Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

08/06/2022

Jack Keenan was the hero of the hour last Sunday as Mourne Golf Club more interclub team success with the former Juvenile Captain holding his nerve to win his Junior Cup match in extra holes.

Keenan has enjoyed a great 2022 showing great form in both individual competitions and team matches. Last Sunday’s effort has been the highlight to date when the young golfer was forced into sudden death extra holes in the deciding match against Helen’s Bay.

Keenan had struggled to make headway in his match. However, he won the 15th and 16th to go two-up, but then lost the 17th and 18th in a roller-coaster evening. With the overall match poised at 2-2, the outcome rested on Keenan’s shoulders as he and his opponent went down the par five first hole at Royal County Down. Both players were short of the green in two before Keenan played his approach to set up a timely birdie, while his opponent could only make par.

As the light began to fade, there was delight all round as Keenen had secured the all-important win. Earlier in the day Paul Boden and Greg Smyth travelled to Helen’s Bay but lost their matches, while Peter Murphy won his match 6&5 while Connor Pimm battled back to win by one-hole at Newcastle.

Captain John Murphy and his charges now take on Kilkeel in the next round.

There was also team success for Michael Keane’s All-Ireland Fourball side who defeated Belfast side Belvoir Park and will now take on Clones in the next round.

All the home matches at Newcastle won; Mark Guinness and Bertie McCammon won 2up, Brendan Forde and Shaun McKillough won 3&2, while Gerard Milligan and Colm Brennan were convincing 7&5 winners.

In the away ties, Darryl Northrop and Martin Cromie were all-square when they were called in, while Tommy Ireland and Martin Mallett were two-up when they were called in.

Another great week for the Mourne teams.

Elsewhere, Billy Newsam and Jimmy McIIlmurray were the runaway winners of last Sunday’s McVeigh Greensomes on the Championship Links. The pair teamed up to record a sensational score of nett 62 to win by two from Colm Brown and John D Murray (64) in second. Father and son pairing of Adrian and Rory O’Hare were third with 65, while Peter Murphy and Paul Gallagher won the best gross with a 72.

Commiserations to Mark Feenan who was at Co Louth (Baltray) Golf Club last week competing in Golf Ireland’s East of Ireland Championship. The plus-two handicapper made a decent start but ultimately missed the cut.

-ENDS