On a busy day of interclub competition first from the men’s section was our Barton Cup team who had the home advantage of 3 matches at home and 2 away to Powerscourt. Leading the team out were Dylan Holmes and Dylan Cavazza who established an early lead and were 3 up through 7 holes. Next up were Eddie Lonergan and Shane Power, Powerscourt got off to an early advantage and were 3 up after 8 holes. Our final pair at home were Chris Boylan and Declan Murray who after losing the first hole developed a commanding lead after 9 holes of 3 up.
Away in Powerscourt Alan Keane and Ruadhan Murray were first away and again took an early advantage 4 up through 5 holes and still 4 up through 9 holes. Craig Hazelton and Shane Nolan were up next and after a difficult start were 2 down at the turn.
The Dylan’s quickly put an early point on the board with a 7&5 win. This was soon followed by a 2nd point from Chris and Declan. The clinching point was delivered by Alan and Ruadhan in Powerscourt on the 16th by a margin of 4&2. At this point Eddie and Shane were called in having fought back to dormie 1 down. Craig and Shane had comeback to get ahead of their opposition by 2 holes after 14.
Congratulations to Ray McDonnell and his team. Next up will be Beech Park.
Our Pierce Purcell team took to the course next. There would be 2 matches at home and 2 in Rathfarnham. However Greystones had the home draw in the event of a playoff.
Neil Lawless and Gavan McGirr lead off and in a close affair were 1up through 9. Colm O’Neill and Robert Clarke were next in and in another tight match were also 1up through 9.
Away from home Dermot Barry and Alan Byrne led off and in another tight game were 1up at the turn. Gary O’Connor and Gerry Browner ran into tough opponents and were 5 down after 9 holes.
Rathfarnham turned the first match in Greystones around on the back nine and built up a 2 up lead after 12 and held onto this lead to put a point on the board winning 2 up. Colm and Robert won 10 & 11 to go 3 up and maintained the advantage to win 3&1. Away in Rathfarnham Dermot and Alan put the 2nd point on the board for Greystones with a comfortable 4&3 win. Rathfarnham levelled it up at 2 all as Gary and Gerry were unable to recover on the back 9 and were beaten 7&6.
So off we went to a playoff and Neil and Gavan had been nominated before the start to represent Greystones. As Gavan walked towards the 19th tee he received the wonderful news that he had become a Grandad and maybe this news inspired him as he hit a great shot to the 1st hole and Neil rolled in the birdie putt to progress to the next round. We’ll done Grandad!!
Congratulations to Jim Wood and his team. Next up will be Ballinascorney before the 7th July.
Our final team of the day were our Senior Men’s Interclub team who were up against Coollattin. Again there were 2 matches in each venue with Greystones with the home advantage in case of a playoff.
Macdara Cummins and Michael Whelan were 1st up at home and in a very closely fought match were all square heading down the lane. Paul Creedon and Michael Keating had the advantage at the turn and were 2 up. Away in Coollattin Trevor Phillips and Colm Drew were 2 up after 3 and were still 2 up after 9. In the last game away Conor Lucey and Dermot Whiston were off to a bad start and were 4 down after 5. Conor and Dermot began to turn things around and were 1 down after 9.
Back in Greystones Macdara and Michael were still level after 11 but then stretched away and won 3&1. Paul and Michael quickly made it 2-0 to Greystones with a 3&2 win.
Meanwhile in Coollattin the home side turned around the first match and defeated Trevor and Colm on the 17th. So it’s now 2-1. In the final match Conor and Dermot were still one down after 16 and needed a halved match to go through to the next round. A par on 17 with a shot was enough to go level with a hole to go. After the tee shots on 18 both Dermot and one of the opposition had about 12ft for birdie. Greystones were away by a small margin and the putt was rolled in to guarantee the half point to win 2.5 to 1.5.
Congratulations to Trevor Phillips and Stephen O’Brien and their team.
Next up will be Naas or Blessington Lakes by the 14th July
