Narin & Portnoo Golf Club Notes 23rd September 2009

The presentation of prizes for the following competitions will take place in the clubhouse on Saturday, September 26th at 9 p.m.: Diver’s Centra Stroke; Junior, Intermediate & Senior Scratch Cups; Glenside Bacon Medal & Glenties Cup; Pat The Cope T.D. Stableford; D.P. Barry Fourball Betterball; Ardara Golf Society Medal; Glenties Golf Society Stableford; Ryan Developments Stableford; Dr. McCloskey Singles Matchplay; Club Foursomes Matchplay; Clements Matchplay Mixed Shields.

The Club Fundraising Draw will be held after the presentation of prizes.

The final of the Under-16 County Cup is balanced on a knife edge following Narin and Portnoo’s gutsy 2-1 success in the first leg last Sunday. Martin and Margaret Roarty’s young men played superb golf to keep their hungry opponents at bay and it sets up an intriguing second leg this coming Sunday, with Ballybofey and Stranorlar holding home advantage. We wish the lads the very best of luck.

Eddie Gregg is the club matchplay champion following his victory over Rab Brady in the final of the Dr. McCloskey Perpetual Trophy. The victor was in control from the start, striking the ball well and sinking the putts when it mattered. His par on the 4th matched Rab’s bogey five with a shot and from then on, Eddie stretched away from the former international rugby star, with the end coming on the par five 15th. Both players graced the tournament with the quality of their golf throughout, but it’s Eddie who joins the list of winners which goes back to Denis Carbery in 1979.

The ace pairing of Kevin and Deirdre Patton are the Clements Mixed Foursomes Shield winners, with Sean Houston and May McCann the gallant runners-up. The final of the Club Foursomes is scheduled for this Saturday. Michael Naughton and Seamus McDonagh will lock horns with James McGinley and Paul McGinley.

Sean Cafferty eked out a narrow victory in the Ryan Developments competition on Sunday, pipping Robert Farrell of Dublin by virtue of a better back nine. Sean was steady on the way out, amassing 19 points into a headwind. Birdies at both 14 and 15 took the Cavan native to a new level, however, and he eased to 40 points by round’s end. Seamus, the noble sponsor, was in the prizes himself, capturing the back nine with 20 points.

Margaret Barton of Omagh Golf Club was the Wednesday Open winner following her excellent round of 42 points. The 22 handicapper birdied the 3rd and 13th holes in equal nines of 21 points. She had two shots to spare over Mairtín Ó hIarnáin in second.

Connie McGinley enjoyed a two-shot win in the Glenties Golf Society, birdying the 10th, 13th and 16th to race home in 21 points following a fine front nine of 19 points. Kieran Cunnea’s remodelled swing is continuing to impress, taking him on this occasion into the runners-up position.

Our 3TS team of Connor Mallon, Michael Glynn, Goretti Cunningham and Frankie Kennedy played well in the Slieve Russell Ulster qualifier recently, with Connor himself going round in five under par. They missed out by just four points, a poor back nine being blamed on everyone and everything.

Finally, Andrew O’Donnell who is a nephew of Danny McGeehan enjoyed the round of a lifetime two weeks ago when he went head to head with Tiger Woods in the Pro-Am prior to the B.M.W. tournament in the States. The young American plays off 6 handicap and played quite a bit in Narin this past summer. He found Tiger an excellent playing partner and the world number one relaxed him so much that he managed three birdies of his own.

Results:
September 20 Ryan Developments:
1. Sean Cafferty (11) 40 b.o.t.; 2. Robert Farrell (18) 40; 3. John McCole (13) 39; Cat A Kevin Patton (8) 36 b.o.t.; Cat B Gerald McDwyer (12) 37; Cat C Paddy B. Boyle (19) 37 b.o.t.; Nines: Kevin Nicholson (19) 23; Seamus Ryan (17) 20 b.o.t.; Twos: 8 balls; C.S.S. 73

September 16 Wednesday Open:
1. Margaret Barton (22) 42; 2. Mairtín Ó hIarnáin (13) 40; 3. Simon Byrne (14) 38 b.o.t.; 4. John Malone (14) 38 b.o.t.; Twos: 5 balls; C.S.S. 72

September 13 Glenties Golf Society:
1. Connie McGinley (11) 40; 2. Kieran Cunnea (16) 38 b.o.t.; 3. Sean McGinley (16) 38 b.o.t.; Cat A Harold Reid (5) 37; Cat B Vincent Mone (11) 38 b.o.t.; Cat C John Callaghan (23) 35 b.o.t.; Nines: Patrick P. Gallagher (18) 20 b.o.t.; Marty McGing (15) 21; Twos: 6 balls; C.S.S. 73

Fixtures:
September 27: Laughlin Motors Fourball betterball stableford, open

September 30: Wednesday Open, Ladies and gents, Single stableford, 20 euro entry for G.U.I. visitors including green fee;