The weekly Wednesday Open was won by Kieran Dunne (20) with an impressive score of 40pts while the divisional winners were Richard Newell (3), Eamon McEneaney (15) and Kieran Lally (24).
Wednesday, July 29 – Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Kieran Dunne (20) 43pts. Division 1: Richard Newell (3) 40pts. Division 2: Eamon McEneaney (15) 42pts. Division 3: Kieran Lally (24) 39pts.

Kenneth Cairns leads the way after the first round of Michael O’Sullivan’s Captain’s Prize as 35 players went under par despite the strong winds and dry fairways on the long championship course.
Playing off 13, Cairns shot a nett 64 to lead by one om Tommy Lennon (30) with Sean Tuite (16) a shot further back on 66 nett.
Cairns opened his round with a bogey at the first which was followed by two successive pars. Two more bogeys followed at the fourth and fifth before a burst of three pars before a bogey four at the par three ninth.
That saw him complete the opening nine in 40 gross  nett and after a bogey at the 10th three more pars followed at the 11th, 12th and 13th before a birdie three at the short par four 14th.
A bogey at 15 and another par at the long 16th kept Cairns moving nicely and birdie at the par three 17th got his gross score for the inward nine to level par and a five at the last saw him home in 37 for a gross score of 77 and a nett score of 64.
 Lennon shot a 95 gross for a nett score of 65 and his round was greatly helped by four pars at the first, fourth, fifth and eighth as he went out in 44 gross and came home in 51 gross.
Emmet McCabe Savage has been in good form in recent weeks and it showed again as he shot the best gross score of the first round with a two over par 74 that included three birdies at the second, sixth, seventh and sixteenth as well as 12 pars. What was remarkable about his round was that there were no single or double bogeys only two gut-wrenching tripe bogeys at the par three ninth and par four 11th.
180 players qualified for the second round with the cut mark falling on 78 nett and the top 30 have been handed designated starting times for this Sunday’s final round.  

CAPTAIN'S PRIZE LEADERBOARD (after Round 1)
64 – Kenneth Cairns (13)
65 – Tommy Lennon (30)
66 – Sean Tuite (16)
67 - ColmMcCourt (37), Trevor Singleton (28), Dennis Cunningham (13), Brian McDonnell (15).
68 – Alan Joynt (14), Robert Lynch (14), Noel McGuinness (24) 68, Edward Lawrence (18).
69 – Chris Connolly (14), Oliver McDermott (20), Brendan McDonnell (17).
70 – Paul O'Reilly (19), Noel Sweeney (33), Nicholas MacShane (12), John Mulligan (14),  Terry McCann (32), David Smyth (15), Brendan Tinnelly (20), Gareth Halpin (13), Emmet McCabe-Savage (4), Patrick Donaghy (18), Flyn Kiernan (11), George Rogers (30).
71 – Austin Shaw (10), Jack Reid (11), Clem Walshe (4), Vincent Jackson (17), Daragh Farrelly (18), Ciaran Dunne (14), Turlach King (11), Kenneth Lynch (18), Brendan McElarney (37).

The Barton Cup team are into the Leinster semi-finals after a brilliant 3.5 to 1.5 victory over St Anne’s. There were wins for Conall Murdock & Adrian Kenny, Maurice Soraghan & Conor Murray and Dennis Cunningham & JP Casey. Dundalk will now play Old Conna in the semi-final.
The Junior Cup team’s bid to reach a third Leinster North final in five years came up short when they lost 3-2. There were wins for Conor Murphy and Eoghan McKenna but Clem Walshe, Ciaran Traynor and Mario Gatzambide were unable to get the additional point needed for victory. Clontarf now progress to the final which will be in Dundalk on August 15.

Michael Flynn, playing off 12, won the Wednesday Open with a super round of 40pts that included a brilliant back nine that saw him par eight of the homeward holes. He had covered the front nine in 17pts thanks to a four-point birdie three at the third and a three -point par at the first. Flynn began the back nine with three successive three-point pars and had two more at the 16th and 18th as he came home in 23pts for his 40pts total.
A visitor from Spa Golf Club in County Down, EJ McConnell (24) also shot 40pts but was edged out by that back nine performance from Flynn although he did have the consolation of winning Division 3.
Joe McGeown (13) with 38pts won Division 1 while Mark Coan (22) won Division 2 with the same total. Gross Recognition went to Joseph Laverty whose 34pts was booked ended by birdies at the opening and closing holes as well the sixth and 12th.
Wednesday, July 22 - Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Michael Flynn (12) 40pts (Last Nine). Division 1: Joe McGeown (13) 38pts. Division 2: Mark Coan (22) 38pts. Division 3: E J McConnell (24, Spa) 40pts. Gross Recognition: Joseph Laverty 34pts (Last Nine)
 

