8th September 2010: August News Round Up

August 6 - 7: Leinster Juvenile Inter-County & Strokeplay Finals

Our focus increased this month on our Juvenile section, the up and coming stars of the game, as August hosts both Leinster and National Championships for the up and coming stars of the game. The long awaited championships teed off on August 6th with the Leinster Inter-County Finals which was followed by the Leinster Strokeplay Finals the next day, both championships were hosted by Ryston Pitch and Putt Club in Newbridge. The Inter-County Championship was played as 18 holes scotch foursomes and 18 holes singles strokeplay. Reigning champions Offaly were hotly favoured to repeat their gallant victory last year in Kilbeggan and following 18 holes scotch foursomes they lay on 7 under par to lie one shot behind halfway leaders Louth. As the singles progressed the scoring did also and it was Dublin who posted the clubhouse lead of 23 under par with Westmeath and Louth sharing second on 9 under par, Westmeath securing second with a better back 9 aggregate score. The Offaly team looked to contend the lead as David Newman produced a superb round of 8 under par for his singles, the best score of the day. However, it wasn't to be for the Faithful boys as they fell down the listings in the finals pairings finishing on a 2 under par total, claiming fourth position on the day. Congratulations to the Offaly team and mentors on a fine defense of their title. The team and mentors were as follows: Dylan Melia, Mark Newman, David Newman, Jack Carroll, David Brophy, Joe McGrath Jnr., Una Pyke and James Walsh.

The Newbridge venue welcomed back the Juveniles the following day for the Strokeplay Finals, with the girls' championship teeing off first. In the 10-13 section defending champion, Tullamore's Amy Galvin, was in great form but had tough opposition in the figure of reigning National winner Claire Keatinge of Old County, Dublin. Claire produced a 36 hole aggregate score of 121 while Amy proved her closet contender on 137 claiming second place. Congratulations to Amy on a very fine performance and defense of her title, which will be hers another day surely. In the 14-15 section Kilbeggan's Laura Coffey claimed the title from her clubmate Aine Egan on 123, recording a 6 shot margin. In the Boys 10-13 section there was some spectacular pitch and putt played, producing several sub 50 rounds. It was Channonrock's Shane McRedmond who claimed the title with rounds of 5 and 7 under par from his tenacious clubmate Brendan Lawlor who recorded two rounds of 5 under par. In the Boys 14-15 section the play was just as good with Portmarnock's Shane Carthy holding out with rounds of 6 and 4 under par to win the Provincial honours from Old County's Karl Murphy who shot rounds of 3 and 5 under par respectively. Offaly was represented in the 10-13 section by Jason Kane (Erry) and George Robbins (Erry), both played well and got their first taste of championship pitch and putt. Tullamore's Dylan Melia and Erry's David Newman contested the Boys 14-15 grade with both players shooting sub par rounds, David carding two rounds of 1 under par while Dylan carded rounds of 1 and four under par. Well done to all who played and represented their club and county at the Leinster Juvenile Championships.


Photo: Leinster Girls Runner-Up

Photo: Offaly Juvenile Inter-County Team 2010

August 29: Leinster Mixed Foursomes Final

The Leinster Mixed Foursomes Final was contested at Ringcommons Pitch & Putt Club, Dublin, on Sunday August 29th. A large Offaly contingent traveled to take part including defending champions Joseph and Tracey McGrath who were chasing a record fourth consecutive title in this event. However, it was to be the turn of a Dublin duo to take the title in the form of Glenville's Linda Thompson and Anthony Mahoney who carded an impressive 11up. Runner-Up spot went to another Dublin pair, Lucan's Catherine and Noel Leonard who carded 8up. Defending champions Joseph and Tracey McGrath did put up a good defense and secured the Best Gross on the day with 5up. Other winners on the day included Laytown's Kathleen O'Neill & Oliver Lealy and Cloghogue's Marina O'Rourke and Paul O'Hagan who won the best first and second 18's respectively. The following were the scores recorded by all our Offaly representatives on the day: Deirdre McCabe & Tom Egan (Ferbane) 2up, Eileen Guerin & Tommy Murphy (Ferbane) 9down, Annie Galvin & Sean Galvin (Tullamore) 2up, Margaret Hogan & Darren O'Connell (Tullamore) 1up, Denise Pyke & Paul Galvin (Tullamore) 1up, Eileen & Ultan McCabe (Ferbane) 4down. Congratulations to the prizewinners and to all those who took part.

Photo: Winners of Best Gross @ Leinster Mixed Foursomes

August 31: 2010 Offaly v Westmeath Inter-County Challenge

The annual Offaly v Westmeath Inter-County championship took centre stage on a bright but short evening on Tuesday last in Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club. The Offaly gents team were seeking to retain their title that they had won in Kilbeggan last year while the Offaly women were seeking to take the title from their defending counterparts team. The challenge too a new format this year in replicating the newly introduced National Inter-County format of 18 holes foursomes (alternative shots) and 18 holes singles strokeplay. On what was playing a very tough course on the evening the Offaly gents showed that local knowledge proved vital as they went on to comfortably beat their rival counterparts as did the Offaly women's team who finished the last few holes in the dark as the evening light died quietly. Congratulations to both teams on two great wins on home soil which we hope will give them extra encouragement as they travel to Cork this weekend, Sept 11th and 12th, to the National Ladies & Gents Inter-County Championships. We wish them the very best of luck! The gents team is as follows: William Buckley Jnr. - Captain (Erry), Larry Maher Jnr. (Erry), Anthony Galvin (Tullamore), Joseph McGrath Jnr. (Erry), Graham Newman (Erry), Mark Hogan (Tullamore), Darren O'Connell - Sub (Tullamore), Mick Hogan - Manager (Tullamore) and Gerry Gallagher - Manager (Erry). The ladies team is as follows: Tracey McGrath - Captain (Erry), Linda Flanagan (Erry), Denise Pyke (Tullamore), Geraldine Ryan (Erry), Eileen Guerin (Ferbane), Ann Minnogue (Ferbane) and Una Pyke - Manager & Sub (Tullamore).

Photo: Winners of the Offaly v Westmeath Challenge 2010