15th May 2011: Exciting 4-Way Playoff Required at Kilbeggan

Paddy Carton Memorial Scratch Cup - Exciting 4-Way Playoff Required at Kilbeggan!
Kilbeggan played host to the Paddy Carton Memorial Scratch Cup on an overcast and very cold windy Sunday today. The 134 attendance paid testimony to the memory of Paddy who was an ambassador for the Kilbeggan Club and for the game of Pitch & Putt as a whole. Paddy's wife, Dina, was on hand to present the prize winners at the end of a very exciting event in which saw 4 players dramatically force a 3 hole playoff to decide matters. Mick Kenny of Custume was first in the clubhouse following the 18 hole playoff with a grand total of -22, shooting an impressive -9 in the final 18. Next in with -22 was local favourite Johnny Feery who had -7 in his final 18. It was then down to the final two pairings to attempt to reach the -22 target or exceed it to secure the title. Ian Donnelly of Cement (Drogheda) seemed the most likely to snatch the title within the 54 hole limit as he went to -21 with 3 to play. However, it was not meant to be as he missed chances on the 16th and 18th but secured a long putt on the 17th to finish on -22. The final group of Joe McGrath Jnr. of Erry and Sean Goggins of Cement found themselves on -21 playing the final hole. McGrath held a long putt from the front of the green to make it his fifth consecutive birdie on his final 5 holes to also finish -22. Goggins just lipped the hole with his effort from just left of the green to finish on -21 and out of any further contention.

The stage was then set for an unprecedented 4-way playoff over 3 holes between Kenny, Feery, Donnelly and McGrath. Missed putts by Feery and McGrath on the first and third holes saw them bow out after 3 holes leaving Kenny and Donnelly battling in a sudden death situation following their -1 total for the 3 hole playoff. With the wind blowing strong into their faces Kenny first to hit found the first cut off the back of the green while Donnelly made a fundamental error of coming up short and finding the bunker. Donnelly could only manage a 4 after lipping the hole for his par leaving Kenny with a short downhill putt for par for his first Scratch Cup victory which he so obliged to the crowd's delight. Congratulations to all the players who made it such an exciting finish today and to everyone who played throughout the day and supported the event. Full results from the Paddy Carton Memorial Scratch Cup are as follows, overall and final 18 hole playoff qualifiers: