TWELVE months ago there were great scenes of celebration at Lahinch golf club when club member Jonathan Keane was crowned South of Ireland amateur golf champion.
Huge crowds are again expected at the famed golf club this week as the cream of amateur golfers in Ireland and many parts of Europe and the U.S.A. compete for the oldest trophy in amateur golf, the 2026 final set for Sunday afternoon.
Always a huge attraction, there is added interest this year because of the upcoming Walker Cup competition which will take place at Lahinch in September.
A number of those who are expected to be in the Great Britain and Ireland team which will take on the U.S. are expected to compete this week.
After this week’s competition the five automatic team members will be confirmed and many of those taking part in ‘the South’ will be hoping to impress the selectors and get the call up.
Because of the Walker Cup, this South is set to be one of the most competitive championships in the storied history of the event
Title holder Jonathan Keane is one of four club members taking part in the competition. Aaron McNulty, Stephen Loftus and Danny Lyne are the other club members competing.
West Munster pennant for Lahinch ladies:
Lahinch ladies were crowned Munster West champions at Limerick golf club on Sunday. The Valerie Shannon and Aedin McCarthy managed side defeated Castletroy in the morning semi-final and followed this with victory over Tralee in the afternoon’s final.
Aideen Walsh, Sarah Cunningham, Jenny Hennessy, Chloe Ryan and Niamh O’Dwyer were the members of the winning team.
There was disappointment for the men’s senior cup team as they lost out to Roscrea, in a match which also took place at Limerick. Jonathan Keane, Mark Campbell, Thomas Neenan, Bob Casey and Barry Dunworth were the team members and the manager was Patrick Crowley.
Dromoland Golf Club:
Niamh McDermott with 37 points won the ladies 18 hole stableford competition at Dromoland last week . She had one to spare over Cora O’Toole.
The 9 hole weekly competition was won by Maria Colfer with 20 points from Annette Shanahan who had a similar score with third spot filled by Cathy Casey with 19 points.
The ladies 18 hole standalone competition was won by Joan Dunne with 38 points from Mary O’Donnell O’Brien with 37.
Niamh McDermott won the 9 hole competition with 19 points from Theresa Reddan ith 18 points.
The men’s 18 hole strokeplay competition was won by Alfred Jones with 68 and he won on a count back from Eoin Keane. They were one stroke ahead of Fintan Lahiffe. Brian Shally won the gross with 74 while the category for those with handicaps of 20 and over was won by
Gerry O’Gorman with 72.
Noel O’Connor won the 9 hole competition with 21 points from Con Ryan with 18 points with Tomas Costello in third place and he also scored 18 points.
Ennis Golf Club:
The Bell trophy, sponsored by Cummins Garage, was played for at Ennis last week when the winner was Enda Burns (19) with 64. He won on a count back from Gerry O’Connor (22). In third place with 67 was Mark O’Brien (20) followed by Michael Moroney (14) who also had 67.
Daire Meehan won the gross with 76 while the category winners were Damian Pilkington (13) with 66, Michael Cooney (16) with 66, Martin Coffey (21) with 67 and Paul O’Leary (27) with 68.
Last week’s senior ladies competition was won by Judith Brassil, Martina Corbett and Mary Murray with 49.2. They won from Margaret Flanagan, Claire Pyne and Kathleen Frehill with 50.3.
In the ladies July medal, an 18 hole strokeplay singles competition the winner of the silver category was Rose Enright (18) with 72 from Suzanne Deane (15) with 76.
Peggy Costello (21) with 69 nett won the bronze medal from Louise Guilfoyle (34) with 70 nett.
The ladies 9 hole stableford competition was won by Marian Irwin (21) with 22 points and she won by a point from Margaret Flanagan (19) . The category winners were Anne Kelly (12) with 19 points, Patricia Kerwin (18) with 18 points and Bridie Keane (20) with 21 points.
Last week’s senior mens competition was a team of four which was won by Pat G McInerney, Sean Fitzpatrick, Ger O’Brien and Tim Scanlon with 71 points. They had two to spare over Martin Coffey, Gerry Scanlan, John Lillis and Matt Flynn. In third place, a point further back on 68 were Tony McInerney, Ger Hanrahan, Paul Kenny and Jack Keane. Fourth place was filled by Ollie O’Loughlin, Frank Coffey, Seamus Bowe and Brian Logue who also had 68 points. They were followed by Steve Burns, Joe O’Brien, Jimmy Kearns and Pat Rutherford with 67 points with sixth spot filled by Peter Quinn, Declan Hanley, Ollie Kennelly and Brian Tuohy with 65 points.
Flan Downes (13) with 40 points was the winner of the Martin Ward Golf sponsored Friday open singles. He was followed by David Maxwell (18) with 39 points with third spot filled by Enda Burns (17) also with 39 points.
The Ladies minor foursomes team defeated Ballyneety on Thursday at Ennis. They qualify for the Munster West final against Ballyheigue on August 8 at Roscrea at 10.30am.
Spanish Point Golf Club:
The weekly ladies 18 hole stableford competition at Spanish Point was won by Carol Akroyd with 35 points. She had one to spare over Jenny O’Neill with third spot filled by Emer McCarthy with 31 points.
Kilrush Golf Club:
Lady Captain Mary Lyons’ prize was played for at Kilrush last week when Fiona Kinsella (12) emerged as the winner with 65. She won on a countback from Celia O’Grady (30). They were one stroke ahead of third placed Maureen Kinnerk (33). Fourth with 67 was Imelda Griffin (50) followed by Grace Howard (33) with 68 with sixth place filled by Margaret Donnelly (19), also with 68.
Anne Gallagher (13) won the gross with 85 while the nines were won by Edel Crowley and Martina Walsh.
The lady captain’s 9 hole competition was won by Loretta Browne with 33 from Nora Breen with 36.
The Shannon Ferries men’s open singles at Kilrush was won by Michael Shannon Snr (22) with 44 points. He had two to spare over Nevan Prendeville (10) with Thomas Cloffey (13) a point further back in third place on 41 points. Tom Browne (1) won the gross with 34 points.
East Clare Golf Club:
Last week’s ladies Wednesday competition at East Clare was won by Mary Dinan, Liz McMahon and Breda O’Loghlin from Helen Conway, Sue Whiting and Eimear O’ Halloran.
The senior men’s competition was won by Noel Earley, Batt Skehan and Seamus O’Dwyer from Ger Lenihan, Dave Condren and Pat Duggan with third place filled by Dominic Stuart, Tadhg Murphy and Gerry O’Brien.
Thursday’s mixed scramble was won by Evelyn O’Brien, Mary Farrell and Brian Corry with second place filled by Mary Jo Minogue, Terry Coughlan and Paul Husband.
East Clare Golf Club is having an Open Week with Mens and Ladies competitions. It will run from Monday next July 27 until August 3. To secure a tee time call 061-921322 or book online at www.eastclaregolf club.com.
Shannon Golf Club:
Shannon golf club was a hive of activity throughout the past week as big entries were the order of the day for the annual open week.
The Calcul International sponsored three person full scramble was won on a countback by Allan, David and Tony Fitzgerald with 57. In second place were Joe Finlay, Michael and Shane Honan. In third place, also on 57 were John G O’Connell, Conor and Sean Flynn. They were followed by Alan Dempsey, Tom Fox and Thomas Nelson on 58, Laura O’Brien, John Pearse and John Garry with 58, David Richardson, Paul Kilbridge and Joseph Daly who also had 58.
Sunday’s men’s green tee challenge was won by Declan O’Brien (15) with 39 points from Alan McCoy (13) with a similar score. Jamie Kirby (11) was third and he also had 39 points while the gross was won by Kenneth Smith (5) with 33 points.
Monday’s men’s open singles, sponsored by TJMB Ltd was won by Paul McNamara (23) with 40 points from Ben O’Neill (18) with 36 points with John Geary (18) in third place with 35 points followed by Anthony McNamara (16) with 34 points. Damian Casey (+1) won the gross with 36 points.
Thursday’s mixed scotch foursomes, sponsored by Chemifloc Ltd, was won by Terry and Lisa O’Neill with 47 points and they had two to spare over Anna Keely and Gerard Butler.. Laura O’Brien and Fintan Ward were third with 43 points followed by James Corry and Mary Flynn with 42 with Valerie O’Shea and Sean McLaughlin in fifth spot with 42 points.
The seniors team of four sponsored by Gihan’s Restaurant was won by Thomas Nelson, Tom Fox, Mary Fitzgibbon and Dee O’Connell with 98 points. They won by four from Ged O’Dwyer, Michael O’Brien, Conor Moroney and Dermot O’Neill.
The men’s team of 3 champagne scramble sponsored by Pro Source 3D Printing was won by Billy Austin, John McPhillips and Derek Cullen with 92 points from Michael Hickey, John Burns and Hugh Heaney who also had 92 points. In third place, a point back, were Gerard Gallagher, P.J. McAllen and William Noone.
