Open week proves an unqualified success yet again

Mullingar Golf Club: The club's annual festival of golf concluded on Sunday last with the forty sixth running of the Junior Scratch trophy with a limited field of one hundred and eight for the popular thirty six hole event.Good scoring, as expected, was hard enough come by in the unseasonal blustery conditions on the day after what was a fabulous week weatherwise. However, quite a few competitors broke the one hundred and sixty mark on the 6685 yard layout.The course was in brilliant shape, thanks to all involved. Thanks is due also to all who helped through the week with all the events, club officers, branch officers ,committee and non committee members and of course our excellent staff, both indoor and outdoor, who ensured the smooth running of the busy week.The winner of the Sanrose sponsored Junior Scratch Cup was young Robert Kennedy from The Island Golf Club with a superb one hundred and fifty five. Robert had just two in hand from Mullingar native David Hughes (Tullamore) with Paddy Dunne third on 158. The other gross prizes were won by Liam Hannigan (Lucan) and Peter Keegan (Mullingar). The popular winner of the 36 nett was Fionn Collins (Old County), with Paul Quinn (Mullingar) and Joseph Hutton winning the other nett prizes)Full resultsMullingar SanroseJunior scratch trophyWinner - R. Kennedy, 5 (The Island) 155; second D.Hughes,6 (Tullamore) 157; third P.Dunne,5 (Mullingar) 158; First 18 gross Peter Keegan ,7(Mullingar) 77; second 18 gross Liam Hannigan ,5(Lucan) 77; 36 nett Fionn Collins,8 (Old Conna) 143; First 18 nett Paul Quinn,9 (Mullingar) 70, Second 18 nett J.Hutton,6 (Corrstown) 72 nettAll in all there were a little over seventeen hundred and fifty competitive rounds played over the nine days, which commenced on Saturday week with the Rotary Club's open two person team event and as expected, it produced some excellent scoring. The popular winners on the day were locals Steve Vambeck (16) and Philip Butterly (18) with fifty points. Murty P Hanly (21) and Conor Maguire (18) dovetailed to finish second, a point back. Third place went to Breda O'Carroll (25) and her guest from Gort (19) while fourth went to Gerry Eyres (16) and Shane Kennedy (19) with 47 stableford points. This event attracted fine crowds, whose contribution will be very welcome into their fundraising coffers.PW ShawIntermediate Scratch CupSunday saw the forty fourth running of the P.W.Shaw sponsored intermediate scratch trophy, which, despite the counter attractions of Kilbeggan races and Leinster football championship, lured a large field from far and near. The popular and delighted winner of the first prize with an impressive seventy nine gross was 2009's third prize winner Enda Lambden, who, I believe scored two under par for the second nine. Enda got the top award from Patrick Forde, who was more than pleased with his performance despite a couple of putts just slipping by. The third gross prize was won by Delvin's JP Bracken on the break of a three way tie.The front nine prize was won by club officer Brendan Buckley, who was out in thirty eight shots, with the heat no doubt getting to him on the way in; not so young Gavin Moore scorched round the back nine in the cool of the evening to secure the second nine prize, again on the break of a tie. The best nett was won by young James Larkin with an excellent 65 nett, on tie break from three othersFagan Office Supplies eventMonday saw the ladies successfully host the Fagan Office Supplies three person team event, which attracted almost two hundred competitors. The popular winners were local trio Marjorie Donoghue, Attracta Lennox and Alison O'Neill who returned an excellent ninety two points.The runners-up and third prizes went to local teams Alan Warde, Aidan Mulligan and Pete Purcell and team T. Lyng in conjunction with Hugh O'Neill and Des Cheevers from Mount Bellew with 85 and 84 points, respectively. The best ladies' team consisted of Lady vice Captain Lucy Tormey, Fiona Burke and Ann Hannon.Fine entry forHayes Coghlan eventTuesday's Hayes-Coghlan sponsored four person team events and proved very popular with a fine entry from far and near and local boys Michael Gaffney, Ray Kenny, George Lambden and their guest Hugh O'Reilly from Delvin Castle engineered a fine win with ninety four points.The runners-up were another local teal of Mark Potter (8), Alan Kelly (11), Gerry Raleigh (22) and Andy Kelly (12), with ninety three points. Third prize, with one less point, was collected by Conor Slevin (9), Pat Daly (7), Joe Daly (7) and Tony Maloney (10) from New forest.Corey takesCassidy Hotel prizeWednesday's competition men's open singles, again generously sponsored by Cassidy's Hotel, attracted a full time sheet and the popular winner on the occasion was the very much in form Tony Maloney with an excellent forty stableford points, which earned him single figure handicap status. The worthy runner-up was local thirteen handicapper, teenager Corey Doherty with thirty nine points. Eamon Gallagher off nine collected third with one point less. Another of our promising youngsters James O'Rourke collected the best gross prize, while the popular winner of fourth prize was Jerimah Nilsson ((new Forest) 12, with 38 points.Father and son claimValue Centre fourballThursday's fourball was sponsored by Value Centre Cash and Carry again attracted a full time sheet and the popular local winners were Pat Curran and his son Patrick with a superb forty five stableford points on the betterball system with three quarters of the handicap. The runners up were local stalwarts Tom Mulvee and Aidan Tomkins a shot back. Brendan Timlin