Persistence paid off for Maurice Ebbs at Arklow golf club in mid-September when he crowned years of high level effort to take his first ever An Post champion golfer award.  “It took me 23 years of trying to win this,” he told the presentation dinner after he had come through in one of the tightest finishes to the championship since its inauguration at Co Sligo golf club in 1993.

The DMC six-handicapper edged out Brian Murphy from Wicklow and Cormack Hickey from Kilkenny on the back nine after all three had returned scores of 27 gross points over the south Wicklow links.

Ebbs, who was runner up to Seamie Breen at Mullingar in 2015, had a round which featured ten pars and seven bogeys before failing to score on the par 5 18^th, where a tricky front pin position was challenging.

For Murphy it was another day of heartbreak.  He failed to register a point on the 4^th and the 12^th  and then bogeyed holes 17 and 18 for a point on each.  “You can’t win a gross competition doing that,” he said later.  It was a second year of so near and yet so far for the Wicklow  senior cup player.  Last year, at the finals held in Mullingar he was runner up – two points off the pace set by Tony Cahill from Lucan.

Hickeys round was made up of a birdie on the tricky 7^th before being three over par coming to the last three, where he had 6, 6 and zero.  That gave him a back nine tally of 11 points, with Murphy on 13 and Ebbs with 14.

81 qualifiers teed off on the day which marked the society’s return to a links course for the first time since the finals were played at Lahinch in 1997.  The change proved popular over a course described as fair but testing.

The chase for the nett prizes was also highly competitive with Pat O’Brien from Roscommon bringing in the best score of 36 points, for a narrow win over Cathal O’Hara on 35 and Jim Harrold on 34 points.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Consistent Gerry Tops GOY Table

High finishes at the outings to Headfort, Enniscorthy Athlone and Carlow powered Gerry Johnston from Glenageary to a highly impressive win in the race for Golfer of the Year.

The 12-handicapper compiled a total of 67 points from his four best returns over the season, under the system where a player receives 20 points for the top score, 19 for the second best, 18 for third and so on.

Gerry scored 20 at Headfort, 14 at Enniscorthy, 17 at Athlone and 16 at Carlow to put him at the top on the table, with only Seamus McCormack from Navan in a position to challenge.

Seamus compiled 56 points – 20 from Headfort, 11 at Roscrea, 9 from Black Bush and 16 from Carlow.  Needing a top place finish at Arklow, he had the misfortune to break a finger in the days before Arklow.

That left Gerry, who was champion golfer at Slieve Russell in 2011, and who headed the GOY table since mid season, in a very strong position.

Only Conor McNamara who was shaded on the back nine by Jim Bergin for the President’s prize but gained 16 points in Arklow for a total of 53 offered a challenge.

Brendan Knox from Waterford with 51 points and the society captain Johnny McNamara with 50 points completed the top five.

See the Golfer Of The Year page for the final GOY ranking for 2017 and all years to 2014.

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Bergin Keeps his Best for the Back Nine

The lure of a place in the championship finals, added to the attraction of 18 holes at Carlow golf club, ensured a large turn out for the prize presented by the society President John Foley.

79 players teed up at the splendid parkland venue in mid-August when Kilkenny‘s Jim Bergin, with a superb 20 points on the back  nine edged out Conor McNamara from Portlaoise to take the top award.

Both players returned 38 points, but despite a marvelous 23 points out, Conor’s miserable return of one point from holes 10 to 12 saw him gather just 15 points over the back nine and he could not make up the deficit.

Jim blanked the first but a two on the par 3 third provided a welcome boost and though finishing the nine with four points from holes 7, 8 and 9 he was home in 42 strokes – including a birdie 3 on 11 – for an excellent 20 points.

The two were well clear of the rest of the field with Roscommon veteran Seamus Mulhern and P J Delaney from Portlaoise closest with a pair of 36 pointers.

Also notable was a return of 34 points from Golfer of the Year contenders Gerry Johnston (Glenageary) and Seamus McCormack from Navan. The Waterford Knox father and son Brendan and Brian were also on 34 points.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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A Happy Return for Tony

Navan’s category one player Tony Maher was a clear if narrow winner of the top award on the occasion of the An Post Golf Society’s return to the narrow fairways of Athlone golf club in July.

