Pitch & Putt IrelandBellewstown In Profile
John Manning looks at the weekend's National O55's venue
Looking ahead to our double National Finals this weekend, John Manning looks at both host courses, Bellewstown (National O55’s) and Ryston in different ways. He starts off by looking at the Co Meath venue.
The fine Bellewstown Pitch and Putt course is situated on the infield of Bellewstown's racecourse, which hosts flat and hurdle racing every April, July, August and September.
Bellewstown hosted their first National event when the Scotch Foursomes (sponsored by Brophy Bros. Builders, Blessington) came to Bellewstown, on Sunday September 15th 2019. Paula Lynch & Kevin Carolan (Oldcastle) mustered a magnificent 99 points in winning the Mixed category by eight from local pairing Marie Brennan & Richard Brennan (Bellewstown).
Best Gross went to Chrissie Byrne & Darren Keogh (Ryston) on 86 points. First Session prize was claimed by Christine McCarthy & Jimmy Scanlon (Tullamore) on 91 while 90 gave Mary Murray & John Murray (Rocklodge) second session laurels.
William Corry & Derick Seery (Bellewstown) were winners of the new Non Mixed section on 98 points, which was just better on the Back 18 than Michael Long & Ian Leech (St. Annes) who also signed for 98 points.
Ian Donnelly & Sean Clerkin (Killineer) produced 90 points to win Best Gross while first and second session victors were Jerry Thompson & Stephen McCabe (Castletown) and Adrian Anglim & Joe Hickey (Hillview) respectively.
Bellewstown players have been successful in championships right round the country.
In 2017 at Cement, Cathy Richardson fashioned a three-round total of 161 to win the National Ladies Intermediate Strokeplay Championship by three strokes from Lucan’s Phil Condron, Lucan. Mairead Manning (St Stephens) was third on 170.
William Sheridan won the 2014 National O55’s Senior Strokeplay championship at Gaeil Colmcille before regaining the trophy at Fermoy two years later.
William Sheridan teamed-up with Catherine McCreevy (Navan) to win the 2012 National Mixed Foursomes on +11 at Ringcommons. The same pair wrapped up the Gross at Riverdale two years later. Ian Farrelly had combined with Skryne’s Kathleen Geraghty to take National Mixed Foursomes Best Gross at Seapoint in 2012.
Marie Brennan was runner-up in the National O55s Junior Grade Strokeplay Championship at Deerpark in 2006.
John Flood scored 151 at Larkspur Park to finish second in the 2006 National Intermediate Strokeplay behind Eoin Shannon (Collins).
Luke Heeney (Bellewstown) scored 99 to win the 2015Leinster Intermediate Strokeplay at St Patrick's, two clear of home club player Kevin Doyle.
Bellewstown provided successive Leinster Mixed Foursomes champions in the mid-noughties. Iris Cunningham & Jim Farrell (+14) triumphed at Lucan in 2003 and were succeeded at Seapoint a year later by Mary Kennedy &Colm Hanley (+12).
The club supplied two Leinster Juvenile Strokeplay (10-13) runners-up in 2014 at MacBride. Katie Rose Heeney finished four strokes behind winner Aoife Mahon (Lucan) while Bryn Evans scored 108 to 106 by Evan Carry (Castletown).
Luke Heeney scored 95 at St. Bridget's to finish 2012 National Juvenile Strokeplay runner-up behind Shane Redmond (Channonrock) who scored 92.
Sean Clerkin reached the 2016 National Juvenile Matchplay Plate final at Royal Meath, losing to Evan Carry (Castletown).
Katie Rose Heeney was crowned 2016 National Girls Matchplay champion at Royal Meath, beating Katelyn Farrell (The Acres) in the final. Katie Rose was also runner-up in that year’s National Girls’ Strokeplay championship at Royal Meath on 121; three strokes shy of Lucan’s Aoife Mahon.
Many Leinster championships and tournaments have been contested at Bellewstown.
The provincial Gents Strokeplay has been contested twice at Bellewstown. Liam Collins (CYMC/LC) scored 135 in 2003 to finish one ahead of Sean Downes (Stackallen) while in 2009 William Sheridan (Bellewstown) scored 147 to 148 by Stephen Murray (Old County).
Intermediate winners were a certain John Ross Crangle (Loughlinstown) in 2003 and Keith Maher (Lucan) in 2009 while junior Champions were Martin Branagan (Bellewstown) and Mark Donnelly (Cement) respectively.
The 2004 Leinster Inter-Club took place at Bellewstown. Stackallen took the Nett while Loughlinstown were Best Gross winners.
The 2016 Leinster Matchplay Championships were played at Bellewstown. Ian Donnelly won an all-Cement Senior Gents final against George Beardsley by 5&4 while Jamie Hogan (Tullamore) overcame Anthony Gibney (Navan) by 11&10 in the Intermediate decider.
Glenn Fortune (St. Patrick's) was a 5&4 victor over Glen Martin (Cement) in Gents Junior as Chrissie Byrne (St. Bridgets) overcame Tracey Redmond (Erry) in a high-powered ladies showdown by 3&2.
Siobhan McDonnell (Lucan) defeated Carol O'Brien (Gaeil Colmcille) by 2&1 in their Intermediate final while 5&4 was Bronagh Darby’s (Ratoath) winning margin over Frances Farrell (Cement) in Ladies Junior.
Tomorrow: We look at previous underage events held in Ryston.
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