​Frank Keyes was a popular winner of the Jubilee Cup as he rolled back the years and took Route 66 to win by one shot Neil O’Mara (23).
Playing off 31 he shot 97 gross for a nett 67 that included excellent pars at the par five seventh, the par three 17th and the par four 18th as he went out in 49 gross and came home in 48 gross.
Those two pars on the final two holes proved vital for Keyes in edging out O’Mara for the top prize as O’Mara finished with two bogeys after a round that included four pars and a birdie four at the sixth as the 23 handicapper went around in 90 gross for a nett 67.
O’Mara took Division 3 by two shots from Gerry Byrne (22) while Ciaran Sheridan (7) took Division 1 on countback from Niall Martin (7) after both had shot 69 gross.
Ciaran Daly (14) won Division 2 with 68 nett which was one better than Declan Muckian (15) while the gross prize went to Caolan Rafferty whose four under par round of 68 featured four successive birdies from the 12th to 15th as well as birdies at the seventh and the 18th where he drove the final green from the tee.
The Jubilee Cup run in conjunction with the 3Ts Charity event and thanks are extended to all the players who entered.
Sunday, July 18 and 19 – Jubilee Cup & 3Ts – Overall: Francis G Keyes (31) 66. Division1: Ciaran Sheridan (7) 69 (Last Nine), Niall Martin (7) 69. Division 2: Ciaran Daly (14) 68, Declan Muckian (15) 69. Division 3: Neil O'Mara (23) 67, Gerry Byrne (22) 69. Gross3 Prize: Caolan Rafferty 68.

The Wednesday Open was won by Damian English (12) with a score of 44pts that was compiled with the help of a four-point birdie at the 10th and 14 pars.  
Gregory McCaughey (8) won Division 1 with 40pts while Pat O’Hanlon (19) with 37pts won Division 2 and Patrick Boland (32) with 41pts was the Division 3 winner.
Emmet McCabe Savage took his second gross recognition of the week with 34pts which included a second successive eagle at the 10th as well as birdies at the 12th and 15th and nine pars.
Wednesday, July 15 - Open Singles Stableford – Overall: Damian English 44 pts (12). Division 1: Gregory McCaughey (8) 40pts. Division 2: Pat O'Hanlon (19) 37pts. Division 3: Patrick Boland (32) 41pts. Gross Recognition: Emmet McCabe Savage 34pts.

Paolo Codiano (12) won the Singles Stableford competition played on Sunday, July 12 with a super score of 45pts which was four better than the score of runner-up Danny O’Brien (29).
Three pars and a birdie saw him amass 14pts over the opening six holes with the three-point birdie coming at the index 17 par five sixth hole. He bettered that over the next six holes with a haul of 15pts thanks to a four-point birdie at the par five 10th and two three-point pars to reach 32pts with six holes to go.
The accelerator remained firmly to the floor all the way to the finish line as he racked up 16pts thanks to five pars and a four-point birdie three at the difficult par four 16th.
Emmet McCabe (4) recorded the best gross score of 35pts with a round that included an eagle three at the par five 10th and birdies at the seventh, ninth, and 12th.  He also won Division 1 with 39pts from Paul Murphy (3).
Division 2 was won by Richard Smyth (15) who shot 40pts, one better than Tommy Renaghan (17) while Paul Matthews (37) shot 41pts to win Division 3 by one point from Noel McGuinness (24).
Sunday, July 12 – Singles Stableford – Overall: Paolo Cordiano (12) 45pts, Danny O'Brien (29) 41pts. Division 1: Emmet McCabe-Savage (4) 39pts, Paul Murphy (3) 38pts. Division 2: Richard Smyth (15) 40pts, Tommy Renaghan (17) 39pts (Last Nine). Division 3: Paul Matthews (37) 41pts, Noel McGuinness (24) 40pts. Gross Recognition: Emmet McCabe Savage 35pts.

