Wednesday 24th saw the club hosting the Farren Roarty sponsored Open Stableford competition.
Displaying the same prowess on the golf course as he showed on the soccer pitch was local sports broadcaster Kenny Harkin [13] who, despite a bogey at Hall Door [1st] and a ‘blank’ at Sliabh Sneacht [4th], tightened his laces following his birdie at par three 5th [Inishowen] to record 20pts on each nine and take top spot ahead of Barnhill’s ‘birdie man’ Joe Coyle [7], who took second place on a six [6] way B.O.T.
Prizewinners pictured at the presentation of the Friends of St. Luke’s’ annual charity golf open which was held recently at Letterkenny Golf Club. Standing are Mick Gallagher, organizer, Marian O’ Sullivan, club Captain Ivan Fuery, Joe Blake and Seamus Patton. Seated are Angela Bradley, Lady Captain Jackie Ireland, Mena Delap and Sandra Mc Monagle
With a bogey at 2nd [Glebe] and a ‘blank’ at par five 7th [The Isle], Joe produced his now famous ‘birdie’ run on the inward nine consisting of birdies at 11th, 15th and 18th for a 20pt one [1] over par nine holes and 38pts.
In third place was the consistent Kevin Hannigan [7], also with a one over par back nine 20pts but beaten no doubt by Joe’s birdie at 18th, gross prize went to Conor Friel [4] with 34 gross points and visitors prize on the day was won by regular visitor Mark Ponsonby with 37pts. Wednesday evening nine hole competition was won by Henry Mc Cahey with 22pts followed by P.J.Nee on 20pts and Tony Duffy posting 19pts.
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Friday 26th Charity Open was in aid of the Conwal Parish Church restoration fund and restoring his name to the winners list after a lengthy absence was John Russell [16] who, despite a neutral start of a double bogey at 1st and a ‘blank’ at 4th changed gear on back nine to record 19pts and a winning 37pts overall.
In runner-up spot by virtue of B.O.T. was J.P. Clarke [11] who, having registered a ‘blank’ at Hackett’s Best [6th] and a double bogey at 7th, relegated John Bowe [20] to third place with a birdie at Stockade [18th]. Nearest the Pin prize was won by Hugh Doherty.
Saturday 27th had the club host the ever popular Auto Fast Fit Tyres & Exhausts Centre sponsored Open and driving to the winner’s enclosure was Eugene Mc Keever [19] with 41pts. Eugene’s outward nine, which consisted of a birdie at 2nd, produced 23pts and, despite a double bogey at 15th and a ‘blank’ at 16th, outpointed runner-up Mark Mc Dowell [12].
Birdies at 4th and 9th [Crievesmith] eliminated that ‘blank’ at Hall Door [1st] for a front nine 21pts and, despite hiccups at Cornagill [10th] and Aughaninshin [17th] where a ‘blank’ and double bogey were recorded respectively, Mark’s birdies at 11th [Settlement] and Candalabra [15th] were enough to place him ahead of third placed Hector Mc Elwaine [21] on 38pts. Gross prize was won by John Doran [5] with 32 gross points.
Sunday 28th Confined competition was won by Conor Coady [17] and you could say that it was definitely a game of two nines for, having recorded a birdie at 5th, Conor took the turn with a one [1] over par 37 shots, a massive 26pts for nine holes.
Unfortunately, the air cooled somewhat on the back nine but despite a ‘blank’ at Stackyard [14th] and two double bogeys, 42pts kept him well clear of the field. In second place was Simon Stephens [3] whose level par front nine, consisting of back-to-back birdies at 1st and 2nd, was followed by birdies at 10th, 13th and 18th and, despite a double bogey at 11th, Simon returned a one [1] over 73 gross and 38pts total.
Winning out on a four-wayB.O.T., was Dermot Rainey [17] who has been knocking on the winners’ door of late. Dermot’s birdie at 10th placed him third whilst gross prize was won by Jack Patton [4] with 32 gross points.
Monday 29th Cat 4 members competition, reduced to nine holes because offading light, was won by Jack Mc Garrigle with 21pts while Michael Mc Daid was second with 19pts. Category 4 members have their big day on Sunday, September 25th with the annual John J Doherty Memorial Cup competition.
The event is played over 18 holes and players must have played in three [3] of the Monday Cat 4competitions to be eligible to win a prize.
A time slot has been set aside on the day from 12 noon to 1.30pm but if players want to play at a different time on the day that’s fine, but preferably earlier for scorecards to be checked. Players can book their time online or by contacting the Golf Shop at the club. The presentation of prizes will take place on that night, beginning at 10pm.
For more details, contact Gerry O’Sullivan.
Monday also had the Juniors in action and Oisin Randles [28] led the field with a great 41pts return. In second place was Patrick Page [7] with 37pts and in third place was Tom Doherty [13] with 36pts.
It has been a somewhat topsy-turvey two weeks for the club’s teams with commiserations going to the Bobby Mullally led Minor League team and the Eamon O’ Carroll led Ulster Cup team, both falling at the penultimate rounds of their respective competitions, and also the club’s Donegal Senior League panel under the stewardship of Keith Shiels.
In contrast, congratulations to the Kevin ‘Alex Ferguson’ Kiely led Donegal Seniors team [over 5o’s]who have reached the final of this competition for the second year running and, having won in 2015, now play to retain the title against a very fancied Portsalon Golf Club on September 9th.
Prizewinners in the Bonnar Engineering sponsored Open played recently at Letterkenny Golf Club with John Doran, Aiden Friel, Kevin Hensy, JP Clarke pictured with club Captain Ivan Fuery.
Congratulations to club members John Doran who won the net section of the Ulster Seniors Championship last week with rounds of 72 & 81[153] and Con Boyce who tied for 2nd with 70 & 80 [150].
As a tribute to the foresight, groundwork, dedication and hard work of our past captain Gerard Duffy in founding our junior/juvenile youth policy in recentyears which has been continued forward by Catherine-Cooke Harkin and Mary Fowley, hearty congratulations are offered to junior members Patrick Page on winning the highly sought after u18 Munster Irish Junior Open title and also to Michael Shiel who won the Intermediate Scratch Cup at Ballybofey & Stranorlar Golf Club recently.
