Mullingar Golf Club Notes

Despite the many counter attractions on Sunday last including the extended GAA Championship match in O"Connor Park, Tullamore, there was a fine turn out of members for the men"s singles stableford competition kindly sponsored by Genesis Gift Gallery, Dublin Road.The scoring was out of the top drawer, with some competitors having to contend with the deluge late in the evening; with quite a good number breaking the standard scratch score on the day. The overall standard of scoring was a tribute to the excellent condition of the golf course currently.First prize went to Derek Plunkett, despite what could be termed an indifferent back nine, with an excellent forty one stableford points. Derek won by the minimum from the ever consistent Gerry Mulligan, who in turn pipped third and fourth prize winners, Lorcan Caffrey and Sean Kilroy (who had many a good day in O"Connor Park and indeed one good one or two in Croke Park, himself) by one. The gross prize was won by young David Tynan, while the seniors went to Conor Maguire on a count back. The prize for the best junior was won by Ross Mc Kinley.Full Genesis Gift Gallery Results:Winner: - Derek Plunkett (11) 41 pts.; Runner up: - Gerry Mulligan (7) 40 pts.; Third - Lorcan Caffrey (jnr) 39 pts.; Fourth - Sean Kilroy (13) 39 pts.; Best gross: - David Tynan (6) 32 pts.,; Seniors: - Conor Maguire (19) 38 pts.; Juniors: - Ross McKinley (7) 38 pts.Presentation will take place on Sunday night next in conjunction with the Des Maguire Hairdressing Supplies open mixed event.Saturday"s supplementary competition attracted a fine entry, but unfortunately some of the field got caught in the electric storm. The winning score returned was thirty eight stableford points by Michael Liddy. See notices regarding more of the same on future Saturdays.Juniors" competitionsBoys" attention is drawn to the junior notice board regarding allocated competition times on some Sunday afternoons. If you don"t use it …..!Long HandicapThe gent"s long handicap series recommenced on Thursday last after open week and was generously sponsored by Buckley"s Super Valu (Jimmy Buckley) with the usual very good scoring. The prize winners were as follows: - first - Seamus Clarke (18) 36 points, second- Noel Gibney (18) 36 points and third - Tommy Keating (20) 35 points. Presentation will take place on this Thursday, June 18.In house match play eventsOngoing are the club fourball, club foursomes, mixed foursomes and handicap singles matchplay. Competitors are reminded that the committee, whereas not overly strict on deadlines, are asking that matches be played to the deadlines set so as to have a bit of time at the semi-finals and final stages in the event of poor weather conditions at that time (God forbid).Ladies BranchLancome Hits a High Note.There was high praise all round from the competitors who arrived at Mullingar for the Lancome Open Scotch Foursomes on Tuesday last. Benefiting from the recent dry spell and the springtime preparation by Pat Liddy and his staff, the course has blossomed. Many of the players representing over 15 clubs from the region are already planning return visits. It was the locals, however, who won through on the day with Anne Duffy(19) and Catherine McDonnell (17) combining to produce a great score of 44 points to take the spoils. No stranger to taking the spoils, this is Anne"s second year running to win the coveted Lancome umbrella and a golfing weekend to remember later in the year. The venue for this years National finals normally staged in Killarney has yet to be announced.Breda O"Carroll (24) and Claire Leavy (26) were among the very last group to return their cards late on Tuesday evening. Also shooting a fine score of 44 points, they were pipped by the winners into second place.Anne McGarry (16) and Lucy Tormey (7) tipped around the course without any major drama scoring 31 gross points which may or may not be good enough to fill one of the four gross spots at the National finals. This remains to be seen.Third place went to the experienced pairing of Kathleen Reilly(20) and Rita McCormack (22) with a tidy score of 39 points.Two of our most promising players Brenda Butterly (36) and Attracta Lennox (36) overhauled the challenge from Jane Glover and Ann Bennett to win the front nine with 23 points while the pairing of Teresa Delahunty and Marie Cahill overcame Nora McCormack and Lillie Donoghue to pinch the back nine with 22 points.Overall this years Lancome was a roaring success with all the elements of the weather, the course, the excellent bar and catering and a good old fashioned Mullingar welcome coming up trumps. PresentsWhat a difference a day makes. Some of the players playing in Wednesday"s competition sponsored by Presents could have done with a Lancome umberella. Undeterred by sunshine punctuated by torrential showers a group of players returned a set of scores that must have had Marjorie Donoghue (handicap sec.) out sharpening her shears. Dorothy O"Keeffe, who is in great golfing form lately, carded a magnificent score of 40 points to win and to qualify for the 3T"s competition. Cathy Jameson came second with 39 points and third spot went to Teresa McKenna with 38 points. Siobhan O"Donnell Murphy was over the moon with a fine return of 24 gross points and another shot shaved from her handicap. Singles Results1st Dorothy O"Keeffe (14) 40 pts; 2nd Cathy Jameson (34) 39 pts; Gross S. O"Donnell Murphy (15) 24 gross pts; 3rd Teresa McKenna (24) 38 pts Des Maguire Hairdressing Supplies OpenMixed scotch foursomes on Sunday nextAll is in readiness for the Maguire Hairdressing Supplies open day on Sunday next, with the time sheet fast filling. This format of golf (also known as greensomes) is becoming very popular, being competitive of course without being overly stressful as you can afford an odd break from perfection on the tee.I wish to remind members and visitors that the time sheet is also open for the Bloomfield House Hotel Men"s Open Singles on Sunday, June 28.