2024 Leinster Ladies & Gents Strokeplay Championship Review

By Declan Sheedy

 

Ladies

The beautiful Portmarnock links course played host to all three of the ladies championships last weekend and delivered an excellent championship with all 3 championships played over 36 hole format.

In the Senior championship, pre-tournament favourite Ger Ward of the host club lived up to the favourite’s tag with a commanding performance to take the Senior title.  A brilliant opening round of 49 laid down the challenge to the rest and by the time all players commenced their second round, Ger held a four shot lead from her nearest challenger Tracey Redmond (Lucan), a lead Ger would not relinquish.  A steady second round of 54 gave Ger the clubhouse lead of 5 under and despite some good scoring in the chasing pack they would not catch Ger and she would run out a three shot winner.  Ryston’ s duo Marian Courtney and Tara Dillon both shot second rounds of 52 which was good enough to get both ladies into the medals with Marian taking the runner up spot on 2 under (54-52) and Tara claiming the bronze on 1 under (55-22) on a count back from Tracey Redmond (53-54). There was further joy in the afternoon for the Portmarnock club as Cynthia Fowler from the host club lifted the Intermediate title.  Rounds of 57 and 60, gave her a total of 9 over and a one shot victoryover Mc’Donagh’s Marian Gannon Kelly (60-58) and her clubmate Irene Reid (58-60), with Marian taking the runner ups place on the best back 18.  Like Ger in the Seniors, Cynthia led the field after 18 and held on over the second 18 holes to add the second title of the day for the host club.Atharvan’sChristina Foley prevented a clean sweep for the Portmarnock club as she won the Junior title with rounds of 59 and 61 and a 12 over total, a comfortable 5 shots ahead of the runner up Mary Lynch of Portmarnock (63-62) on 17 over with Bernadette Kennedy of Portmarnock in third on 19 over (63-64).  The Junior championship saw a large contingent from the host club compete and it is hoped to see such strong numbers play across all grades long into the future.

Congratulation to Ger, Cynthia and Christina on their victory and to the host club Portmarnock.

Gents

Irene was the host this years Leinster Gents championships and like the ladies event the host club did not disappoint in delivering an excellent course and championship. 

On Saturday there was very small field of only 5 took part in the Junior B championship this year which played over 36 holes saw victory go to Ashgrove’s Stuart Poole with a total score of 15 over (62-61).  Stuart would claim the title by three shots from Patrick O’Neill of Bagnelstown on 18 over (66-60) with Ciaran McCormack from Loughlinstown in third on 19 over (67-60)

Pat McDermott of Lucan was a clear winner in the Intermediate championship with consistency personified post three rounds of 48 to finish on 18 under for 54 holes.  His nearest challenger came in the form of Robert McCabe from Royal Meath who shot rounds of (46-53-51) and a final total of 12 under, one shot better than Lucan’s Aaron Brazil on 11 under (50-51-50) good enough to take the bronze.  Pat held a three shot lead after the 36 holes and a further excellent round of 48 over the final 18 ensured he didn’t give the chasers the opportunity to get close and duly sealed victory.

Sunday saw the Junior A and Senior gents take to the tee.  First off was the Junior A in what saw only a shot separate the winner and runner up both of whom fought it out in the same group over the final 18.  Luke Mannering of Erry was seeking to complete the Leinster Junior double having won the matchplay earlier in the summer and his opening 36 holes of 4 under (53-51) put his three shots clear of his nearest rival Sean Kelly from Bagnelstown (56-51) going into the final 18.  Next best after 36 holes was Paul Donohoe of Loughlinstown on 2 over (59-51) where he and the others would need a very low final 18 to catch the 36 hole leader.  In the final 18 it would become a head to head battle between Luke and Sean as the other challengers could not get close enough.  In the end it would be Luke who would win the head to head by returning a round of 55 versus a 53 from Sean to close out an overall one shot victory on 3 under par.  Sean Kelly took runner up spot on 2 under while Stephen Needham of Lucan would move up the leaderboard over the course of the final round to take third spot on one over par (54-56-53).

A late finish after a long day saw Old County’s Stephen Murray lift the Senior title with a brilliant display and scoring across the 54 holes.  Stephen stamped his authority on the championship with an outstanding second round score of 40 (14 under) for a combined 36 total of 18 under.  This score would leave Stephen with a 5 shot lead heading into the final 18 ahead of JR Crangle from Loughlinstown (49-46), George McGreal of Old County (47-48) and Paul Nolan from Navan (47-48) the nearest chasers all on 13 under.  In the final 18, Stephen continued his excellent form and scoring and never relinquished the lead he had built up.  An excellent final round of 46 saw Stephen finish on 26 under par to secure victory by 5 shots from the rest.  St.  Bridget’s Ian Dillon shot an excellent 44 in the final 18 to propel him to runner up spot on 21 under (51-46-44) while JR Crangle would pick up the bronze closing out his championship on a final score of 20 under (49-46-47).  A deserving winner, Stephen will now look forward to the upcoming Irish Open in Ryston and will be one to watch for at the National Strokeplay in Glenville next month.

Congratulations to Stephen, Luke, Pat and Stuart on their wins and to Irene for being excellent hosts.

 

 

 

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