It’s ‘Sus-pence’ for Keith at Letterkenny Golf Club Captain’s Day

Barnhill hosted the foremost ‘Major’ of the year on Saturday when almost two hundred members and guests took to the lush fairways of this ‘hidden gem’ to compete for Mr. Ivan Fuery’s Captain’s Prize.

Whilst welcoming the large field and stable weather, it was Ulster Cup team vice-captain Keith Spence [12] who took top spot on the podium for the presentation on Saturday night.

Picture caption: Keith Spence, winner of Letterkenny Golf Club’s Captain’s Prize, receiving his prize from club Captain Ivan Fuery.

Level par thru first six holes, impending disaster struck at The Isle [7^th] where a double bogey followed by a ‘blank’ at Greenhill [8^th] had him taking the turn with a mediocre 19pts but, with years of competitive and matchplay golf experience behind him, Keith’s resolve brought him birdies at 10^th [Cornagill] and 18^th [Stockade] for an inward nine of 22pts, a total return of 40pts and a better back nine score to relegate Eddie Margey [12] to runner-up spot.

Eddie’s outward nine consisted of birdie at Swilly [3^rd] and double bogey at 7^th but, despite his birdie at 18^th, another double bogey at Hunters Home [13^th] had him lose out on the ultimate prize. In third place on another B.O.T. was club stalwart Charlie Coughlan [10] whose18pts on front nine was followed by a back nine of 21pts with the help of birdie at 18^th which no doubt pushed Eugene McKeever [19] to fourth place.

Gross prize was collected by the man in form of late, Kieran Sweeney [6] with 33pts gross, student prize won by Conor Friel [5] with 34pts, seniors prize was won by Pat McGrath [25] on 38pts and nines prizes were won by Johnny Moore [21] and Sam Hegarty [19] with 22pts and 24pts respectively.

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Past captains’ prizewinner was Tom McDonagh [19] with 37pts, committee prizewinner was Henry McCahey [12] on 37pts and nearest-the-pin, on par three 16^th [Barnhill] with 88.5cms, was Tony Logue.

Teeing off Captain’s week was the Captain’s Prize to Cat 4 on Monday 11th and taking the honour in that category was Adrian Daly with 31pts on B.O.T. with Mark Carrigay, also on 31pts whilst in third place was the ever ‘youthful’ Hugh Breslin on 29pts.

Tuesday 12^th then had the Juniors playing for the club President’s prize and it was Michael Shiel [12] who, with birdies recorded at 4^th and 18^th, returned 19pts and 21pts accordingly. In second place was Dylan Mc Groary [16] just one point behind on 39pts.

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Wednesday 13^th Open was sponsored by Doherty’s Fresh Foods, Letterkenny and serving up a win was Fergal Callan [13] with 40pts. With an innocuous start of four over par thru first six holes, back-to-back birdies at par five 7^th and par three 8^th had him record an outward nine score of 22pts but double bogeys at par three 13^{th [Hunters Home]} and 17^th [Aughaninshin]  gave him a net level par 18pts on inward nine.

Runner-up was Kevin Kiely [9] with 19pts and 18pts respectively giving him 37pts, that ‘blank’ at 12th [Sheep Hill], having him lose out on a possible tie for first but enough to relegate Vincent Bianconi to third place on B.O.T. Collecting another prize, this time for gross, was Chris Duffy [5] with 30pts gross.

The pre-Captain’s Day mixed [scotch]foursomes on Friday 15^th saw a large entry and taking the plaudits afterwards was the pairing of P.J. Nee and Nuala McGarrigle with a score of 39.1, second were Dermot Rainey and Elaine Russell with 40.i whilst in third place were James Mc Fadden and Anne Condon on 42.1.

The day following Captain’s Day would normally be a somewhat ‘subdued’ event but, despite possible hangovers and with the county team playing, Sunday 17^th saw a lively crowd on the course for the confined competition and taking top rung with an impressive 44pts was Sean Hensey [10] who, having started with a birdie at par five 2^nd [Glebe] but then succumbing to back-to-back bogeys at 3^rd and 4^th [Slieve Sneacht] followed by same again at 13^th and 14^th [Stackyard] before another birdie at 17^th helped him to a two over par gross 74 and 44pts.

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In runner-up spot was Pauric Dunleavy [10] whose bogey at Sliabh Sneacht [4^th] left him just one over par 37 for front nine [22pts] but, despite a finishing birdie at 18^th, five dropped shots on back nine left him with 41pts total.

Monday 18^th saw the Cat 4 back in action and continuing from where he left off on Captain’s Day was Adrian Daly, returning a winning score of 29pts over 13 holes. Runner-up was Columba Crawford with 28pts played over 13 holes. Cat 4 members are reminded that the next ‘major’ will be the Lady Captain’s prize [Jacqueline Ireland] to cat 4 members on Monday 1^st August.

Monday 18^th also hosted the Juniors competition and taking top spot was Brian Diver on 39pts with RonanDaly and James Sweeney taking second and third placings with

37pts and 36pts respectively.

Club competitions continue on Friday 22^nd with the Silver Tassie sponsored North-West Breast Care Unit Ladies and Gents Open Singles while Saturday 23^rd hosts the Colm Dillon Motors sponsored Open. Wednesday 27^th Open is sponsored by Bonnar Engineering and Saturday 30^th is once again sponsored by Michael Murphy Sports.

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A hearty congratulations from everyone to the club’s gran senior, the ‘youthful’ Hugh Breslin, who turned 90 years of age on Friday last.

Wishing every success to the Eamonn O’Carroll-led Ulster Cup team who travel to Rosapenna GC on Sunday and commiserations to the Barton Shield team in their defeat on Sunday last in Murvagh at the hands of Killymoon GC.