Four handicapper Tony showed his command of the driver and a sure putting touch to return an excellent 39 points – equalled only by Michael Brennan from Ballygar – but with an inferior back nine.

The society’s last visit to Athlone was for the championship final in 2013 when Tony was runner up to Tony Cahill from Lucan, who took his first champion golfer title.

Athlone in 2017 was a more testing affair with little run but as ever the tight pin placings underscored the view of former President Terry Reynolds that “Athlone had the small holes in play today.”

Scoring was nevertheless impressive with two scores of 39 points, one of 38 and a pair of 37s from Gerry Johnston – whose consistency this year sees him leading the Golfer of the|Year rankings – and Roscrea veteran P J Fletcher.

The day also featured solid play from several other consistent performers including the captain Johnny McNamara, Dave Kearney from Roscommon, Jim Harrold (Limerick) and Joe Quinlan (Mullingar).

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Captain’s Prize 2017 and Con Kennedy Cup

Paul Carey (DMC), An Post champion golfer at Slieve Russell in 2012, returned an excellent 40 points to take Johnny McNamara’s Captain’s Prize and the Con Kennedy Cup at Black Bush on July 1.

He held off the stern challenges from Brian Clancy (GPO) and Phil Drake (DMC) – each with 38 points – as well as a 38 points from Portlaoise’s Bill Davis whose 29 gross points was good  enough to take that prize.

Carey, who has shed three shots since his win on the society’s final visit to the Cavan venue, was the sole player to reach 40 points.

On a testing day for the 70 who travelled to Dunshaughlin,  the aspirations of several players ebbed and flowed, but the Captain who is obviously enjoying his year in office, came home with  37 points to win category one from Aidan Shanahan (Roscrea) and David Kearney (Roscommon).  They both scored 36 points on a day when 34 points or better, was needed to feature amongst the prize winners.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Birr’s Breen Battles Bravely

Slick greens and a contrary wind combined to make Roscrea a tricky proposition for the 67 competitors who teed off in the annual staging of the Micheal Fallon memorial trophy in early June.

Scoring was difficult at the usually handicapper friendly course, but as is normal when the going was tough, those with a reliable system prospered and recognisable quality players featured amongst the prize winners.

It was no surprise that twice champion golfer Seamie Breen from nearby Birr, headed the scoring with a solid 37 points off his seven handicap, shading Mullingar’s Alan Warde for the coveted top award.

Alan took the gross prize with 26 points, while Derek Kinahan from Kilkenny was runner up.  Seamie made 20 points on the opening nine, helped by birdies on the 2^nd and 3^rd and another on the par 5 12^th.

Regular prize winners Pat Madden, Tom Walton, Paul Ryan, Mick Mahoney, Brendan Knox and Enniscorthy veteran Mick Dillon were all in striking distance of the top award.

Brendan Knox (Waterford) now leads the GOY standings, with only 4 points separating the top 6 contenders.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Knox Takes Sheehan Memorial Trophy

Brendan Knox from Waterford was the winner of the Jim Sheehan Memorial Trophy played for at Enniscorthy at the second outing of the An Post Golf society. He returned a splendid 41 points over the testing parkland track.

The runner up was Wexford’s Larry Doyle who showed that, despite having shed five shots since last year, his game is a match for anyone by bringing in 39 points off 13 handicap.

A significant feature of the winners’ card was that he was two under gross for the four par fives, making birdies on holes 5 and 10 – a tough long hole on a dry but windy day.  Brendan later referred to the late Jim Sheehan as one of nature’s gentlemen and said that as a former work colleague he was thrilled to win his memorial trophy on the course of Jim’s home town.

64 competitors teed off for the competition at the end of which has pushed Gerry Johnston just one point ahead of Donal Farnham in the Golfer of the Year rankings.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Seamus Pushed All The Way At Season’s Opener

Local knowledge may have been crucial in deciding the winner of the opening outing of the 2017 An Post Golf Society season which teed off at the picturesque Headfort Club in Co. Meath.

Former society Captain Seamus McCormack, now a 9-handicapper, was most people’s favourite but he was pressed right to the close by Glenageary’s Gerry Johnston before Seamus took the honours on the count back.  Both players finished on 41 points, a superb score, on the tight parkland course on a day that was bright and dry if a little less warm. 86 teed off on the course which was a first for the society.