The Sean Hillery Pharmacists sponsored team of four (any combination), was won by Liam Leahy, Fergus Coughlan, Christy Moylan and Donal Walsh with 91 points. They had five to spare over Colm and Seamus Hanley, Adam McInerney Hynes and Gary Fitzgibbon with third place filled by Rob Young, Oliver Nevin, Jody Mc Dermott and Edward Cahill with 84 points.
Winners of the Thomond Tyres sponsored team of 4 modified scramble were Eoin Collins, David Ryan, Derek Enright and Conor McMahon with 105 points. They won by one from Denis Brophy, Christy Moylan, Joe Robins and Dermot Egan. In third place, also with 104 points, were James Stewart, Michael Mulqueen, Derry O’Neill and John O’Dea.
Oran Kelly won the men’s open 9 hole singles with 25 points and he was three ahead of Conor Fitzgerald (7) with third place filled by Michael McInerney (9) with 21 points.
The lady members at Shannon played for the July medal earlier this week and the competition resulted in victory for Joan Hoctor (21)with 68 nett. Sher won on a countback from Suzanne McMahon (19). Third place was filled by Carole Bagnal (27) with 70 nett followed by Marlyn Kelly (36) also with 70. Ettie Gallery (17) won the gross with 86 gross Winners in the 2’s competition were Rose Doyle (17th hole), Michelle Pyke (17th hole) and Emma O’Halloran (12th hole).
Next Tuesday’s competition is another Masters qualifier, the Special Voucher, with alternate days of Saturday and Sunday. There will be a semi-open 2 step modified scramble (team of 3) on Tuesday August 4. This is a fund raiser for the club’s teams and a big entry is expected.
Woodstock Golf Club:
The Specsavers Ennis July medal was the men’s competition at Woodstock last week when Adrian Kearney (12) was the winner with 66 while the gross was won by Ray Keogh (5) with 77. Category 1 (+ to 10) saw Gary Greene (10) take the honours with 70 from Ronan O’Looney (9) with 72.
Category 2 (11 to 18) was won by Kenneth Warren (12) with 68 from Mike Hogan (16) with 70 while category 3 (19 +) was won by Denis Ryan (20) with 71.
Kieran Frawley (23) with 43 points won the singles competition for players with handicaps of 16 and over. The AMR golf open singles continues on this Thursday while the weekend competition will be v par.
Anne Kilker with 39 points won the ladies singles competition at Woodstock last week.
The Eileen Murphy foursomes was won by Mary Morgan and Mags Nash with 44 points and they will representWoodstock at Cork Golf Club in September.
Gort Golf Club:
Ray Dolan’s captain’s prizes were played for at Gort last weekend when Michael Cahill (15) emerged as the overall winner with 130. He had three to spare over Ray Quinn (31) who was followed by Malachy Whyte (19) with 134, Darragh Coen (12) with 136, Brian Baker (17) and Chris Fahy (22).
The gross was won by Tony Finnegan (4) with 151.
Other prize winners were Pat Cradock (31) with 139 (Past Captain) Martin Callanan (18) with 139 (Senior) while the category winners were Eamon Higgins (9) with 141, Frank Gillane (17) with 141 and Alan Fogarty (23) with 138.
The captain’s prize to the juniors was a stableford competition which was won by Colin Fahey (22) with 42 points. The categories were won by Aidan Burke (11) with 39 points, Adam O Halloran (21) with 40 points and Conor Jaffrey (33) with 39 points. Joe Burke (3) won the gross with 32 points.
The captain’s prize to the ladies was also a stableford competition which was won by Charlotte Kelly (28) with 41 points. She had two to spare over Anne Marie Mulry (13). Third place was filled by Karen Mooney (33) with 39 points followed by Joan Fogarty (17) with 38 points. The gross was won by Hannah McInerney (5) with 29 points.
In Friday’s open singles Kaelan Higgins (9) with 40 points won category 1 while category 2 was won by Robert Duffy (14) from Galway Bay golf club with 39 points. Woodstock’s Barry Ward (26) with 33 points won category 3 while the gross was won by Kris Finnegan (1) with 36 points.
The overall winner of the weekend’s singles stableford competition, sponsored by Gerry O’Dnoghue Butchers, was George Cavill (37) with 42 points while the category winners were Chris Murphy (8) with 38 points, Joe Kerins (17) with 41 points and Brian Leahy (25) with 41 points. Paul Brennan (2) with 31 points won the gross.
