Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

06/09/23

Mark Feenan didn’t let a miserable start ruin his day for the plus two golfer fired into action with a hole in one and went on to win the prestigious Mourne Golf Club Scratch Cup.

The annual Scratch Cup and Junior Scratch Cup Strokeplay competitions are played from the Championship blues tees on the famous Royal County Down links. It means players are pushed back to every corner of the property with a course setup more akin to what the professionals will face when the Irish Open rolls into town this time next year.

Feenan could barely have imagined how his day would unfold after starting with a double bogey seven at the first followed by a triple bogey seven at the third. However, moments later his round would take a sensational turn as he climbed the hill to the iconic championship tee at the par three fourth.

At one of the most famous views in golf, Feenan had 234-yards to the pin and pulled a four-iron. What happened next was magical. “I hit a four-iron and it went in the hole! I couldn’t believe it. It’s my first hole in one,” explained a delighted Feenan, who also had a new putter in the bag.

What it also did was ignite his round, for although he made further mistakes with double bogeys at the 15th and 17th, he carded no less than seven birdies in all, three of which came straight after the hole in one at the fourth.

Feenan’s score of one over 72 was good enough to win by three from this scribbler in second (75), with James Maginn third, also signing for a 75. Philip Maguire was fourth on 76, two better than Stephen Barker (78) in fifth, while Eamonn Crawford and Michael McLaughlin rounded out the only other scores in the 70s with their respective 79s.

In the Junior Scratch Cup Gerry Vaughan was the clear winner with his score of 80. Vaughan benefited from a couple of birdies at the second and 16th to win by four from Matthew Murphy (84) in second. Ross Methven (87) secured third with a better back nine than Daniel Brogan who returned the same score. Colm Kearney was fifth after shooting 88.

On a busy competition day on the links, Sean Murray was winner of the regular Stableford competition. Murray won with 40 points, one ahead of Andy Torrens in second, while Michael Hawkins (37) was third. The highlight of Murray’s round came with an eagle three at the 12th.

The previous week there was more great scoring on show as Michael Hazzard went low to win the Harvest Medal. Hazzard carded a fine nett 66 to win by two from Paul Doyle in second. A chasing pack tied on 70 was headed up by Paul Mullan, who claimed third with a better back nine, while Gerry Vaughan and Paddy McComiskey were fourth and fifth respectively. Philip Maguire won the best gross with his level par 71.

Commiserations also to Andy Torrens’ Junior Cowdy team who lost to Warrenpoint recently. Condy’s charges were the last Mourne team standing so congratulations to the entire panel.

-ENDS

Mark Feenan enjoyed a hole in one at the fourth on his way to winning the 2023 Scratch Cup at Mourne Golf Club.