Scoring generally was good with excellent returns coming from Jimmy Flanagan (Bray) with 40 points, and from Donal Farnham (DMC) and Aidan Manicle from Nenagh who had 39 and 38 points respectively.

Last year’s champion golfer Tony Cahill from Lucan continued his good form by taking yet another gross prize – this time with 34 points.

See the 2017 Results page for a list of all prize winners.

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Big Changes For 2017 Golf Season

The An Post golf championship 2017 finals will be held over the Arklow links on 16th September, as the society’s fixture schedule sees alterations in the wake of last year’s unfortunate ending.

Several alterations have been made to the fixture list which sees the dropping of outings to Roscommon and Mullingar, and a return to the testing midland venue at Athlone.

The championship finals presentation dinner will be held for the first time at the Arklow Bay Hotel, following the championship finale at the famous Co Wicklow track, which has been a regular society venue for many years.

Our travels commence with a first visit to the Old Course at the acclaimed and much admired Headfort Golf Club in Co Meath, where our opening outing of the season will be held on April 22.

Next up is Enniscorthy on May 13, followed by Roscrea on June 10 and Captain Johnny McNamara will hold his Prize Day at Black Bush in Dunshaughlin on July 1.  We then visit Athlone on July 22, with the final qualifying outing of the season again being John Foley’s President Prize at Carlow golf club on August 18.

The Christmas outing will be held in Arklow on November 18.

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Johnny Mac Takes the Helm

Ennis native Johnny McNamara was announced as the Society Captain for the 2017 season when Jack Gleeson brought his year in office to a close at the Christmas outing in Arklow.  The Banner County lefthander was given a very warm round of applause which indicated his popularity and recognised  his support from his far-west base for the society over the years.  He has been a consistent performer at An Post outings over the years and he takes over from Jack Gleeson with an 11 handicap – just one more than his lower ever over a 30 year involvement in the game.

Previous News ArticlesArklow’s Cool Embrace Fails to Hamper

The An Post golf season for 2016 came to its traditional conclusion at Arklow at the end of November when the south Wicklow links presented a cold but engaging cheek to the 58 who teed off in pursuit of an early Christmas hamper.  Accurate driving and a positive touch on the greens were essential for a successful outing on a course which played beyond its full length from the white markers, especially on the many long holes which played directly into the chill north wind.

Nevertheless, all players were grateful for a dry day if the generally unforgiving nature of the links demanded its normal level of straight hitting and an intelligent approach to course management.

The top score of the day was an excellent 39 points from Jimmy Flanagan whose nines of 19 points out and 20 back put him beyond the reach of Kilkenny’s Tom Walton and 2015 Captain Seamus McCormack.  Tom’s 38 points was made up of a modest 16 on the outward half but he stormed home with 22 for runner-up spot and Seamus – following an astonishing run of two over for ten holes and 23 points managed only 14 on the back.

Jim Kavanagh organised a most enticing display of seasonally wrapped goodies and the prizes were presented by outgoing captain Jack Gleeson who wished all members another successful season in 2017.

Results

Overall winner – Jimmy Flanagan (14) Bray 39 points.  Runner-up – Tom Walton (12) Kilkenny 38.  Gross Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 27.

Category A – 1 Alan Warde (11) Mullingar 36; 2, Stephen Mangan (10) GPO 34; 3, Liam Dunbar (9) Enniscorthy 30.

Cat B – 1, Christy Hughes (16) DO 24  37 points; 2, Derek Kinahan (14) Kilkenny 34; Gerry Johnston (13) Glenageary (13)  32.

Cat C – 1, Mick Condren (18) Enniscorthy 35; 2, Eddie Hickey (20) GPO 34; 3, Larry Doyle (18) Wexford  33.

See the 2016 Results page for all results.

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Cahill is Champion Golfer 2016

Strong and consistent performances from players at opposite ends of the handicap spectrum was the dominant aspect of the An Post golf society championship finals at Mullingar on Saturday September 17.

