COMPETITIONS ROUND-UP

MEN'S SECTION
The first 18 hole competition of 2023 was played over the first weekend in March and scoring was hot as the Winter mats were left in the bags.
There was still placing and tees were up but the course still had to be negotiated. Eighteen of the 158 entrants shot 40pts or better and the best of those was Ciaran Rafferty who shot an amazing 46pts off 23.
After opening with two two-point bogeys, Rafferty parred the third for four points and then picked up three points at each of next six holes with a mixture of pars and bogeys.
That saw him go out in 26pts and while he had three one point returns down the back nine he also managed a four point birdie two at the 17th, a three point par at the 13th and three bogeys at the 11th and 16th.
That gave him a homeward haul of 20pts and a final score of 46pts which was enough to win Division Three but only by two points from Tom Rogers (22) who shot a superb 44pts but will rue a no score six at the par three fifth as he had 24pts down the back nine.
Ciaran Traynor (5) needed countback to take Division 1 after himself and Desmond McKeown (10) shot 41pts while in Division 2 Eamon McEneaney (16) also needed countback to edge out Austin Carroll (16) after both finished on 42pts.
Peter McCaughey (20) shot 42pts on his way to winning Division 3 by one point from John Morrison (17) while Neal MacKell (0) had the best gross score of the weekend with a one under par 37pts that included four birdies.  
Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 – SuperValu Series 18 Hole Singles Stableford - Division 1: Ciaran Traynor (5) 41/23pts, Desmond McKeown (10) 41/19pts. Division 2: Eamon McEneaney (16) 42/25pts, Austin Carroll (16) 42/21pts. Division 3: Peter McCaughey (20) 42pts, John Morrison (17) 41pts. Division 4: Ciaran Rafferty (23) 46pts, Tom Rogers (22) 44pts. Gross Recognition: Neal Mackell (0) 37pts.
 
LADIES SECTION
The first ladies 18 hole singles competition of the year was played on Saturday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 7. The transition to the longer course proved no issue for the ladies, with excellent scoring in all divisions.
The leading scorer was Joan Smith, who won the Division 3 title with a superb 48 points. This was two points clear of Mary Meegan, who, in turn, was a point clear of Teresa O’Mahony.
Anne Murray was the winner of Division 2, carding another great score of 44 points and Judy McDonough took Division 1 honours with 43 points.
Very well done to all prize winners.
Saturday March 4 & Tuesday March 7 - Ladies 18 Hole Stableford - Division 1: Judy McDonough (21) 43pts, Elizabeth McGuinness (20) 41pts, Katie Rowland (14) 40pts. Division 2: Anne Murray (26) 44pts, Theresa Smyth (26) 39pts, Pauline Duffy (25) 38pts. Division 3: Joan Smith (34) 48pts, Mary Meegan (40) 46pts, Teresa O’Mahony (30) 45pts. 9 Hole Competition: Bernadette Kearney 27pts, Rita Kelly 26pts.