GOLF NEWS: SUCCESSFUL OPEN WEEK AT LETTERKENNY GOLF CLUB

Open Week continued on Monday 17th with the Hickey, Clarke & Langan Open and leading the field by two points was juvenile member Jack Patton [11] returning 41pts.

Securing a good front nine score with birdies at 5th & 7th culminating in 22pts on front nine, Jack was cruising to an easy victory until a double bogey at 16th made him fight for points on last two holes.

In runner-up spot by virtue of BOT was single figure handicapper Glenn Gallagher [9] who answered four bogeys on the trot on back nine with two finishing birdies and an overall score of 39pts, pipping third and fourth placed Odhran Mc Gowan [16] and Hugh Coll [14] on the countback. The cat 4. prize on the day was won by the ever improving Victor Byrne [23] returning 37pts with the help of a very steady 20pts on front nine. Best Gross was low handicapper Eamonn Mc Dermott [4] scoring 32 gross pts on the day, level par 72 gross shots.

Wed. 19th had golfers playing in the Evolve Menswear Open,with arguably the biggest entry of Open Week with over 200 entries, and wearing the winner’s “shirt” at the presentation was John G. Doherty [10] whose card consisted of no less than four birdies, three of those on back nine which helped John return a score of 35 gross shots [24pts] and an overall winning score of 44pts. In second place was another of the club’s juveniles Sean O’Donnell [18], recording no less than six steady pars on back nine for a finish of 42pts. In third place was single handicapper Vincent Mc Glynn [9] who, with the help of an eagle at 18th, finished with 40pts to pip fourth placed Kieran Walsh [12] on the BOT.Best gross on the day went to Emlyn Bratton with 33 gross pts. and visitors’ prize went to the long hitting John Logue of Portsalon, also with 40pts Fri. 21st. was the much anticipated Brian Mc Cormick Sports Open and relegating the field to also-rans was cat. 2 player Paul Lynch [13] who, having spent the past two weeks on the range proved that “practice makes perfect” when he brought the long-playing Barnhill course to submission with an excellent score of 77 gross, a stableford score of 45pts.

With birdies at 2nd and 12th and double bogey at the par five 7th, Paul showed his resilliance by returning 23pts on back nine to take first spot on the rostrum. In second place by virtue of a three-way BOT, was the ever present single figure handicapper Gerard Duffy [6] who, despite dropping shots at midway point, responded with an eagle at 11th and birdies at 17th & 18th for an overall 42pts.

Relegated to third and fourth place were Kevin Mc Donald [13] and Joe Brown [15] respectively.Gross prize was again won by the formidable Eamonn Mc Dermott with 33 gross points.

 

The 4Ball Betterball competition played on Saturday and sponsored by the 4 Lanterns Restaurants and Take-Away, was won by the formidable pairing of Joe Coyle & Keith Shields.Despite Joe driving out of bounds at the first and his playing partner having to “carry” him for most of the round, the pair managed a very credible score of 65nett. In runners-up spot was man-in-form John G. Doherty and playing partner Kevin Mills with 66 nett to relegate Nick Millier and Keith Spence to third by virtue of BOT.

Gross prize on the day was won by two of the club’s golfing future,juveniles Jack Patton and Christopher Duffy with 75 gross, and visitors’ prize was collected by the Portsalon club duo of Tim Barrett & Pat Green with 68 nett, BOT

Due to the inclement weather, Sunday’s competition was postponed but, unfortunately, not until a few hearty souls had ventured out to play. As in all golfing days, there is the inevitable “hard luck” story, and this time it would certainly go to the club’s hard-working volunteer Roy Mc Crory. The single figure handicapper had his first ever hole -in-one when he aced the 160 yd. par three 5th hole with his trusty nine iron, finished the front nine in 38 shots only to be called in at the 13th.

Roy’s only comment was “to the bar” where he wanted to buy the customary round of drinks for all members, only to find that it was, inevitably, empty. Thanks anyway, Roy.

Monday 24th Juvenile competition was won by Matthew Curley [16] with a great score of 42pts consisting of a birdie at the par three 8th and a great finish of 15pts over the last five holes. In second place was Philip Cassidy [20] on 38pts

The Fred Daly team came away from Castlerock with a highly commendable 2 & 1/2 matches which leaves them only two matches down in the second leg to be played at Barnhill on Sunday. The calibre of golf was of a very high standard from both sides, as proven by one of the home team’s players when he had no less than six birdies in his match. This was a very creditable performance from the club’s youngsters and team captain Seamus Patton would like to thank all the players, senior players and parents for all their time and effort in transporting for the practice rounds and matches proper. Let us all turn out on Sunday to cheer on the club’s future ambassadors.

This Saturday’s Open competition will be sponsored by Neary’s Pharmacy, Letterkenny.

Rules of Golf:

“On the Putting Green” [rule 8-2 b]

When a player’s ball is on the putting green, the player, his partner or either of their caddies may point out a line of putt, but the putting green may not be touched and neither may a mark be made to indicate said line of putt.

 

 

 

 

 

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