​Caolan Rafferty added another championship to his impressive golfing CV when he was part of the Ireland team that won the European Amateur Team Championship last week in Estonia. It was the first time since 2008 that Ireland had claimed the continental crown.
The Dundalk golfer was joined on the Ireland team by Baltray’s Stuart Grehan and Gavin Tiernan as the two Louth golf clubs supplied three of the six man Irish team.
“It is an unbelievable feeling,” said Rafferty. “Winning as a team is always that little sweeter and especially when it is an event like the European Teams.”
What made it even more remarkable was that Ireland named the same team that had finished fourth in Killarney last year and Rafferty felt that bond and experience helped this year.
“We are a good bunch. We got bad breaks last year in the tight matches and felt we could have won that too. Going into this year we were very confident especially with all the lads playing well.”
The 16 teams played a two round qualifying competition before being split into two groups of eight for the matchplay stages with the top eight playing off for the European title.
At the end of the first round Ireland found themselves in eighth place and in danger of not making the top flight. Their concern was compounded by a weather report according to Rafferty.
“We all knew we need to do better in the second round. We set a goal to finish in the top because there was word that the competition could be reduced due to bad weather and instead of a top eight it would be a top four so we had a little extra motivation to get there.”
Rafferty, who had shot 75 in the opening round, went six shots better in the second round with a three under par 69 as Ireland jumped four places to fourth behind Finland, Netherlands and France.
Their reward was a match against England in the quarter-final and Ireland needed no motivation having lost to the English in bronze medal match at last year’s Championship in Killarney.
Rafferty partnered Malone’s Matt McClean in the opening foursomes match and they had an impressive 3&2 win over Sebastian Cave and Lewy Hayward as Ireland beat England 3.5 to 1.5 to reach the last four for the second successive year.
“Matt is a great foursomes partner. Our games are very similar and we play quite a bit of golf together. It’s always nice to get one over the old enemy,” said Rafferty.
They faced holders Italy for a place in the final and while Rafferty and McClean were beaten by one hole by Francesco Petrangeli and Biagio Andrea Gagliardi, Ireland ran out 4-3 winners to book a place in the final against host Estonia.
“We had a cracking match against the Italians. We were five under for the round and had only one bogey so to end up being beaten after that you just have to take your hat off and congratulate the Italian lads. It was great to get over the line in the singles in the afternoon as Italy are always a tough opponent. Beating them filled us with a lot of confidence even though we all believed we would win this week,” said Rafferty.
Playing the hosts for a European title was never going to be easy and the local crowd ensured it was an intimidating atmosphere but the Irish team drew on their vast experience with Rafferty and McClean leading from the front as they beat Kevin Christopher Jegers and Markus Varjun 4&3 to get Ireland’s first point on the board.
“We were extremely solid again and didn’t give anything away at all. We are a dream foursomes pairing,” said Rafferty who was then selected for the afternoon singles where he faced Mattius Varjun.
Ireland were leading 3-2 as the matches involving Rafferty and Thomas Higgins headed into sudden death and it went to 3-3 went Rafferty lost on second tie hole.
“A poor tee shot on the 20th put me under pressure and I missed a par putt from 16 feet. Unfortunately that gave him the chance to win and it took it from 15 feet to win. I found it almost impossible to watch Tom’s match as I had just lost and felt I had lost us the tournament. Tom also hit it into the water on the 20th and we all felt the game was over but he held a great putt for par and shifted all the pressure back onto the Estonian which in the end proved too much.”
That win by Higgins gave Ireland a 4-3 win and their first European title since 2008 when Shane Lowry was part of a team that retained a title won the previous year by an Ireland team containing Rory McIlroy.
ENDS                 

A birdie for four points on the last hole saw Eddie McArdle (17) win the Wednesday Open Singles Stableford competition by one point from Neal McKell (3).
Five three point pars on the front nine at the first, second, sixth, seventh and ninth helped McArdle to reach 23pts by the turn and set the platform for his victory. Three-pointers weren’t as plentiful down the back nine but he did manage to par the 11th and 15th before that vital birdie three at the par four 18th.
He came home in 19pts for an overall total of 42pts and edged out MacKell who had nines of 22pts and 19pts for a total of 41pts.
MacKell’s 41pts included five birdies at the fourth, seventh, ninth, 10th and 12th and his gross score of two under par 38pts was the best of the day.   
MacKell also won Division 1 while Ross Kehoe (12) shot 40pts to win Division 2 and Tony Hanna (25) took Division 3 with 38pts.
Wednesday, July 8 - Open Singles Stableford – Eddie McArdle (17) 42pts. Division 1: Neal Mackell (3) 41pts. Division 2: Ross Kehoe (12) 40pts. Division 3: Tony Hanna (25) 38pts. Gross Recognition Neal Mackell 38pts.

Conall O’Callaghan (18) and Sam Malone (7) combined to win the Open Fourball Betterball as Open Week came to an end on Sunday, July 5.
They shot 49pts to beat Paolo Cordiano and Niall Martin by two points with Conor Marron and Stephen Lynch a further two points back in third place after shooting 45pts.
O’Callaghan and Malone had 12 holes where they scored three points  with O’Callaghan, the high handicapper, contributing six of them.
After scrambling for one point at the first they got into the groove on third with their first three pointer courtesy of a par from O’Callaghan and Malone got his first three pointer of the day with a par at the next.
Four successive three pointers from the sixth saw them turn in 23pts and they began the back nine with another three pointer from Malone at the 10th.
More three pointers followed at the 12th,  14th and 15th before Malone birdied the long par four 16th for four points. O’Callaghan then stepped up with two closing three point pars at 17 and 18 as they came home in 26pts for an overall total of 49pts.
A birdie for four points on the last hole saw Eddie McArdle (17) win the Wednesday Open Singles Stableford competition by one point from Neal McKell (3).
Sunday, July 5 – Gallagher Insurance Open Fourball Betterball Stableford - Conall O’Callaghan & Sam Malone 49pts, Paolo Cordiano & Niall Martin 47pts, Conor Marron & Stephen Lynch 45pts.
Sunday, July 5 – Gallagher Insurance Open Mixed Scotch Foursomes - Anne & Gerry Murray (18) 65, Nora & Pat Donaghy (27) 68, Katie Rowland & James Murphy (10) 68.