Five handicapper Tony Cahill from Lucan DO covered the heavy midland track in an impressive 76 shots – four over par – for a gross return of 32 points to take the top award and become Champion Golfer for 2016.

The net prize was won by Billy O’Neill from Newbridge who proved, as he had done all season, to be virtually unbeatable off a generous 23 handicap.  His 38 points also put him at the top of the final standing in Golfer of the Year table.

Cahill, who won the gross prizes at Enniscorthy and on Captain’s day at Black Bush, held off the challenge of Wicklow’s Brian Murphy who returned 30 gross points, which featured a brilliant level par back nine for 18 points.  Brian, also a 5 handicapper, was undone by a front nine which included only three pars but his super back nine was the best of the day on a course whose greens had been hollow cored and sanded in the previous week.

The disappointing condition of the course was reflected in the general level of scoring.  Billy O’Neill’s 38 points was the top score of the day, one better than local man Joe Quinlan whose front nine of 38 strokes earned him 20 points.

Cahill’s return for his first Gus Meinhart Trophy since his 2013 win was warmly applauded.  He was out in two over, despite birdies on the 4th and 6th.  Over the nine back he shot seven pars but bogeyed the 11 and the par five 16th.

Billy O’Neill scored a total of 71 points in the GoY event, having won the top award at Mullingar and featuring strongly with Class 3 wins at Roscrea, Black Bush and Carlow.

Jim O’Shea of the DMC and Seamus McCormack from Navan, the joint leaders going into the finals, were unable to prevent the Newbridge man’s burst from the pack.

Results

Gross – Winner and Champion Golfer – Tony Cahill (5) Lucan DO 32 points; 2nd – Brian Murphy (5) Wicklow 30; 3rd – Kevin Monaghan (7) GPO 28.

Nett – 1st - Billy O’Neill (23) Newbridge 38; 2nd - Joe Quinlan (10) Mullingar 37; 3rd - Brian Knox (15) Waterford 36; 4th - Ronan Lynch (12) Athboy 36; 5th -  Paul Browne (8) Navan 35, 6th - Charlie Connolly (18) DO24 35.

Team Nett – 1st - Maurice Ebbs DMC, John Brennan Carlow, Billy O’Neill – 100 points (52 back nines); 2nd - Kevin Monaghan, Declan Murray PLI, John McCarthy Portlaoise 100 (51 back nines)

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Previous News Articles

Tightest of Finishes in President’s Prize

Bobby Cleary, from Limerick, won the An Post Golf Society President’s (John Foley) prize, in as tight a finish as has marked any major competition in recent years.  The Shannon GC 19-handicapper had the best of four 37 point cards returned at Carlow.

In another sport, it would have taken a super slow motion camera to separate the stampede to the finishing line with Cleary, Paul Stedmon from the GPO, Bill Davis from Portlaoise and local 2-handicapper Paul Dowling tied on the same score.

Stedmon, the winner of the President’s prize at the same venue a year ago, and Davis each had a split of 19-18, but the GPO man fared better over the final six holes and ultimately took the runner-up spot.  For a while it looked as if he would do the remarkable and win two-in-a-row, before Bobby emerged with his 37 points based on a back nine of 19, despite failing to score on the 11th.  Bobby also blanked the 2nd and 7th, but he battled through a windy, showery day – which forced 23 ‘no-shows’ and reduced the numbers competing to 77 - but four pars on the back nine were conclusive.

Paul Dowling was out in two under par gross for 21 nett points and came home in 39 shots for 16 points. That represented excellent golf and easily won the coveted gross award with a superb 35 gross points.

They were the only players to beat the course’s set standard scratch on a day in which the early starters had to deal with heavy rain and which favoured those teeing off during the second half of the field.

Four points now cover the top six in the Golfer of the Year rankings, which will be decided at Mullingar.  Jim O’Shea and Seamus McCormack are currently tied on 54 points, but with 20 points available at the championship final any of 11 could win.

Results

Overall - Bobby Cleary (19) Limerick 37 points.  Runner up – Paul Stedmon (17) GPO 37 (Back 9).  Gross Paul Dowling (2) Carlow 35.

Category A – 1, Bill Davis (10) Portlaoise 37; 2, Noel Tierney (12) Loughrea 35; 3, Matt Feenane (9) Birr 34.

