Pitch & Putt Ireland2022 National O55 Strokeplay & National U16 Matchplay Update
Updates from Bellewstown and Ryston
For the latest from the National Seniors Strokeplay, click on the link 2022 National Seniors Latest
Round Robin Groups for National U16 Matchplay
National U16 Boys Matchplay 2022 - Challonge
National U16 Girls Matchplay 2022 - Challonge
National Boys Matchplay Shield 2022 - Challonge
A blistering second round of 46 saw Frank Ryan (St. Bridget’s) secure a third win in the National Over 55 Senior Grade Strokeplay championship. The 2007 and 2018 winner signed for an overall score of 96 at Bellewstown and triumphed by four strokes over another former champion Anthony Malone (Lucan).
Malone showed a dramatic improvement on his second tour of the Bellewstown layout. A 47 last round left the 2013 and 2015 victor on 100, which secured second spot by a stroke from Tadgh Harrington (Fairview CY), who scored 51 and 50 for his seven under par aggregate. Larkspur Park’s Jimmy O’Neill tallied 99 off two to take Nett honours.
Reigning National Girls’ Strokeplay holder Sarah Cooney (Seapoint) is the new National Girls’ Matchplay champion. Sarah defeated Sophie Moynihan (Tralee) by 4&3 in the final at Ryston (having lost at the same stage last year at Glenville to Sophie’s sister Ella).
Breda White (Tipperary Hills) won her second National Over 55 Senior Grade Strokeplay title with an authoritative display at Bellewstown. The Premier County star added a brilliant second round of 47 to her 58 opener for a three under par total of 105 and a four stroke win. Geraldine Ward (Portmarnock), who trailed first round leader Margaret Hogan (Tullamore) by a shot after 18 holes, produced eighteens of 57 and 52 in her 109 aggregate.
Former two-time champion Margaret Hogan dipped to a 60 second round but held on for third place on 116. Seapoint’s Noelene Bedford returned the Best Nett score (104) of the event.
Deerpark’s Nathan Cronin lifted the National Boys Matchplay Plate competition with a comprehensive win in the final over Adam Byrne (Ryston). Earlier Nathan Cronin ended the hopes of Poulaphouca’s Dylan Kavanagh in their semi-final while Adam Byrne won his battle of the Short Grass County representatives with Athgarvan’s Joshua O’Keeffe.
In an absorbing high-qulaity National Boys’ Matchplay decider, played in intense heat at Ryston, Joe Franklin (Hillview) won on the final green against Daniel Campbell of the host club. In the morning semi-finals, Joe Franklin beat Gowran’s Michael Holland by 6&5 while Daniel Campbell was a 4&3 winner over Lakeside’s Adam O’Brien.
An excellent second round of 53 gave Ann Bird (Laytown) a winning return of 112 in the National Over 55 Ladies Intermediate Grade Strokeplay championship in the torrid heat at Bellewstown. Ann’s four over par 36 hole aggregate gave the Co. Meath lady (the 2012 Leinster Strokeplay winner) a one stroke victory over runner Suzanne Jordan (Portmarnock) who led after the opening round with 55 and added a 58 over the second eighteen.
2018 champion Mairead O’Toole (St. Bridget’s) compiled rounds of 60 and 58 for 118 to take the 2022 bronze medal while Nett honours were claimed by eleven handicapper Margaret Conneely (Trim) on 102.
An opening round of 62 gave Ann Williams (Ryston) the impetus in the Ladies Junior championship. Ann led by four at that stage from Maria Cranney of the Cloghogue club in Newry and maintained that advantage to the end (130 to 134) as both players carded 68 in Round Two.
Glenville’s Ann Flynn produced a 66 in that second eighteen and the Dublin player’s 66 gave her third place on the tiebreaker from Ann Sweeney (St. Bridget’s), the 2018 champion, after the pair had tied on 137. Nett winner was Stackallen’s Nuala Stafford (21) with 101.
A superb opening round of 51 at sun-splashed Bellewstown paved the way for Stephen Ashcroft (Raffeen Creek) to win the NationalOver 55 Gents Junior Grade Strokeplay championship.
The Ringaskiddy club player went out in 25 and came home in one under by carve out a three stroke advantage at the halfway stage.
A second round 58 gave Stephen Ashcroft a 36-hole aggregate of 109 and that eventually proved to be enough for a three stroke victory over Tom Metcalfe (Rochfortbridge).
Trailing by six shots after eighteen, Tom Metcalfe closed to within three when he produced a second round of 55.
Seapoint's Anthony Butler surged up the field with his closing 54 (the best of the round) for 113, which clinched third place on the second eighteen tiebreaker from Sean Brennan of the host club.
Dutch native Paul Jacobi, who represents the Lough Owel club, scooped the Best Nett award with 95 off his 14 handicap.
Five players were tied for the halfway lead in the Intermediate championship as temperatures continued to soar - Oliver Plunkett (Bellewstown), Michael McGrath (Larkspur Park), Sean McGrath (Lucan), Sean Donoghue (Kilbeggan) and John McDonnell (Seapoint).
In the end, though, it was a player who sat a single stroke outside that halfway logjam that prevailed. Gerard J.J. Quirke (Fermoy) conjured up a majestic second round of 50 to claim the title on four under par 104, three shots clear of a strong field.
Seapoint’s Gerry Breen Senior produced a final round of 52 to clinch second place on 107.
In a tight battle for third spot, the bronze medal went to John Kennedy (McDonagh) who posted 56+53 for 109. That saw the Kildare man pip Ronan Hollywood of Cloghogue (56+53) and one of the five first round leaders John McDonnell on the tiebreaker.
Another of the eighteen hole leaders, home player Oliver Plunkett picked-up Best Nett laurels. Oliver’s 110 return equated to 94 Nett off eight.
The stage is set for some exciting semi-final and final action in the National 16 Boys and Girls Matchplay championships after an energy-sapping Saturday in the heat of Ryston.
Sophie Moynihan of Tralee defeated Sarah Ryan (Tipperary Hills) in the first of the girls semis. In Sunday morning’s decider, Sophie faced Seapoint’s Sarah Cooney, the 2021 runner-up, just as Sophie’s sister , Ella did in last year’s final at Glenville. Sarah Cooney was a 5&4 winner over Beth O’Donoghue (Athgarvan) in the last four at Ryston.
The Boys semi-finals on Sunday morning brought together Leinster Matchplay runner-up Michael Holland (Gowran) and Hillview’s Joe Franklin (who eliminated Ryston’s Jack Courtney, the son of Pitch and Putt legends Marian and Derek, in the last eight). Michael Holland avenged his Leinster Matchplay final loss to clubmate Jack McShane in the first quarter-final at Ryston.
The other semi-final showdown pitted another player with a renowned Pitch and Putt father, Adam O’Brien (the Lakeside player who won the 2021 Plate Event) against local hero Daniel Campbell, who reached the last four of this year’s Leinster Matchplay Plate tournament. Daniel overcame 2021 national championship runner-up Mark Cadden (Oldcastle) in their quarter-final while Adam O’Brien was a 3&2 victor over recent Leinster Matchplay championship semi-finalist Peadar O’Toole (Poulaphuoca).
In the last four of the National Boys Matchplay Plate event, Nathan Cronin (Deerpark), son of Gearoid and first cousin of the Martins, Lorcan and Fintan, faced Dylan Kavanagh of Poulaphouca while in all-Kildare clash, Adam Byrne of the host club took on Joshua O’Keeffe (Athgarvan).
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