MOURNE GOLF CLUB NEWS

May 5, 2025

By Conor Keenan

MAY MEDAL SPONSOR

A stellar back nine from Declan Burns meant he got his hands on the Drumillen sponsored May Medal last Sunday, pipping Niall Doran on a back nine countback as the leading pair tied with net 67s.

It was an ‘ordinary’ front nine for Burns as he found himself five-over through the opening three holes but he soon steadied the ship with pars at four, seven and eight. However, a second triple bogey of the day on nine did little to halt his momentum as he made two pars in quick succession from the 10th.

An excellent par on the challenging par three 14th was followed by a deflating double bogey on one of the hardest holes on the course. Nevertheless, Burns carded a crucial birdie on 16 to bounce back and finished strongly with a good par on 18 to land the May Medal. He also won Division 3 by a remarkable seven strokes.

Niall Doran, who is poised to play another important role on the Mourne Senior Cup team that heads to Royal Belfast for the qualifiers next Sunday, had to settle for second overall, but also won Division 1. Doran’s round contained five birdies in all on a testing day from the white medal tees.

The first of Doran’s birdies came on the par four second before another followed on the difficult fifth. A two on the par three seventh meant the 25-year-old had three birdies in his opening seven holes, but a double bogey on the ninth no doubt meant there was a sour taste in his mouth as he headed to the back nine.

Doran refocused once more to play flawless golf. It was a blemish-free nine holes that included seven pars and birdies on 12 and 17, the latter pushing Doran into the red with one hole to go.

Sean O’Higgins was his nearest challenger in division one, bouncing back after a poor start that saw him five over par through the first four holes. O’Higgins impressively steadied the ship, playing the remaining 14 holes in just one over par. he made birdie on six before a bogey on nine then bounced back after a deflating double bogey on 10 by carding six back nine pars and a birdie at 13.

Daniel Cunningham rounded off the top three, another young player coming into form as the season hits high gear. Like O’Higgins, Cunningham had a rough start and found himself five-over-par after just three holes. Birdies at six, seven and the long par four 15th showed resilience as he carded a gross round of 80, for a nett 71.

Two front nine birdies from Patrick McComiskey set him on his way to taking the Division Two title thanks to his nett 69, defeating Eugene Valentine by a single stroke.

As always, the Mourne Golf Club thanks all of our sponsors throughout the season, with particular thanks to Eugene O’Boyle, Paul Byrne and all the team at Drumillen Management for their sponsorship of the May Medal and Smyths Centra who put up the gross prizes in the season’s medals.

We also thank Denis and Trevor Orr for providing excellent food both on Thursday evenings and the Sunday carvery for our members, families and visitors. Food will continue to be available on competitions days throughout the season.