Category B – 1, Brendan Knox (17) Waterford 34; 2, John Brennan (13) Carlow 34; 3, Brian Knox (15) Waterford 33.

Category C – 1, Billy O’Neill (23) Newbridge 34; 2, Seamus Mulhern (20) Roscommon 33; 3, Jim Harrold (18) Limerick 31.

Championship Qualifiers – Brendan Knox, Brian Knox, Derek Kinahan - Kilkenny, Jim Harrold, Joe Lestrange – Mullingar, Liam Dunbar – Enniscorthy, Noel Tierney, Paul Steadmon, Eddie Hickey – GPO, John Brennan, John Larkin – Kilkenny, Jonathan Moore - Carlow, Ken O’Reilly - DO 24, Martin Griffiths – Gorey, Pat Madden – Birr, Tom Smith - DMC, Seamus Mulhern, Tom White - DMC.

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Scully First on Western Front

In a season marked to date by tight finishes, Mick Scully from the GPO confronted the stern challenge of an unknown Roscommon course to claim an emphatic first ever win in the An Post Golf Society.  Out at the end of the field, the 14 handicapper from Hollywood Lakes turned in an excellent 41 points to sail past local member and former Society captain Dave Kearney and Conor McNamara sitting in the clubhouse on 39 points each.  McNamara from Portlaoise Mail Centre looked set to record another significant win over a tight and punishing track but ultimately won class three, while Kearney took the runner-up spot.

Scully collected 21 points on the front nine, failed to score on the 11^th, but then had four 3-pointers in a row to backbone a strong 20 points back nine. Kearney blanked the first hole and had 16 points to the turn.  But he showed his class by covering the back nine in 35 shots for a highly impressive 23 points. Conor, off 23 handicap, had a great front nine for 21 points but successive blanks on holes 11 and 12 hurt his chances.

60 members joined in the society’s first trip across the Shannon to Roscommon since 2007 and they found a course with narrow fairways and unplayable rough barely a club-length away.  Even off the green markers the demands of accurate driving and careful placing of the approach shot was evident in the returns – with just three players breaking the standard scratch score of 38 points.  One of the best performances of the day came from Wicklow 7-handicapper Kevin Monaghan, who avoided a six or worse and had 30 points in securing the coveted gross prize and qualification for September’s Championship finals in Mullingar.

Mick Scully also booked his place in Mullingar – his first, while the engrossing tussle for golfer of the year continued with Jim O’Shea overtaking Johnny McNamara and Bernard McDonnell at the top.

Overall – Mick Scully (14) GPO 41 points. Runner-up – David Kearney (8) Roscommon 39.  Gross – Kevin Monaghan (7) GPO  30.

Category A - 1, Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 38; 2, Matt Feenane (9) Birr 37; 3, Paul Ryan (9) DO 22  36.

Category B – 1, Aidan Hosty (18) DMC 38; 2, Jim O’Shea (13) DMC 38; 3, John O’Sullivan (13) 36.

Category C – 1, Conor McNamara (23) PMC 39; 2, P J Fletcher (26) Roscrea 38; John Westman (28) GPO 38.

Championship Qualifiers – Gross – David Kearney, Kevin Monaghan, Seamus Breen (Birr).  Nett – Mick Scully, P J Fletcher, John Westman, Aidan Hosty, John O’Sullivan, Mick Ryan (DMC), Paul Ryan.

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Newbridge O’Neills in Remarkable Double

The O’Neill brothers from Newbridge completed a remarkable double when 9-handicapper Kieran emulated the success of his brother Billy when taking Jack Gleeson’s Captains Prize in the An Post Golf Society.

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Tighest Margins Decide Fallon Winner

A record turnout of 88 players, the Medal course in excellent condition and a warm humid day that defied all forecasts ensured one of the best contests ever for the Mick Fallon Memorial Trophy at Roscrea.

Two players locked on 42 points, another on 41 points with three on 40 and a further one on 39 points showed the highly competitive nature of the day which brought to 128 the total entrants for our opening three outings.

