Lakewood hosted the annual st Mary’s school Fundraiser over the weekend which was again successful in raising much needed funds for additional curricular activities for the students attending St Mary’s School. This competition has been run annually over the past 25 years since the late Jim O’Shea along with his wife Rene first introduced it as a means of generating much needed funds. Rene is still involved and again this year surpassed herself with procuring vouchers and other bits and bobs for prizes to the winners. The members also donated prizes, bottle of wine, candles, chocolates and in one case a beautiful silver watch. The competition consists of carry over fourballs and single Strokeplay. Officially this competition is the last official competition of the year and another opportunity for members to get the necessary points for either shots back or in some cases cuts to demonstrate that they have beaten the course for another time, a bit like the Cube without the mouth watering prizes.
For the Ladies Valerie O’Leary was in pole position taking the nett with a great score of 3 under while Pat Conway was the gross winner. Betty White took second nett with the same nett score as Valerie but beaten on the back 18. She also had the same gross score as Pat Conway but the back nine in one of her two cards left her down. Gretchen Ahern won the second gross. Darren O’Leary competitive as always took the nett with 91 beating his Father, Mick but Mick was a comfortable gross winner while John Dineen took the second nett. beating Gentleman John and the back 18 and John Ahern won second gross
The fourballs saw some interesting combination including Alan Kelly and Margaret Bowen who took the nett with 36 which saw Alan shooting 8 under but Margaret did her bit when Alan was in trouble saving the par with some mighty chipping and putting. On occasions she was seen venturing into the trees with Mary O’Donovan remarking that she was like Jane and begging the question where was Tarzan. Sunday the socketing duo of Pat Moore and Billy Fitton were drawn together and managed a round without clashing on the same hole. Pat Conway was dovetailing well with John Dineen but was not taking advantage as she was leaving putts short. Paddy Dennehy and Mary Murphy were seem on the podium in the fourball of the heavyweights Bart Millard and Alan Kelly on a number of occasions and later took the overall gross with 48. Helen O’Callaghan was playing well but her putting left a lot to be desired as she did not avail of the opportunities after Valerie secured the par.but was in the winners line up. Billy as always offered advice and then proceeded to miss some close range shots.
John Curtin and Dan shine for second nett while Pat O’Keeffe took second gross with Sheila O’Leary. Catherine O’Keeffe and Betty White had a superb game taking third nett while Mick O’Leary and Pat Conway won third and fourth gross. Lots of prizes to be won and again as it was a rollover there were a number of repeat members with different partners and for the most part everyone went home in happy mode.
Normal fourballs next weekend and a little birdie told me that Betty is planning a Ladies day in Oct with the promise of a good night thrown in.
