12th May 2008 - Bank Holiday Success at Scratch Cups

It was a busy bank holiday weekend in Pitch and Putt terms and the weather could not have been any better for the weekends' events. Offaly players featured well in all Scratch Cups held around the country stretching from Leinster to Munster provinces. Ryston Scratch Cup was the first major event on the calendar on Saturday and saw new kid on the block Graham Newman (Erry) claim his first adult prize in the junior grade and quickly loose a shot off his handicap and enter the Intermediate ranks. This was not to be his only victory either, he claimed the Inter prize in St. Bridget's (Kildare) on Sunday with an impressive score of 12 under, that would have gotten him into the final 18 holes. The young Clara man continued his winning streak in Lakeside (Templemore) on Monday in the Inter Scratch Cup claiming 3rd spot. Congratulations to Graham and we wish him continued success in the many years ahead, definitely a player to watch out for.

St. Bridget's Gents and Ladies Scratch Cups were the main events on Sunday. The club recorded their second largest attendance ever with 160 players competing at the Kildare venue in Kilcullen. Erry's Tracey McGrath travelled to defend her title against the local favourites the Byrnes amongst a number of big names in attendance. After 36 holes Tracey was 10 under, one shot behind Chrissie Byrne (St. Bridgets) on 11 under. Eight ladies qualified for the playoff including Tullamore's Margaret Hogan on 4 under. The playoff saw some exciting Pitch and Putt and midway Tracey went ahead and continued to hold off the challenge from Chissie in the final holes to retain her title finishing on 8 under, for the final round for a total of 18 under winning by one shot. Margaret Hogan finished in fifth position and claimed a qualifiers prize. There was not as much luck in the Gents Scratch Cup for our Offaly hopefuls, most of them just missing out on the cut by a few shots. Ray Murphy (Cork) won the Gents title by one shot, successfully defended his title at St. Bridget's also. Congratulations to Gerry King (Erry) who picked up the Junior grade prize on the day. Another day and another venue for the Bank holiday Monday at the picturesque surroundings at Lakeside (Templemore) and it was the turn of Junior stalwart player Matt King to steal the limelight. Matt lead the field entering the final round of the Junior Scratch Cup and despite dropping shots at the 54th hole Matt had built a lead that could not be caught, the Tipperary native won the Munster crown by 3 shots, a very well deserved victory! Congratulations Matt!

Another young player making an impact on the Pitch and Putt scene is Mark Hogan (Tullamore) son of the one and only Mick Hogan. Mark is a right handed player unlike his Pitch & Putt enthusiast father and it is evident that the talent has passed been passed on! Mark came on the scene last year and has done remarkably well so far. This year appears to be a very promising one for Mark and it is certain that he will have his thoughts firmly set on the National Strokeplay Finals taking place in his local club Tullmore. Mark claimed the last 18 prize in Lakeside last weekend and gave an impressive performance at Collinstown yesterday, Sunday May 11th, at Collinstown Scratch Cup in Westmeath. Mark shot 11 under to qualify for the playoff in a star studded field of 120 and added 5 under to finish on 16 under and unlucky not to have made a few more birdies in his final round. Mark was beaten for third place but claimed the Inter grade prize with ease. In the same competition at the weekend a number of Offaly players made the final round among them were William Buckley Jnr, Joseph McGrath Jnr (defending champion), Tracey McGrath, Mark Hogan, and Larry Maher Jnr who lead on 15 under entering the final 18 holes. After an exciting 18 holes it was Limerick native Liam O'Donovan (Bruff) who piped Larry and William for the title on 19 under. William Buckely and Larry Maher received second and third spots while Tracey McGrath won the Ladies section. Congratulations to all our players who performed so well over the past few weeks.

The main event of the forthcoming weekend is the highly anticipated first championship of the year the Leinster and Munster Ladies and Gents Strokeplay Championships. The championships will be hosted by two clubs in the Curragh, (Kildare). The Gents final will take place in St. Bridget's while the Ladies finals will take place in McDonagh. Hopes will be high of one or more titles reaching Offaly but it will be a tough challenge for all with some of the best players in Ireland taking part. Erry duo William Buckley Jnr and Tracey McGrath who did the double in the Senior grades last year will be hoping to repeat the same form this year to be in contention in the final 18 hole playoff on Sunday evening. Offaly will have a strong contingent of players competing and we wish them all well in their challenge. A full report will follow on the championship next week

Qualifying rounds for the National Strokeplay finals in June were held in Erry from Tuesday to Thursday and those in attendance were not disappointed as some great matches were fought out to the very last hole. Qualifiers are as follows from the final rounds; John Fleming (Tullamore) beat Joe McGrath Snr (Erry), Joesph McGrath Jnr (Erry) beat Eamonn Kidney (Erry), William Buckley Jnr (Erry) beat Larry Maher Jnr (Erry), Billy Buckley Snr (Erry) beat Mick Hogan (Tullamore) and Paul O'Gorman (Tullamore) beat Darren O'Connell (Tullamore). Ladies qualifiers; Tracey McGrath (Erry) beat Liz Quinn (Collinstown), Helen Wynne (Erry) beat Deirdre Byrne (Tullamore), Margaret Hogan (Tullamore), Annie Galvin (Tullamore) and Linda Flanagan (Erry) received walk overs.

Dates for your diary: Mixed Team Qualifying takes place in Erry on Saturday at 5pm sharp. Qualifying rounds for the Leinster Matchplay Championships to be held in Erry in June begin from Monday 19th in Tullamore, please see your local clubhouse fixture boards for details of the draws and times for matches. The draw for the Ladies and Gents National Matchplay finals will take place at Glenville Pitch and Putt club on Thursday 15 May at 8pm. All members are welcome to attend. The draw will be broadcast live on the internet at www.mogulus.com/ppui and anyone that cannot attend can view the full event at the above address.