Captain's Prize format proves to be very popular

Over the week-end there was a massive turnout of members for the Captain's (Mr Joe Bracken) prize competition, first round, after which the leading ninety six players go forward to next Sunday carrying their scores. This is a change to the format used for years within our club for the captain's prize, which with the exception of a couple of brief spells, was match play after a qualifying round.The enormous turnout was a direct tribute to the captain, Joe and his massive contribution to the branch and club in general over the past good number of years. Over the week-end the man himself was on hand before the first drive was hit on Saturday at lunch time and after the last ball was putted out late on Sunday evening, to greet every competitor and listen attentively and patiently to all the hard luck stories and they were numerous, I can tell you; from those who did not make the cut, and indeed from many of those who did.One competitor narrowly missed the qualifying mark, having taken a ten on the short par three twelfth. People have things happen to them in this annual competition that would never happen to them in the ordinary course of a year's play. There were numerous other instances of things going awry, but written permission would have to be obtained to publish the details.The playing conditions could best be described as outstanding (and its seldom if ever, this scribe uses this term in reference to our golf course) after the recent broken weather over the past number of weeks and added to the huge knowledge and effort of our green staff. At this juncture I'd also like to comment on and compliment our 'meithil' who turned out to do divots, etc. a couple of Thursdays recently. The course was playing its full length, excepting the 'pro tee' at the signature second hole and number eleven and with the seasonal south westerly breeze wind blowing very softly, conditions were fair, but not too easy.The temperature over both days was akin to Continental conditions, with a premium on the necessity for a high factor sun block and lashings of water, which was amply supplied by our captain, for the mid to high twenties Celsius heat. After the greens were ironed on Saturday before lunch time, I'm told their speed was twelve or perhaps more, particularly down wind.It was the Captain's day and the very good conditions were the same for everyone; some were there to compete, while others were there just because it was the day that was in it. When the three hundred and twenty something scores were computed it was discovered that only six competitors had broken the seventy nett barriers - testament to the testing course as presented.The lowest returns of the week end were two sixty sevens from Jack Cooney (14) and Tom Maguire (11). Larry Mahedy (15) and Jimmy Lynch (19) handed in a pair of sixty eights. Ted Eighan (4) and Damien Daly (14) were the only others to break the seventy nett with sixty nines. There are eleven players starting from seventy nett (see below) and are not to be discounted nor is the large bundle immediately above them on the scoreboard. It is anticipated that the prize presentation will be held eight thirty on Sunday evening.Compliments to the branch committees for their excellent organisation of this major in house event and to the management and all staff, both indoor and out for their massive contribution to this event as always.The time sheet for the second round is posted on the club web site with the first three balls hitting off sometime before eleven o'clock and the leaders on at three thirty in the afternoon. Prior to the main event the top twenty four junior from a prequalifying round will play their captain's final stoke play round, details of which is posted on the notice boards.Captain's prize leading scorers:67 J. Cooney (14), T. Maguire (11).68 L. Mahedy (15), L. Lynch (19).69 T.Eighan (4), D.Daly (14).70 B. Thornton (14), P. Smyth (14), A. Tomkins (8), M. Keane (13), F. McKeon (15), M. Liddy (12), M. Donnellan (16), M. McCarthy (12), D. Tyrrell (9), D. Timlin (12), E. Lambden (10).