Newcomer Bill Davis from Portlaoise claimed the top prize with 42 points, which featured 22 from a back nine of one over par.  He had a single point more on the back nine than Seamus Kenny from Roscommon whose putting was phenomenal.  On the final hole, Seamus faced a 15-foot birdie putt which – if successful – would have won the competition.  Extraordinarily, it would also have given him an astonishing total of 18 putts for his 18 holes.  The PGA Tour record is 18 putts,

Bill, off a 10 handicap, birdied holes 5 and 6 and blanked the short 8th, but came back in 36 shots.  Seamus had halves of 21 points each off his 16 handicap and holed twice from just off the green.  Both players broke the SSS by five shots.

The gross prize went to Wicklow senior cup man Brian Murphy, who overcame a bad start to add 18 points to his outward 13.   A trio of birdies on holes 15, 16 and 18 gave him an even par back nine.

2015 captain Seamus McCormack returned to action with a solid 38 points while Bernard McDonnell celebrated his recent marriage to Ann-Marie with 40 points to storm to the top of the GoY rankings.

Results

Winner – Bill Davis (10) Portlaoise 42.  Runner up – Seamus Kenny (16) Roscommon 42. Gross – Brian Murphy (Wicklow) 31.

Category A – 1, Tom Walton (12) Kilkenny 40;  2, Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 38;  3, Tom Behan (12) Newbridge 37.

Category B – 1, Donal Farnham (17) DMC 40;  2, Michael Brennan (16)Ballygar PO 38;  3, Jim Bergin (17) Kilkenny 37.

Category C – 1, Billy O’Neill (22) Newbridge 41;  2, Bernard McDonnell (22) 40;  3, John McCarthy (23) Portlaoise 39.​

Championship qualifiers – Gross – Bill Davis; Tom Behan; Tom Walton.  Nett –  Seamus Kenny; Billy O’Neill; Donal Farnham; John McCarthy; Michael Brennan, Seamus McCormack and Tom Hickey (9) Kilkenny.

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Finlay First in Sunny South-East

The south-east lived up to its sunburst reputation for the An Post golf society outing to Enniscorthy in mid-May, while just 80 miles away at the K Club some of the world’s best golfers repeatedly sheltered from hail and lightning.

On a bright but cool day, Portlaoise’s Timmy Finlay took the Jim Sheehan Memorial Trophy with an excellent 38 points to edge out Johnny McNamara from Ennis by one point, with P J Farrell from Kilkenny a further point back on 36.

Paddy Rafferty from Portlaoise and Jim O’Shea from the DMC were locked on 35 points in class one, with Paddy shading the higher prize and strengthening his place at the top of the early season Golfer of the Year table.

Enniscorthy was in excellent condition, though playing long.  As ever, driving accuracy and a sure touch on tricky greens were essential and undermined the hopes of most of the 68 competitors.

Timmy, playing off an 18 handicap, was resilient enough to survive a blank on each nine for a 20/18 split, while Johnny had a steady front nine of 17 points but a birdie 4 on the 10^th for four points helped him overcome a 7 on the tough par-4 15th on his way to a back nine of 20.

The society was welcomed by An Post golf society member Liam Dunbar who is captain of the Enniscorthy club this year.

Results

Winner – Timmy Finlay (18) Portlaoise 38 points.  Runner-up – Johnny McNamara (12) Ennis 37. Gross – Tony Cahill (6) Lucan 29.

Class A – 1, Paddy Rafferty (11) Portlaoise 35; 2, Jim O’Shea (13) DMC 35; 3, Joe Quinlan (11) Mullingar 34.

Class B – 1,  P J Delaney (15) Portlaoise 33; 2, Jim Bergin (17) Kilkenny  32; 3, Joe Cunningham (15) Waterford 31.

Class C – 1, P J Farrell (21) Kilkenny 36; 2, Matt O’Connor (19) Enniscorthy 34; 3, Bernard McDonnell (22) Athlone Mail Centre 33.

Championship Qualifiers (gross) Tony Cahill, Johnny McNamara, Brian Murphy (Wicklow). Nett – Timmy Finlay, P J Farrell, Matt O’Connor, Joe Quinlan, P J Delaney, Bernard McDonnell, Mick Lambe (Portlaoise Mail Centre).

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Newcomer Declan’s Winning Debut

Declan O’Connor turned his first outing with the An Post golf society into a winning debut at Arklow in April when he returned a brilliant 39 points to take top spot on a day when the average score was nearer 29.

