes, was won by stalwart Columba Crawford, who spreadeagled the field on a blustery Monday evening with 24pts.
In second place was Hugh Kelly on 20pts and third place went to Michael Shiel with 19pts.
President’s week continued on Wednesday 27th with the J.J.Reid sponsored Open and coming to the “fore” in another well supported competition of over one hundred entries was the very popular member James Mc Fadden [ 13] who returned 37pts on a very wet and somewhat stormy day.
On a 3-way BOT, James’ only birdie at 2nd helped him to 17pts on front nine but he cannily used his handicap shots on inward nine to return a winning finish on the countback.
Relegated to second place was David Johnston [6] with birdies at 4th and 11th, but an unusual bogey at 18th losing him top spot.
In third place was cat 4. member Peter Mc Ginty [23] returning a magnificent outward nine score of 24pts .
Gross prize was won by the cat 1 golfer who is in great form at the moment, Eamonn Mc Dermott [3] with 32 gross points.
Congratulations to lady member Grainne Hines who won the President’s prize to ladies on the Thursday while the President’s Mixed Foursomes on Friday 29th was won by Michael Boyd and Angela Bradley with a winning score of 30.7.
In second place was Cliff Malone and Vera Mc Fadden with 32.4, Greg Sullivan and Marian O’Sullivan in third with 32.6 on a BOT from Eamon Mc Glinchey and Cynthia Furey, also with 32.6.
Sunday 31st Confined competition, which had another sizeable entry despite “the match”, was won by Clifford Malone [8] on BOT. Clifford’s birdies at 5th, 10th & 17th gave him 19pts on each nine and an overall 38pts
to beat runner-up William White [12] Despite “posting” a double bogey at 4th, William also returned 19pts each nine but was edged out on the countback by Clifford’s birdie on 17th.
Junior Notes:
There will be a fun Scramble for Juniors on this Sunday 7th September at 3-30pm sharp,shotgun start. All prize-giving will commence afterwards in the clubhouse with food and soft drinks.The front nine will be closed on Sunday from 1-30pm.
All club members would like to congratulate Christopher Duffy and Jack Patton on their recent achievements in the Irish Junior Open tournament In Killymoon, in which Jack came second overall, shooting 5 over for both rounds, and Christopher finishing 13 over and tied 5th. A tremendous achievement in a competition which had two Irish Internationals playing, so well done lads! The club also had Cian Harkin, recent winner of the the Ton-Up Cup in Portsalon and now playing of 11 handicap at the age of 12, who came 6th overall in his section and will no doubt come on in leaps and bounds for the experience in this type of competition.
We also have our under-16 team playing the first leg of their Final in Donegal GC [Murvagh] this coming Saturday 6th, tee off 3pm, and we wish them all the best. Some support would be nice for these young lads who are a great credit to our club
and deserve all the support and praise we can give.
Congratulations and best of luck to club captains’ Tom Mc Donagh, Catherine Cooke-Harkin and President Barry Ramsay who are off to K Club to represent Letterkenny Golf Club in the All-Ireland Captains’ and Presidents’ annual competition.
Our honourable threeball won through to this prestigious final by finishing in the top three places in the Ulster qualifier in Malone.
Congratulations also to the pairings of Simon Stephens & Maureen Shanahan and Victor Byrne &Patricia Mc Laughlin who will contest the final of the club’s Mc Donalds sponsored Mixed Foursomes on Sunday 14th Sept.
Letterkenny Golf Club extends hearty congratulations to members Michael Murphy, Donegal GAA team captain, and Neil Gallagher on the emphatic win over Dublin last weekend. Best of luck in the final lads!
Competition secretary would like to point out that their has been a notable increase in the number of [1] unsigned competition cards; [2] unentered handicaps; [3] unreturned cards [nr]; please note these “disqualification” errors!
Dates for the Diary!
Friday 5th Sept. the club will host the 6th annual Silver Tasssie Charity Classic in aid of Breast Care Unit at Letterkenny Hospital. Teams of 4-any combination.
Saturday 6th will see the Laois Challenge Open, a 4Ball Betterball competition of any combination. The winners will qualify for the All Ireland final in May 2015.
Wednesday 17th Open will be sponsored by Murphy’s Sports & Leisure, Letterkenny.
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