and young Clive Ledwith (Castle Barna) were third and the fourth prize was won by Michael Gunning and James Larkin, who returned 41 points.The ladies' competition proved just as competitive on the day with tie break rule deciding the issue. First prize was won by Julie Delahunty Moore and Liz Armstrong from club secretary Patience Collier in partnership with Bernie Kelly, both returning forty better ball points, while the third prize was collected by Regina Healy and Aida Satchwell from Rathcore golf club with one less. Thursday was also an evening of celebration for another of our members Niall Kennedy, who achieved every golfer's dream, a hole in one at the beautiful par three fifteenth. I believe the trusty six iron was the chosen weapon.Bloomfield House Hotel3 ballFriday's ladies branch organised three person team competition, again generously sponsored by our neighbours Bloomfield House Hotel attracted a fine entry as expected, with some welcome visitors from 'across the water'. Here the popular winning team was led by the aforementioned T. Lyng; this time ably abetted by Alison and Hugh O'Neill. Their superb score of ninety seven points was three shots too good for the best of the rest of us. The second placed team consisted of Tony Maloney - what a great week he had also - Jerimah Nilsson and Tom Maguire, while the third spot went to visitors Derek Thompson (Westmanstown), Eamon Moran (Slade Valley) and Rob Stadler (Darlington G.C., Surrey), both teams scoring ninety three points.Ken and Frank stakeAbbey Murphy winSaturday's popular fourball attracted a packed time sheet with competitors coming from far and wide for this Abbey-Murphy (Gerry Wallace) Insurance and Financial Services sponsored event and in the prevailing conditions the scoring was again outstanding and the spoils went to four local pairs with some excellent returns.The winners with forty five better ball points were Ken McNevin (12) and Frank Morgan (4). They had the minimum to spare over promising teenagers Liam Grehan (12) and James O'Rourke (4). In third spot on the same mark were Stephen O'Hara (12) and Vincent Corroon (19) while the winners of fourth prize on a four way tie were Donald Bell (11) and Frank McGinty (10) with a point less.Men's long handicapLast Thursday week, in fabulous conditions saw a near record turnout for the Spice Bean Café (Aidan and Delia Mulligan) sponsored long handicap event and the scoring did justice to the conditions and the turnout.The popular winner with a massive 38 points over the fifteen holes was eighteen handicapper Gerry Caffrey, who just pipped Albert Kerroum (24) by the minimum with Ronan Murtagh finishing third with a very respectable thirty four stableford points. Presentation for above and next event is on Thursday, June 17.In house matchplay eventsThe club match play events, fourball, foursomes, singles and mixed are progressing nicely with, what appears to be unprecedented interest. Well done to all for your efforts to keep within the deadlinesLadies' branchMr Liam Conlon's Prizeto the LadiesAlmost 100 ladies turned out to do justice to the magnificent prise sponsored by Men's Captain Liam Conlon. The glorious sunshine and sartorial elegance was reminiscent of a scene from Sex in the City. Indeed the beautiful prise would have been very much at home there. None other than Miss Elegance herself Jeanette McDonnell took the spoils with a wonderful 70 nett. A stalwart of our mixed team Jeanette has been promising a big win for quite a while. This was her day, all the drives straight, all the putts dropping everything in perfect harmony. Ann Duffy took the runner up spot with 71 nett. Lucy Tormey won the gross whilst Nancy Cooney was third and Joan Heery was fourth. Category 1 went to Anne Marie Fagan; Category 2 was Margaret Forde and category 3 to Tina Murphy. Kathy Whelan and Claire Leavy won front and back nine. The junior prise was won by Emma Woodhouse with 72 nett and Kathleen O'Hara won the senior 9 hole and Past Lady president Sylvia Tormey won the senior 18 hole. There was a large turnout for the presentation where a wonderful time was had by all. Well done to the Miele fourball team on their good win against Mount Temple on Saturday week last.Results1st - Jeanette McDonnell (18) 70 nett; 2nd - Ann Duffy (21) 71 nett; Gross - Lucy Tormey (7) 82 Gross 3rd -Nancy Cooney22)71 nett; 4th - Joan Heery (25) 72 nett;Category 1 - Ann Marie Fagan (13) 74 nett; category 2 - Margaret Forde (21) 72 nett; Category 3 - Tina Murphy (33) 73 nett; seniors - S. Tormey; juniors - E. WoodhouseMen's Inter club mattersWell done to our teams who were in action over the past week or so; our Castle Barna shield squad had a good win over Newbridge on Saturday, while our young Irish Junior cup squad played in the area qualifying competition in Delvin Castle; and played very well, according to accounts, leading the stroke play segment on Saturday and narrowly losing out to the hosts in the final on Sunday evening. Well done to all and to Delvin Castle, whom we wish the best as that competition progresses. Our James Bruen squad are out in the area qualifying next week end and are wished the best of good fortune.The Captain's prize qualifying round next week-endAll roads lead to the club this coming weekend, the occasion being the qualifying round for our Captain Liam Conlon's Prize. Sixty four fortunate competitors from a field of roughly three hundred and twenty will qualify for the matchplay stages of this event. Roughly one in five will make it through to the knockout stage, so no pressure lads. The final of this, the biggie of the year for the men's branch, is scheduled for Friday, July 16.