With the golfing season almost in full swing, Barnhill is proving an early season favourite for visitors.
At the Wednesday 20 Open, which hosted a good turn-out, taking home the plaudits was the early season form player and Ulster Cup combatant Eugene O’ Donnell [12] on 42pts.
Photo caption: Letterkenny Golf Club Fundraising Classic winners [l-r] Enda Mannion, Kate Gallagher and Maura Cavanagh receiving their prizes from sponsor Brian Mc Cormick and Lady Captain Jacqueline Ireland. Also pictured is Kay Kelly, ladies club and club Captain Ivan Fuery.
With an outward nine consisting of only two dropped shots thru 12 holes, at Swilly [3rd] and Hacketts Best [6th], Eugene recorded a score of 30pts while four dropped shots over the last six holes still gave him a three point winning margin over runner-up Shane Gallagher [14] who, despite double bogeys on each nine, at 6th and 16th [Barnhill], managed 20pts on the inward nine for a total finish of 39pts.
In third place was Jimmy Bruen panelist Eddie Margey [11] who, despite back-to-back ‘blanks’ at Sliabh Sneacht [4th] and Inishowen [5th] returned a two over par 38 gross on back nine for a 38pt total.
[adrotate group=”53″]Friday 22nd saw Letterkenny Golf Club host it’s first classic of the season, the Ladies Club Fundraising Classic, and what a success that proved to be. With over thirty teams playing in favourable weather conditions, it was the mixed team of Kate Gallagher, Maura Cavanagh, Victor Byrne and Enda Mannion who took pride of place when presented with their prizes by winners’ sponsor Brian Mc Cormick.
With a return of 95pts, the winning quartet led second placed Eugene Gallagher, Bobby Shiels, Dessie Shiels snr. and Dessie Shiels jnr.who finished on 93pts and third placed Ed Margey, John Sweeney, Paddy O’ Gorman and Jimmy Gleeson on 87pts. The Ladies team prize was won by Kay Kelly, Joan Murphy, Veronica Mc Ateer and Bridie Gildea with 87pts.
Saturday 23rd Open, kindly sponsored by Letterkenny Driving Range [The Glebe] was won by visitor James Friel [26] with a great return of 43pts. Despite a double bogey at 5th and a ‘blank’ at Sheep Hill [12th], James’ nines consisted of 22 and 21 points consecutively.
Driving a close second was Michael Mc Hugh [20] just one point behind with 42pts. While chipping his way to an inward nine of 23pts, no doubt that double bogey at Cornagill [10th] cost him top spot on the rostrum. In third place, albeit on a three way B.O.T., was local author Declan O’ Carroll [21] who, despite a ‘blank’ at 3rd, commanded his way to a 39pt total. Gross prizewinner was Simon Stephens [3] with 31 gross points.
Runners-up in the Letterkenny Golf Club Fundraising Classic were [l-r] Bobby Shiels, Dessie Shiels snr., and Eugene Gallagher receiving their prizes from Lady Captain Jacqueline Ireland. Also pictured are Kay Kelly and Marian O’ Sullivan, ladies club and club Captain Ivan Fuery.
Sunday 24th confined competition was won by club teams’ stalwart and this year’s singles matchplay favourite Hugh Gallagher [11] who, whilst registering birdies at 3rd and 6th holes, also dropped shots for an outward nine of 37 gross and despite a double bogey at Settlement [11th] returned a very fine 41pts total.
Runner-up was cat 2 member Bryan Kelly [13], whose birdies at 6th and 18th [Stockade], helped him register a 38pt finish, while Kieran Sweeney [6] took the gross prize with a one over gross 20pts on front nine and the help of a birdie at Stack Yard [14th] for 36 gross points.
Cat 4 members are coming out in force for their Monday night competitions and great to see a first time winner in this category in Richard Spratt, with 22pts from eleven holes, taking his prize on B.O.T. from last year’s form player, Dermot Higgins. Well done Richard. Cat 4 competition will continue on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd May.
Saturday 30th Open is sponsored by Crumlish Appliances while there will be further Opens on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd and Wednesday 4th.
[adrotate group=”38″]TEAM NEWS: Congratulations to the Chris Nee led All Ireland Fourball team who won 2 & 1/2 matches at the away venue yesterday v. Ballycastle GC. With John Bowe & Vincent Bianconi leading from the front by winning their match 2 & 1, Joe Lambe & Deron O’ Brien following suit with a 2 up victory on 18th and Bobby Mullally & Malcolm Crawford getting the all-important 1/2 match on the 18th also. The return leg is on Sunday 8th May with a scheduled 3pm tee-time. Best of luck to all.
Wishing every success to the club’s Jimmy Bruen team who host the qualifiers on Sunday at Barnhill with the course closed until 1pm, and also to Eamonn O’ Carroll’s Ulster Cup team who travel to play Mayobridge on Bank Holiday Monday.
Members of the ladies team winners at the Letterkenny Golf Club Fundraising Classic Kay Kelly and Bridie Gildea pictured with Lady Captain Jacqueline Ireland, club Captain Ivan Fuery and, on left, PJ Nee, competitions secretary.
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