Craddockstown member Declan may have been a newcomer to the society but he admitted later that he was quite familiar with the intricacies of the south Wicklow links and it showed in his score.  “I have played Arklow on many occasions and always loved the course,” he said.  Playing off a 17 handicap he had 20 points on the front nine and came back in an equally impressive 19.

Though a member of An Post staff since 1998, Declan moved to the Finance section in the GPO six months ago and his decision to join the golf society has proven to be very rewarding.

81 competitors – a record for the venue – teed up for the start of the Society’s new season on a cool but pleasant early Spring day which completely reversed the society’s recent weather experience at Arklow.  Tricky greens on a day when the longer testing holes were all played into a sharp breeze presented a searching challenge and 39 points was beyond everyone though Paddy Rafferty from Portlaoise had a strong 37 and Wexford’s Larry Doyle had 36.

Carlow 3-handicapper Paul Dowling took the gross with 31 gross points, on a day when the scores down to 33 net points took significant to steps towards qualification for the An Post Championship at Mullingar in September.

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“Lifer“ Gleeson Takes up the Baton

An Post “lifer” Jack Gleeson was announced as Captain for the 2016 season in November when the An Post Golf Society concluded its activities for 2015 with its Christmas outing at Arklow.  The announcement by outgoing captain Seamus McCormack was greeted with warm applause which was repeated when Jack promised to provide spirited leadership during his year in office.

Nenagh man Jack spent his entire working life with the Department of Post and Telegraphs and in An Post finishing up as Principal Officer in the Company Secretary’s office in 2002.  A member of Malahide golf club where he was President in 2004  Jack plays off a “poor” 21 handicap.  He was also a trustee of Malahide GC from 2009 to 2013.  He, with his wife Patricia, is a strong supporter of the society.

Activities for 2016 commence in Arklow on April 23, followed by Enniscorthy on May 21, Roscrea on June 11; Black Bush  on July 2; Roscommon on July 23; Carlow on August 20 and Mullingar on September 17.

The Christmas Outing which has become an established part of the society season will bring the 2016 activities to a close in Arklow on November 19.

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Donal Not Hampered by Tough Arklow Track

The 2015 golfing season came to a close for the An Post Golf Society with the staging of the Christmas outing at Arklow at the end of November.  President John Foley later revealed that the Golfer of the Year was the outgoing captain Seamus McCormack who despite the cares of office enjoyed a brilliant year in all out competitions.

Just under 60 competitors teed off on the tough links on what was unanimously agreed was one of the best golfing days enjoyed by the society on many recent visits.  Notwithstanding the kind, calm conditions the links remained as unforgiving as ever and the top  scores were a pair of 34 points chased home by three scores of 33 points.

Donal Farnham from the DMC emerged to take the hamper for best score.  He edged out Tommy Hughes from Tallaght DO on the back six holes.  Tony Cahill from Lucan won the gross with 28 points.  Jim Kavanagh, apart from producing brilliant weather for Christmas Outing won warm praise for the superb prizes of seasonal fare.

Results

Overall – Winner – Donal Farnham (16) DMC 34 points; Runner-up Tommy Hughes (18) Tallaght DO.  Best Gross – Tony Cahill (4) Lucan 28.

Class A – 1, Ger Long (12) Bray 33; 2, Kevin Monaghan (6) GPO 32; 3, Brian Murphy (4) Wicklow 31.

Class B – 1, Mick Ryan (17) DMC 33; 2, Niall Lambert (14) Bannow road DO 32; 3 Paul Stedmon (17) GPO  30.

Class C – 1, Maire Treasa Ni Chonghaile (36) Ballinahown 33; 2, Kevin Fitzmaurice (23) Lucan 29; 3, Liam Duggan (18) Enniscorthy on the last three.

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Third Championship for Seamie

Birr sharpshooter Seamie Breen swept to a second successive championship title – his third overall – at the finals of the An Post Golf Society season at Mullingar in mid-September.  With four birdies and a back nine of one over par, seven handicapper Seamie was a clear winner in the race for Champion Golfer, taking the top spot by three points from Maurice Ebbs.

