Monday 28th May was a night best forgotten in Lakewood as the Ranges took the honours for the start of the Club West Cork Leagues beating Lakewood by 3 shots. Great start for the Ranges but for Lakewood its an uphill battle as they face Inniscarra on Monday next. Best on the night for Lakewood were Mick O’Leary, nett, Pat Conway gross, Frank O’Riordan 2nd nett and Noel McCarthy 2nd gross.
Wednesday saw the final of the combined handicap match-play which saw the veteran pairing of Pat Twomey and PJ Curtin winning the title by beating Betty White and Tim Linehan in a match that saw both Pats dovetailing between pitching, chipping and putting and winning the first four holes on the trot to put the pressure early on. Some exciting play at times but Betty and Tim were facing big odds trying to get on top as the two lads kept the gap to give them a buffer going into the last leg. A very well supported competition which saw a great crowd out on the night with the ladies Captain Catherine O’Keeffe ably assisted by Pat Conway imitating Adam Sandler in the Water Boy ensuring that none of the finalists was going to dehydrate in the sweltering heat by making sure that there were plenty of cocktails of water and H2Q on hand. Gentleman John was present to support the finalists but when asked he said that he was keeping his powder dry and refused to predict the outcome.
Saturday both of Mrs Curtin’s boys were drawn together and with Gentleman’s Johns shots and P J birdies made easy going of the course to win the nett comfortably while George Bolton was blessed with Mick Lehane to take the gross. The course was tough going due to the fast greens and the positioning of the holes which made it extremely difficult to manage a score.
Sunday morning George was back in the winners enclosure with Betty White taking the gross with 4 under while the pairing of the Green-keeper, John Ahern and the Captain, Frank Riordan took the nett with 40.5 on the back nine with neither of them owing up to who decided on the positions of the holes.
Sunday evening after a 27 hole competition which saw the combination of JP Murphy, John Ahern and Josie Twomey take the nett Pat Conway , Paddy Dennehy and John Dineen winning the gross and later saw some of the competitors heading for the bar to quench their thirst with some liquid refreshment.
Monday saw the conclusion of the weekend fourballs with Pat Conway and John Ahern taking second nett with JP Murphy anchoring George Bolton winning the nett and also taking the gross with Eileen Murphy in the morning. Later in the evening session Pat Moore and Josie Twomey took the nett with a respectable 38 while Frank Riordan and John Sullivan went home with the gross with 5 under. Normal fourball next weekend and then its all to play for in the Lakewood Open the week after. All PPUI Registered members are very welcome and enjoy the course with some new features.