Tuesday 28th July saw the weekly Juniors’ competition and taking top honour this week was Cian Harkin with a field-stretching 44pts. In second place was Dylan Mc Croary with 41pts.
Wednesday 29th had the Bonnar Engineering sponsored Open and another junior from the club’s academy took top spot with 39pts. Philip Cassidy [13], with a front nine of 20pts, had to wait on the outcome of a B.O.T. following his triple bogey at par three 13th but the countback in his favour relegated Eunan Mc Garrigle [13] to runner-up spot. With his birdie at 7th quickly erased with a “blank” at 8th, Eunan’s bogey at par five 18th didn’t help either.
In third place, on a six-way B.O.T., was the club’s P.R.O, Eamonn Davis [12] making a welcome return to the winning enclosure after a long lay-off. With a normally devastating start of “blank”, double bogey, “blank” at 3rd, 4th & 5th, Eamonn’s recent matchplay results showed his tenacity was back as he recorded a one over par 37 shots, [23pts] on back nine for a total of 38pts. Gross on the day was another competition and club team stalwart Kieran Sweeney [6] with 32 gross pts.
Pictured are the prizewinners of the Speers Drapery, Letterkenny Open at Barnhill with Lester Speer, [second right]sponsor and vice-captain Ivan Fuery [centre]Also in photograph, l-r; Kevin Boyce, Kieran Sweeney, Emmet O’ Donnell and Hugh Doherty, [right]
Saturday 1st August Open was sponsored by Highland Radio and Liam Sweeney [15], despite a topsy-turvy front nine of “blank” at 4th, birdie at 5th, double bogey @ 6th and “blank” at 9th, settled to return 22pts on back nine for a 41pt return, thus outpointing one of the early season’s “form” players, Mark Cohen [18]. Recovering from a double bogey at 1st with a birdie at 4th, Mark’s 22pts on the turn seemed enough to help carry him past the “pin” but double bogey’s at both 17th and 18th “putt” him short by one point.
In third place on 39pts was another welcome visitor Pat Green [10] whose birdies at 7th and 16th were somewhat eliminated by another double bogey at 17th. Gross was won by David Mc Cormick [8] with 30 gross pts.
Sunday 2nd was the long awaited Lady Captain’s prize to the gents and taking the honour of collecting Lady Captain Margo Birmingham’s prize on a stormy and somewhat wet day was cat 2 member James Mc Fadden [13] who, despite double bogeys at 4th & 5th holes, responded with a birdie at 7th to launch a fighting comeback which accrued 21pts on back nine and a title winning 40pts. Runner-up was Eugene O’ Donnell [14] whose birdie at par five 11th had him in the driving seat at one time only for a double bogey at 17th to leave him one point adrift with 39pts.
Bank Holiday Monday 3rd August had Barnhill host the ever popular Mick Gallagher organized charity singles Open in aid of the Friends of St. Luke’s Hospital and with a large field, considering the inclement weather, it was “man-in-form” Greg Sullivan who took top spot with 40pts.
Showing his usual style of course management in winter conditions Greg’s 20pts on each nine was enough to pip runner-up Kenny King [7] who, with a one over par outward nine consisting of bogey at 1st and birdies at 5th & 7th, had the competition in the bag following another birdie at 16th only to lose it again with a double bogey at par five 18th.
In third place was David Mc Cormick [8] who answered “blanks” at 1st and 13th with birdies at 12th and 14th and finished “tour” style with an eagle at par five 18th for a 23pt inward nine and a return of 38pts. Gross was won by Brendan Mc Grath [5] with 32 gross pts, birdies at 11th and 14th helping him secure that prize.
Monday was also the day for Gerry O’s Cat 4 brigade to vie for Margo Birmingham’s Lady Captain’s prize and taking the honour was Jack Mc Garrigle with 27 pts [13 holes], runner-up Victor  Byrne on 26 pts and in third place, Columba Crawford, also on 26pts. The Juniors Monday competition was won by Conor Coady with 39pts on B.O.T. from Lee Walsh, also on 39pts.
Club Captain Gerard Duffy, President Ann Condon and all club members would like to wish Lady Captain Margo Birmingham every success on her Captain’s Day on this Saturday 8th August.
Congratulations to two of our Junior members, Cian Harkin and Ronan Daly, who qualified for the prestigious Ulster Boys Final at U14 age group. Playing at the Spa Golf Course in Co. Down on Monday last, the lads now travel to Co. Antrim for the final on Friday 14th August.
Diary Dates: Friday 7th will see the Pre-Lady Captain’s Day Mixed Foursomes whilst the long-awaited 4th Major of the club, Lady Captain’s Day [Margo Birmingham], will take place on Saturday 8th. Sunday 9th will host the Arena 7 sponsored Open while Saturday 15th will have the annual Auto Fast Fit & Tyre Centre Open.
