23rd June 2008 National Strokeplay Qualifying Rounds at Ferbane, Erry Scratch Cup Review & National Mixed Team Event at Ryston, Kildare.

The regional qualifying rounds for the National Gents Strokeplay Championships took place in Ferbane on the 8th of June. Competition for the qualifying places on offer was very much high, scoring no doubt evidence of this, for no other reason than that the National Championships take place in Tullamore this year. The qualifiers in the Senior Gents were William Buckley Jnr (Erry) 85, Larry Maher Jnr (Erry) 91, Joe McGrath JNR (Erry) 93, Patsy Reams (Ferbane) 94, Paul O'Gorman (Tullamore) 94, Anthony Galvin (Tullamore) 95, Michael Byrne (Tullamore) 95. The qualifiers in the Inter Gents were Graham Newman (Erry) 92, Mark Hogan (Tullamore) 95, Seamus Dolan (Ferbane) 96, Paul Galvin (Tullamore) 97, and Ronnie O'Shea (Tullamore) 99. The qualifiers in the Junior Gents were Michael O'Connell (Tullamore) 109, Patrick Maher (Erry) 109 and Michael Mullens (Erry) 109. The regional qualifying rounds for the National Ladies Strokeplay Championship also took place on the same day. The qualifiers on the Inter Ladies were Ann-Marie McCabe (Ferbane), Eileen Guerin (Ferbane) and Ger Ryan (Erry). There were no qualifying rounds for the Senior or Junior Grades in the Ladies, people who entered these grades are automatic qualifiers for the National Ladies Strokeplay Finals at the Rocklodge, Cork. Ladies who cannot play in the Finals are asked to please contact the PPUI Head Office to let them know.

Congratulations to Anthony Galvin (Tullamore) who recently claimed the Erry Scratch Cup in exciting fashion. Anthony's impressive second round of 42 lead by two shots ahead of Erry's new young gun Graham Newman going into the 18 hole playoff. Anthony's experiences gave him the edge he needed to overcome Graham's heroic challenge. Collinstown's Alan Hanlon playing ahead of the final pairing made an exciting challenge to snatch the title unknown to the crowd and was the club house leader with only several holes to play for Anthony and Graham. Word quickly spread around the crowd but Anthony showed great nerves to pick up the birdie he needed to pip Hanlon at the post. Graham finished a credible third and there is no doubt that there are plenty of titles in store for the young Clara man.

The National PJ Bell mixed team competition took place last weekend at Ryston Pitch and Putt club, Newbridge. 32 teams of 4 players took part in the tournament including 1 team from Erry Offaly of Ger Ryan, Matthew King, Tracey and Joe McGrath Jnr. The pace was set at an early stage by the St Bridgets A team consisting of recent ladies National Matchplay champion Tara Dillon, Chrissie Byrne, Ian Dillon and Paul Byrne who posted an excellent score of 90 points leaders by a 7 shot margin after round 1 over the St Bridgets B team of Christy Hannon ,Paddy Logan,Martina Loakman and Bridge Logan who posted an 83. Only 3 other teams scored in the 80s including the Erry team that left them 8 shots behind the leaders. The first round leaders St Bridgets A team struggled over the last 9 holes but added a score of 78 to their first round of 90, which was enough to retain a 7 shot lead to become National mixed team champions for 2008. The runners up position went to the Erry team of Matthew King, Joe McGrath Jnr ,Geraldine Ryan and Tracey McGrath who overtook the St Bridgets B team who were in second place after round 1. The Erry team bettered their first round 80 to add 81 for a 161 total and they finished 3 shots clear of 3rd place winners Bellewstown D team of Tom Costello, Tom Kennedy, Cathy Richardson and Mary Kennedy. The gross prize was won by the Glenville B team of George Whiye, Frank Connolly, Geraldine o Connor and Stella Sheridan on the back 3 hole countback. Congratulations to the Erry team on a fine and fighting effort.

The Erry Pitch and Putt Club are proud to announce the hosting of the Leinster Ladies and Gents Matchplay Finals this coming weekend. This is a great honour for the club and it is a tribute to all those who have worked on the course over the past years to get it to the standard it boasts now. The Leinster Matchplay Finals competition has been revived this year after two years of non existence which makes it an extra special 2 day event this year. The draw has certainly thrown up some interesting matches and local ones at that. In the Gents Tullamore club mates Anthony Galvin and Mark Cuskelly go head to head at 9.16am Saturday morning, William Buckley Jnr., our local favourite, takes on St. Patrick's Kieron Morrissey, the PPUI's current PRO Officer, Kieran Egan (Ferbane) takes on a strong opponent Robert Bissett from Duleek, William Buckley Snr. (Erry) equally faces a tough opposition in Sean Downes but the Clara man will be determined that local knowledge will see him through. Another local match that was thrown up was the battle of the left handers, Ferbane's Sean Robinson goes head to head with Mike Hogan of Tullamore, which is sure to be an interesting match with the winner facing the either Billy Buckley Snr or Sean Downes. Our final local interest lies with Paul O'Gorman (Tullamore) who faces Richard Harkins of Loughlinstown whose match gets underway at 9.48am. The first round of the Gents Finals starts at 9am. The first round of the Ladies Finals tees off at 11.15am with the highly anticipated local match of Tracey McGrath (Erry) and Margaret Hogan (Tullamore), who were both beaten Seni-Finalists in the National Matchplay Championships. The winner of this match faces the prospects of playing the recently crowned National Matchplay winner Tara Dillion of St.Bridget's in the quarter-final. The fourth match of the morning sees local Helen Wynne of Erry take on Dublin's Geraldine Edwards of CYMC/LC, the winner will face either Claudette Colfer of Stackallen or Cathy Richardson of Bellewstown. In the bottom half of the draw Eileen Guerin of Ferbane faces another Meath opponent Marie Black of Bellewstown the winner facing either Kathleen Heary of Navan or Mary Donnelly of Ryston. The final match of the first round sees the National Matchplay Runner-Up Chrissie Byrne of St. Bridget's take on Carol O'Brien of Gael Colmcille.

We wish all our Offaly representatives the very best of luck at the weekend and we encourage everyone who is available over the weekend to come out and support our local players. It promises to be a feast of top class pitch and putt served up this weekend in Erry, Clara.

Picture 1: Erry Scratch Cup winner Anthony Galvin (Tullamore) and Ger Walsh (Erry Pitch & Putt)

Picture 2: Erry Mixed Team that were runners-up in National Finals at Ryston, left to right Tracey and Joe McGrath Jnr, Ger Ryan and Matthew King.