14th July 2008 Ladies National Strokeplay Finals, Rocklodge, Cork.

Two of the most prestigious and highly held single's championships take place over the space a fortnight, the National Ladies and National Gents Strokeplay Championships. The Ladies Championships were first on the agenda for decision. The ladies junior, inter and senior players took to the people's republic of Cork to fight for the prestigious national title. A small but strong Offaly contingent took to the roads early over Thursday and Friday morning to make the long but hopeful road to Leeside. The Rocklodge Pitch & Putt Club played host to the championships and without a doubt served up a tough challenging 18 holes for any standard of competitor of any gender. The challenge was certainly dealt to everyone, junior, inter and senior players alike.

Offaly unfortunately had no representatives in the junior section, this is mainly due to the fact that the majority of ladies playing the game in Offaly are inters with most already fliriting on the line of the senior section. This is in deed testimony to the standard of play that has only risen over the past year. The junior and inter grade championships were played over the Saturday as the precursor to the senior championship the following day. In the inter section we had a strong trio in the form of two Ferbane ladies, Eileen Guerin and Ann-Marie McCabe, and one Erry lady, Geraldine Ryan. After the trio had eventually overcome an accommodation crisis on arrival they soon got down to the business of the day posting some impressive scores. Eileen made the most impressive start posting a first round score of 57 to become the joint leader after 18 holes, while Geraldine and Ann-Marie found the first round pace difficult posting a 62 and 64. But it wasn't long before the two faithfuls acclimatized to the treacherous hillside shots and improved their scores by 5 and 10 shots respectively posting second rounds of 57 and 54. Eileen however found it hard to avoid trouble in the second round and posted 66, which totaled 123 meaning Eileen would miss out on the final 18 hole playoff. Geraldine finished on 119 while reigning Inter Leinster Strokeplay champion Ann-Marie McCabe finished on 118, her second round of 54 was the second best 18 hole score recorded on the day, Dympna Donegan of RGSC posting an impressive second round 50 to lead the championship on 110. It turned out to be a playoff of high drama. The leader dropped 6 shots in the space of the first four holes giving her challengers a more realistic shot a victory.The field was now wide opened and it was Ann-Maire that took full advantage posting the joint highest final 18 score of 55 an aggregate of 173 for 54 holes. A missed three foot birdie opportunity on the final hole proved costly for Ann-Marie as Lucan's Breda Purcell carded a final 18 hole 55 to post an aggregate score of 172 for 54 holes, becoming the newly crowned inter ladies champion for 2008. Ann-Marie was very happy to claim second spot on the day. Geraldine Ryan who carried an injury into the championships did remarkably well to finish out the three rounds to finish on 182 for the championship.

On Sunday morning the big guns of the senior ladies grade descended on Rocklodge to do battle for the strokeplay title. The rumours of whether the defending champion Ger Ward would be taking part in the championships were quickly laid to rest as the four times National Stokeplay winner appeared as her name was announced to take her place on the first tee. Ger had missed most of the season due to injury and was a major doubt leading into the championship but this did not deter her efforts of retaining the title and make it a fifth strokeplay victory. Offaly's lone challenger to the crown was Tracey McGrath of Erry. Expectations that this could be Tracey's year were undoubtedly high and justified as she had achieved the Leinster double in the weeks prior, retaining the Leinster Strokeplay title in McDonagh following a nine hole playoff and adding the Leinster Matchplay title only two weeks before in Erry. But there was a strong field to contend with and National titles are not easily won. Tracey made the perfect start steadily picking three birdies on the front nine and five on the back to card a first and bogey free round total of 46 to join Ger Ward as co-leader after 18 holes. First round scores of sub 50 were also posted by Cork's Claire Flynn 49 and Dublin's stalwart Sheelagh Elmes 48. It was all to play for now. Tracey continued her birdie run on the 19th hole and found herself putting for 10 under on the long second hole, but lapses in concentration lead to three drop shots. But Tracey soon fought back in the following holes to wipe out the uncharacteristic mistake to finish on 50 and an aggregate total of 96 for 36 holes, three behind Ger Ward who finished on 93. St. Bridget's Tara Dillon added a 47 to her first round of 51 to finish on 98. Claire Flynn and Sheelagh Elmes both finished on 101. So the scene was set for the playoff, three players with scores in the 90's were well ahead of the remaining 16 strong pack of players on scores ranging from 101 to 107. Ger Ward teed off with a three shot cushion from Tracey McGrath and a five shot lead from Tara Dillon. Even though only back to the game from injury Ger showed she still has what it takes and carded a third round of 51 to maintain a three shot gap to reclaim her National Strokeplay title for Dublin. Tracey had cut the gap to within one shot after 8 holes but the luck on the day seemed to sway the Dubliner's way on the ninth hole getting a more fortunate hop off the sand than Tracey. To both Tara and Tracey's credit they both kept fighting, Tara carded a third round 49 to become the clubhouse leader with 147 with the final pairing still on the course. But the wealth of expensive once again shone through and it was to be Ger's day once again, finishing on 144. Tara claimed second one shot ahead of Tracey who finished on 148 to claim third spot for a fourth top four medal finishes in the past four years.

Congratulations to all who traveled and took part in the Nationals in Cork, Offaly were proudly represented in fine fashion. We will focus on the remarkable Offaly performances that were displayed in the Gents National Strokeplay Championships next week.

Dates for the diary: Hosts to the Leinster and National Inter-County Championships 2008 both Bagnelstown, Carlow, and Larskpur, Cashel, both hold their club scratch cups over the bank holiday weekend. Bagnelstown Scratch cup takes place on Sunday the 3rd and Larkspur Scratch Cup on Monday the 4th. St. Patrick's, Enniscorthy, play hosts to the Leinster Juvenile Championship, Juvenile Inter-County Championships take place on Friday August 8th and the Juvenile Strokeplay Championships take place the following day Saturday August 9th. The Ladies and Gents Leinster Inter-County Championships will then follow on Sunday August 10th at Bagnelstown.

Picture 1: Ann-Marie McCabe (Ferbane) National Ladies Inter Strokeplay Runner-Up and Frank Smith, PPUI President.

Picture 2: Tracey McGrath (Erry) National Ladies Senior Strokeplay Third Place and Frank Smith, PPUI President..