Wednesday 23rd Open at Barnhill belonged to the cat 4 members, with Pluincead O’ Fearraigh [23] taking top spot on the winners’ rostrum.
Despite recording consecutive double bogeys at the first three holes, Pluincead steadied the swing to return a hard fought 22pts on inward nine for a 41pt total and a B.O.T. verdict against runner-up John Bowe [20], whose double bogey at Candalabra [15th] no doubt lost him top spot.
Photo caption: Prize-winners from recent competitions at Letterkenny Golf Club including St. Patrick’s Day cup winner John Mc Cosker receiving the cup from club Captain Ivan Fuery.
Good Friday, 25th, teed-off the Easter Bonanza of Golf at Letterkenny and proving just how good he is was seniors’ team captain Kevin Kiely [8] who, taking the turn with a stepping stone of 20pts., laid down his intention on back nine with birdies at Cornagill [10th] Sheep Hill [12th] and Candalabra [15th] before faltering at the final hole, the par five 18th, with a double bogey.
Kevin’s final return of 75 gross, three over par and 41pts, was enough to keep Kevin Rafferty [7] in second place. Kevin’s double bogey at Hackett’s Best [6th] was diminished somewhat by a birdie at 9th [Crievesmith] leaving him with a two over par 38 gross front nine, but a disastrous double bogey at the par three 16th [Barnhill] effectively lost him the win, even though another birdie at Aughaninshin [17th] was enough to give him runner-up spot with 38pts.
In third place was the ‘long fellow’ Vincent Mc Glynn [9] who, having had a mediocre front nine, double bogied the 10th, scored level par thru next five holes but bogies at 16th and 17th kept him in third place on 37pts.
Easter Saturday hosted the battle of the cat 2 brigade and saw the early starters getting the best of the day’s weather in the Gallinagh’s Letterkenny Tool Hire & Sales sponsored Open. Taking advantage of his recent respite traveling the continent was Derek Wilson [13] who, taking the turn with 21pts, double bogied Cornagill [10th] and Hunter’s Home [13th] before a birdie at par three 16th gave him a one point advantage over runner-up Shay Henry [13] returning 37pts.
Following a solid start of only one over par for five, Shay ran up six bogeys from 6th thru 11th but ironed out his approach shots on the home straight to relegate Michael Forde [13] to third place. Gross was won by Kevin Hannigan [7] who, with birdies at Inishowen [5th] and Settlement [11th] would have been in pole position only for a ‘blank’ at par three 16th.
Although experiencing a chilly, strong breeze on Easter Sunday, the day stayed mainly dry for the Glencar Inn Open and taking advantage of the intermitten sunshine was cat 4 member Philip Doherty [28] with a magnificent return of 43pts by playing steady, careful golf culminating in a back nine of 23pts, three points ahead of nearest rival Eugene O’ Donnell [13] whose card read birdie at par five 2nd [Glebe], double bogey at par five 7th [The Isle] ‘blank’ at 14th followed by another birdie at Barnhill [16th] for a return of 40pts.
Third place was taken by Martin E. Kelly [18] with 37pts while gross prize belonged to Eamon Mc Glinchey [6] with 32 gross points.
Easter Monday Open saw a remarkable ‘comeback’ from winner Bryan Kelly [15], following a disastrous start of double bogey at par five 2nd [Glebe] and a ‘blank’ at The Isle [7th].
Having found his swing, Bryan recorded birdies at Sheep Hill [12th] and at the par five finishing hole, Stockade, for a 23pt inward nine and an overall winning score of 41pts.
Driving him to a close second was a definite for the club teams this year, Conor Mc Gettigan [9], whose double bogey at Crievesmith [9th] probably lost him this competition. Having a good run untill then on the outward nine with a birdie at Inishowen [5th], Conor continued his masterful display of the short game to record another birdie at 15th, finishing one over par 37 gross and a total of 39pts.
In third place was Martin A. Gallagher [7] with 37pts whilst gross prize went to Simon Stephens [3] who, despite a ‘blank’ at Hall Door [1st], then proceeded to birdie 2nd, 5th, 13th and 14th holes for a two under gross 70 finish and 35 gross pts.
Congratulations to the club’s Fred Daly team of 2016 who won the club’s first match of the season when they defeated Dunfanaghy GC by 4 matches to 1 at Barnhill on Tuesday last. Return leg is at Dunfanaghy on Sunday.
Practice will begin shortly for the relevant club senior teams with the first of those matches being the Jimmy Bruen qualifier at Letterkenny on May 1st. Team captain Eamonn Davis asks all those available/interested to place their names on the sheet posted on the club noticeboard.
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