Eamon has the touch

Eamon has the touch

16 August 2017

EAMON Killen’s putter was red hot as he scorched round St Patricks Golf Club to win Denis Tumelty’s Captain’s Day prize on count back with a marvellous 41 points.

Everything came together for Killen on the day and his consistency was finally rewarded when he edged out the ever-popular Phil Turley into second and Anthony Savage third on 39 points.

Eamon, playing off 17, got away to great start with three solid pars with the only real blip coming at the seventh where a double bogey didn’t upset him too much as he was able to post 21 points for the front nine. 

The back nine was a lesson in keeping the ball in play, using your shots and not taking on silly shots, this allowed him to come home in 20 points and post a fantastic winning score of 41 points.

Saturday was the final day in a weeklong celebration of golf and it was a fitting end to a great week for the captain.

On a bright, sunny morning the first of a full timesheet took to the course to pit their wits against a perfectly manicured course with lightening quick greens; thanks to course superintendent Emmet Curran and his staff. 

On a day when the course looked like it was going to be the winner there are always a few who manage to keep their game and their heads together to post winning scores and so it proved. 

The presentation took place in an absolutely packed clubhouse on Saturday evening with all present having enjoyed the great meal and service provided by Tony Crane and all his staff. 

The Guest Day was held on the Tuesday with the prizegiving held that evening to a packed and enthusiastic club house. The winner of the ladies’ prize was Assunta Morgan with the GUI prize won by James Gilgunn and Non GUI prize won by Richie Harris. 

First up was the nearest to the pins, won by Neil Morgan and Conor Laird, with the hotly contested putting prize won by Josh Kearney with seven under. 

This was followed by a new presentation introduced by the captain. The club person of the year is an acknowledgement of the efforts and support of the club over the year. This was a very emotional award for the captain to present to the recipient Ernie Kenmore, who has, like many others, supported and worked within the club but, this year Ernie went above and beyond and received a standing ovation. 

The juvenile presentations took place next, played for on Wednesday, and there to receive their prizes was the boy winner Conail Gleeson and the girl winner Caitlin Burke. 

Next up was the ladies’ prize from the captain which had a great turnout on Thursday looking to win, but to also take part in the festivities. In what turned out to be a great day for scoring it took two top class scores to come out on top with Anne Teggart posting 39 points to take first prize from the ever-improving Caitlin Burke in second. 

Friday had a shotgun start for the mixed greensomes which, although meant to be a relaxed, fun evening, always brings out the competitive spirit and so it was with the little and large pairing of Ivor Cranston and Colette Fitzsimons winning with 38 points on a last six hole count back from Robin Kilpatrick and Pearl Gick. 

The prizegiving for Captain’s Day was next and began with the junior prize which was won by the very popular Charlie Hutton with 36 points. This was followed by the senior prize won by Alec Macrae with 35 points.

Raymond McCormick won the past captains’ prize 35 points and the council prize was won by Brendan Mullen on 34 points. The gross prize was won by Dale Baker, who shot a very solid round of 70. 

In fourth place was Gregory Deegan who had a tight grip on the competition until the 13th when at one under, proceeded to have four bogeys in a row before a birdie on the 17th steadied the ship to post 39 points. 

Third place was occupied by Savage, who after a solid front nine of 18 points, came to life on the back and completed the inward half in just one over gross and 21 points to post 39 points. 

It was time for the younger lions to step aside and let experience take over and it did in the form of Turley who took second place on 41 points to loose out on a count back of the last three holes. 

Phil’s card was a model of consistency, playing to his strengths of keeping it in play and making few mistakes with 21 points on the front and 20 on the back nine. 

The captain was fulsome in his praise in his speech and paid tribute to a number of people.

“ I would like to thank everybody who assisted with making the week an unforgettable experience,” he said. 

“Thanks to Emmet Curran and staff for the course being in top class condition, Tony Crane and staff for the fantastic food, president Geraldine Gray for overseeing the floral arrangements within the clubhouse. 

“Thanks also to the bar staff for their fantastic help and patience over the week. To club secretary Elaine Carson who kept him right and without whom I would have been lost and to the pro, Robbie Hutton, for his invaluable experience and help over the week,” he added. 

“Finally, on a personal note, thanks to my wife Patricia and family for putting up with the very enjoyable madness that this year has been and to the regulars at the Road Houses that, sadly for them, will soon start seeing me much more regularly.”