Old County Pitch & Putt Club

Ladies and Gentlemen the results from last weekends's singles strokes competition are as follows:

Gents Senior

!8 Nett:  Kevin Bermingham (h/c 0)   46 (o.b.9.)

18 Gross:  Tom O'Reilly (h/c +3)  43

Gents Class 2 (-4 to -9)

18 Nett:  Brian Gorman (h/c -9)   42

18 Gross:  Gerry Clarges (h/c -4)   49

Gents Class 3 (-10 to -16)

18 Nett:  Captain Patrick Charles  (h/c -11)  42

18 Gross:  Tom Mulvey (h/c -12)   58

Ladies A (0 to -13)

18 Nett:  Captain Laura Whelan (h/c -10)   47

18 Gross:  Vera Glennon (h/c -7)   56

Ladies B (-14 to -21)

18 Nett:  Kathleen Condron (h/c -14)   50

18 Gross:  Joan Palmer (h/c -14)   69

Congratulations to the prize winners and thank you to the 45 players who returned 103 rounds to the competitions box.

The buffer zone calculated by the PPI handicap system was 47 to 51 Nett. The average nett score for the competition was 49.72 and the average gross score for the competition was 60.08 (also calculated by PPI handicap system).

Next weekends competition is the Anniversary Trophy with extra prizes available and also the Jim Byrne Anniversary Trophy for the overall Champion. Have a great week everyone.

Ladies and Gentlemen we have one qualifier in the Leinster Matchplay Finals this weekend in St Bridget's Pitch and Putt Club Kilcullen.

 We wish George McGreal the very best of luck against Anthony Gibney of Navan in Round 1 tomorrow morning (Saturday 17 September). 

Ladies and Gentlemen the finals of our Ladies Club Handicap Matchplay and our Gents GAA Handicap Matchplay 2022 were played last night (Thursday 15 Sept 2022).

The Ladies final was contested between Pauline Balfe and defending champion Dolores Mason, Dolores receiving 2 shots in each round. Kevin Bermingham, Competitions Secretary, got the match started at 5.40pm and it was Pauline who made a fast start with 1 under par after 5 holes and 3 up. To her credit Dolores hung in there and after 9 holes Pauline remained just the 3 up. However the back 9 saw Pauline continue to surge ahead and after 18 holes Pauline was looking in control and 5 up.

Dolores fought back in the front 9 of the 2nd round bringing the match back to 3 down after 27. Birdies on 11 and 12 and a win on 13 was enough for Pauline to close out the match 6&5. Hard luck Dolores, a brave defence of your title but wasn't to be. Congratulations to Pauline on another super win in 2022 to add to your Club Matchplay and Club Strokeplay titles. What a season. 

The Gents final was contested by 2 left handed players, defending champion Tom Blair and a man in fine form this year, Denis Grace. Both had won some excellent matches on their way to the final. Tom started the stronger winning the first 2 holes to go 2 up and after 9 holes Tom had extended that lead to 3 up with a solid 2 under par front nine, winning 4 holes and losing just the one.

The back 9 of the first round saw Tom extend his lead and with a fantastic pitch to within 4 feet of the 16th (and having a shot) Tom was now 5 up. To his credit Denis won the 17th and a halve on the 18th saw the match turn at 4 up to Tom after 18. Denis dug deep over the front 9 of the 2nd round pitching well and holeing some excellent putts. Even with a hole in one by Tom on the 7th (25th) Denis had got the match back to all square after 27. All to play for going into the back 9.

The home stretch ebbed and flowed Tom going back to 1 up after 10 (28th) and 2 up after 12 (30th) but a win on 13 followed by 2's on 14 and 15 to win 3 holes in a row saw Denis 1 up with 3 to go. Tom used his shot wisely on 16 to tie the match but as the light faded a short pitch into the bunker on 17 by Tom meant that Denis found himself once again 1 up teeing off on 18.

Both players were off the green on 18, Tom chipping first going very close indeed for his 2 and ending with a gimme 3. That meant a 3 would be good enough for Denis to close out the match and a super shot from just off the green saw him almost hole it but was good enough for a pick up 3 and a 1 hole victory.

Hard luck Tom it was a great effort in defending your title, you almost did it. Congratulations Denis on being crowned Gents GAA Handicap Matchplay Champion 2022. A fantastic win and thoroughly deserved. You battled all the way, never giving up.

Folks that's our last weeknight event of 2022. Thank you once again to our Competitions Secretary, Kevin Bermingham and to the grounds volunteers and in particular Joe Canning who was cutting greens and fairways all week. 

Here is a few photos of the lovely girls with their lovely hair and the hairy lads in their not so lovely shorts on a cold Septembers evening!!

Ladies and Gentlemen the results from last nights Ladies Handicap Matchplay and Gents GAA Handicap Matchplay are as follows:

Ladies

S/F 1:  Dolores Mason won against Vera Glennon on 2nd tie hole

S/F 2:  Pauline Balfe won against Frances Keane on the 18th

Gents

S/F 1: Denis Grace won against Dave Redmond 4&3

S/F 2: Tom Blair won against Tom O'Reilly on 3rd tie hole.

Apologies havent a chance to go into the above in detail this morning,time is the enemy today. Suffice to say all the winners were great and the losers were not as great as the winners but they were great enough to reach the semi finals. Well done all.

So the Finals line up for tonight is as follows:

Ladies Final:  Dolores Mason   v  Pauline Balfe   (Dolores receives 2 shots per round)

Gents Final:   Denis Grace  v  Defending Champion Tom Blair  (Tom receives 1 shot per round).

Both finals are over 36 holes. The matches get under way at 5.45pm sharp. If you have some free time come down and support the finalists (never mind watching that Manchester United shower, up against the Sheriff of Tiraspol founded by the Russian generalissimo Alexander Suvorov in 1792). These are our last finals of 2022. Best of luck to the finalists and enjoy your match.