Mellows Pitch and Putt ace James McLoughlin continued his winning form with victory at the west of Ireland links' Scratch Cup last weekend.
Taking place on Monday, August 3, the tournament kicked off at 8.30am in beautiful sunshine. After a night of incessant rain, the hardened course was softened up after an extremely dry couple of months. The soft conditions began to show in the scores being posted.
In the Junior category, Sean Mastterson of Mellows, posted two under par which saw him take second prize. In first place with seven under par was Ger Abberton, also of Mellows. Abberton’s score was good enough for him to take his place in the final 18-hole playoff later that day.
In the Intermediate grade, Robbie Ryan of Lakeside, Co. Tipperary, took second place with seven under par, and Mellows man, Allan O’Keeffe, took first prize with a brilliant score of 10 under par. This put O'Keeffe right in the mix for a tilt at the overall title later in the final 18-hole playoff.
It was a respectable turn out in the ladies’ categories, with eight showing up in total, the Ladies Class B was won by Angela Connolly of Eden Pitch and Putt, and the Class A prize was won by veteran Margaret Hogan of Tullamore Pitch and Putt.
In the final 18-hole playoff there was excellent representation by local players as well as some of the greats of the game from around the country.
Kieran Earls of Bruff was on 14 under alongside Mellows' James McLoughlin, who recently won the Leinster Strokeplay with an amazing score of 35 under par. Also in the mix on 13 under par was Michael Farrell of Bruff, St Bridget’s Ian Dillion, and former winner Tommy Hanley. On 12 under was Mellows' Dave O’Connell, former winner of the Scratch Cup and this year's Masters Champion, alongside Denis Hill of Tullamore.
Two players emerged to both finish on 21 under par after 54 holes, former World Cup Winner Kieran Earls, and Leinster Strokeplay Champion James McLoughlin. A three-hole playoff took place with both players taking pars on the tricky first hole. After their tee shots on the second hole, Earls left himself with a difficult chip back on to a downhill green. Impossible to stop the ball, he ran six-feet, leaving the door open for McLoughlin to take advantage. Although he missed the birdie chance, he took a one-shot lead into the final hole as Earls missed his par putt.
Both tee shots on the third and final hole landed at the back of the green. With Earls furthest from the hole, he was to play first and nothing less than a chip in would bring this play-off to a sudden death extra hole. Earls just missed and respectfully marked which allowed McLoughlin to cosy up his putt for the win.
"To win my own club's scratch cup is a huge honour," said McLoughlin, "and to beat probably the greatest player to ever play the game in Kieran Earls makes it even more special".
