Birdie makes the difference for Drake

A four-point birdie on the 15th hole was enough to pull Malcolm Drake away from the field as he claimed victory in the Irwin Lockington Salver over the weekend of May 23 and 24.
Playing off 13, Drake opened with two back-to-back three-point pars before reeling off seven consecutive two-pointers to reach the turn on 20pts.
He began the back nine with two three-point pars at the par five 10th and 12th and had reached 31pts when he walked off the 14th.
His four-point birdie three at the tricky par four 15th moved him to 35pts and he added six more over the final three holes with three consecutive two-pointers to come home in 21pts for an overall score of 41pts.
That was one better than a group of three players who had tied on 40pts with Niall Morgan (27) emerging after countback to take second overall.
John Sharkey (7) has to settle for winning Division 1 with his 40pts one better than Shane Byrne (12) while Michael Begley (19) also had one point to spare over Ollie McDermott (20)
Eoin Murphy took the best gross prize with a level par 36pts that included four birdies, three of which came at par fives.
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 - Irwin Lockington Salver Singles Stableford – Overall: Malcolm Drake (13) 41pts, Niall Morgan (27) 40pts (Last Nine). Division 1: John Sharkey (7) 40pts, Shane Byrne (12) 39pts. Division 2: Tiernan O'Brien (16) 39pts (Last Nine), Sean Matthews (13) 39pts (Last Nine). Division 3: Michael Begley (19) 40pts, Oliver McDermott (20) 39pts (Last Nine). Gross Recognition: Eoin Murphy 36pts.