Balla
It was a very busy week in Balla Golf Club at the turn of the month with the Balla Open Classic taking place over the course of seven days. The competition was won by the team of G Kilgallon, C Henry, K O’Connor, and M Flanagan on a score of 118. The men’s team prize went to D Dempsey, D Roche, L Timmiss and P McDonnell, with M Gormally, M Flanagan, G Kilgallon, and C McNulty taking the ladies’ prize. The visitors prize was won by the foursome of M Walsh, P Tawse, M Sullivan, and N Moran. There were also holes in one from Kevin Bourke on the seventh and Geraldine O’Malley on the 13th.
The stableford competition was won by Paraic Cuffe, with Kathleen Minogue taking the ladies’ prize. This weekend is Captain’s Weekend in the club. A scramble for juvenile members will take place at 3pm today Friday (August 17 ), with the ladies playing tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, August 18 ), with the men’s competition taking place on Sunday.
Ballina
Last weekend’s 18 hole single stableford competition sponsored by the Loft Bar, was won by Ronnie Cawley on 43pts, with John Bourke coming second, Paul McLoughlin third, and Joe Cox fourth.
In the ladies’ Saturday stableford sponsored by the Ice House, Siobhan Leonard was the winner with Claire Cooke second and Josephine O’Hara third. The Sunday competition sponsored by Hollister was won by Marie Forde with Frances Burke coming home in second place and Elaine O’Hara and Siobhan Leonard making up the placed finishers.
Ballinrobe
After round one of the Captain’s Prize, John C Burke is out in front on a score of 68, with Stephen Conroy in second and Michael McManamon in third.
Helen Ryan was the winner of the ladies’ competition with a score of 39pts, she finished three points in front of Aine Melville in second place with Martina Cummins coming third. The Friday competition was won by Matthew Burke on 42pts, with Sean Forde coming second, Ned Kinnane third, and Willie Culkeen fourth.
Ballyhaunis
David Burke was the winner of the Dillon Leetch memorial competition last weekend with a score of 64 nett, he finished in front of Paul Walsh in second place, and Tom Moran who won the gross prize. The ladies’ competition was won by Norrie Dillon with Kung Fanning finishing second.
Castlebar
Stauntons celebrated 60 years in business by sponsoring this weekend's competition at Castlebar Golf Club. It was fitting that the winner was Seamus Cuffe, whose family earlier this year also celebrated their 50 years in business.
Seamus had a fantastic score of 45pts , followed home in second place by Paul Kilcourse with 41pts and Noel O'Malley was third with 40pts. Ken Irwin won the Gross with 35 points. The best junior was Ryan O'Malley. Henry Horkan's Captain's Prize starts on the weekend of August 25 and 26 and timesheet is up in the clubhouse.
Maeve Nevin continued her good form by winning the Stauntons 18 hole stableford competition with 36pts on a countback from Betty Gannon, also on 36pts. Carmel Connaughton was third on 35pts and Cora Mulroy was fourth also on 35 points.
Mulranny
Declan Nevin used all of his experience to shoot 63 at Mulranny’s president day on Sunday. He had one shot to spare over fellow Newport man and near neighbour, Richard Keane, to take the win. Played in glorious sunshine, the scoring matched the conditions with 15 golfers equalling standard scratch or better. Fergus Rothwell won the gross with a 72. In form John McVie took third place with a 65, the same score as John Joyce, who had to settle for fourth.
In his acceptance speech, Nevin said that it was an honour to win Neal O’Donnell’s prize. O’Donnell had given outstanding service to the club, both as president for two years, and past captained active committee member for many years.
The finalists are now known in the club’s match play four-ball betterball. Alexis Loftus and Owen Gallagher qualified by beating Mick O’Donnell and Gabriel Dockery. They will meet Dwayne Flynn and Noel O’Malley, who defeated Paddy Chambers and Richard Keane, on the 17th. On Friday August 24 and Saturday 25, Mulranny Golf Club is hosting a fund-raising AM. The proceeds will be shared between Mayo Cancer Care (Rock House, Castlebar ) and Mulranny Golf Club. Teams of four cost €100 and a time sheet will operate. Contact 098-36262 to enter a team.
