Jason O'Connor reports
Bank Holiday Monday last saw the Kerry County Board Scratch Cup events take place in Tralee headlined by the Paul O’Sullivan Memorial Senior Mens event. Gusty winds made playing conditions all the trickier as it was reflected in the overall scoring on the day.
Tralee’s Jason O’Regan led the way in the Senior Mens event with a 54-hole total of 13 under par as he held on to his 36-hole lead in the end despite Jason Cregan pushing him to within a single stroke in the end in finishing on 12 under par. The Final 18 was won by another Tralee player in Darren Goodall on four under.
There was a dramatic finish in the O’Donovan Perpetual Intermediate Mens meanwhile as it need a total of 59 holes to decide a winner. This came as a result of both Tralee’s Danny O’Leary & Bishopstown’s Colm O’Donnell tying on one under par after 54 holes. The regulation three-hole playoff could not separate them as they were still level after the fourth extra hole. Then at the fifth playoff hole O’Donnell chipped in for birdie as O’Leary could only manage a par in finally settling the matter in the Bishopstown player’s favour. The Last 18 prize here was won by another Cork player in John Fitzgerald from the ESB club on level par.
The O’Mahony Perpetual Junior Mens event gave Tralee another victory on the day as Martin Courtney triumphed with a score of 180, two ahead of club-mate Alan O’Connor on 182 with Deerpark’s Paddy Murphy winning the Last 18 prize on 57. The other trophy on the day was the Ladies one commemorating the 1995 Kerry Ladies Inter-County side that won the National Inter-County that year as Deerpark’s Eileen McCarthy claimed it with a score of 123. Catriona O’Connor of Tralee won the Ladies Nett prize meanwhile with a score of 98 as the final prize on the day- the Junior B Mens prize- was won by Deerpark’s Niall O’Loughlin with 127.
The County Board thanks Tralee for hosting last Monday’s events on top of all the other events they have hosted this year as we commend their hospitality towards all players on the day as well. Special mention must also go to Deerpark’s Connie O’Sullivan Jnr on an impressive performance in finishing second in the Bruff Intermediate Scratch Cup last Sunday.
This weekend sees the National Mens Strokeplay Finals take place in St Annes in Cork as there is plenty of Kerry interest in the three grades. Pitch & Putt Ireland have devised a new format this year where all competitors will play 36 holes on Saturday and a third of the three fields will go forward to play another 36 holes the following day to decide the titles over 72 holes altogether.
The County Board wishes all Kerry players the very best of luck in St Annes this weekend.