Maurice overcame a double bogey, bogey, bogey start to birdie all four par 5s and register 30 gross points on a day when the tough midland course demanded accurate driving to avoid sticky rough and a subtle touch on tricky greens.

Seamie said that his driving was less than perfect but he managed his game superbly on a dank day with a sharp short game which tidied up some otherwise loose approach work.  For many years one of the society’s top performers, the Birr maestro won his first championship when the society last staged its finals event at Co Sligo golf club in Rosses Point in 2002.

The nett prize went to Phil Drake – formerly of the DMC but now playing out of the Fortwilliam club in Belfast – who had a brilliant 40 shots on the front nine for 24 points and backed it up with a solid 18 points home.

The race for the nett runner up prize was between the in form Larry Gainford from Wexford and the 2014 Golfer of the Year Declan O’Callaghan.  Larry showed why he has lost two shots of late with 39 shots to the turn for 23 points and a total of 41.  Declan almost caught him on the back nine with 22 points but came up short by a single point despite an excellent back nine of 39, two over gross.  Ronan Lynch from Navan with 39 points was fourth.

Results

Champion golfer – Seamie Breen (7) Birr  33 points; Runner up – Maurice Ebbs (4) DMC 30; 3rd – Kieran O’Neill (8) Newbridge  29; 4th – Tony Cahill (4) Lucan 29.

Nett – 1st – Phil Drake  (21) DMC 42 points; 2nd – Larry Gainford  (15) Wexford 41; 3rd – Declan O’Callaghan (12); 4th - Ronan Lynch (14) Navan  39; 5th – Martin Little (13) Mullingar 38; 6th – Mick Condren (8) Enniscorthy 37.

Teams 1st – Maurice Ebbs, Larry Gainford and Jim Harrold (Limerick).  2nd – Seamie Breen, Tom Murtagh (Birr) and Larry Doyle (Wexford).

Nearest the Pin (15th) John Brennan 32 ins

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Following Paul to Carlow – but no catching him!

Paul Stedmon was a gun-to-tape winner of the An Post Golf Society President John  Foley’s Prize over the testing Carlow track in mid-August.  First off of a record 104 starters, he was back in the clubhouse with an unbeatable 42 points before many had started.

Off a 17 handicap, his card comprising two birdies, five pars and nine bogies comfortably offset two double bogies and left him three points clear of Conor McNamara who went round in 90 shots for 39 points off his 23 handicap. Conor’s nett 67 was highly commendable but it paled against the excellent play of Stedmon whose 64 nett  represented two nines of 21 points – fine play on a breezy day against a course set up off the white markers for the club’s monthly medal competition.

Carlow rarely gives much away – its reputation as one of the country’s best parkland courses is unchallenged – and that was reflected in scoring on the day. Only one player in the field beat 40 points and scores of 35 points featured in the prizes.

Form players of the season were again to the fore with our Captain Seamus McCormack returning 38 points to maintain his surge for Golfer of the Year and Billy O’Neill from Newbridge – winner of the Captain’s Prize in Birr – returning 38 points. Bray stalwart Ger Long also featured in class one with 38 points and despite dropping six shots over the last four holes 4-handicapper Tony Cahill from Lucan took the gross award with 30 points.

Results

Winner – Paul Stedmon (17) GPO 42 points. Runner-Up – Conor McNamara (23) Portlaoise 39. Gross – Tony Cahill Lucan 30 points.

Category One – 1 – Ger Long (13) Bray 38; 2, Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 38; 3 – Tom Behan (11)  Newbridge 36.

Category two  – 1 – Tom O’Shea (16) Wexford 37; 2, Larry Gainford (16) Wexford 36; 3, Jim Bergin (17) Kilkenny 36;

Category three – 1, Billy O’Neill (24) Newbridge 38; 2, John McCarthy (23) Portlaoise 35; 3, Pa Browne (20) Limerick 35.

Please see the 2015 Results page of the final list of qualifiers for Mullingar on Sat. 19th September.

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Amazing Scoring Marks Captain’s Prize

Seamus McCormack’s Captain’s prize, at Birr in mid-July, featured two remarkable scoring performances on a day when 36 points was required to take a prize but was eight points off the pace.

81 members made the journey to the Midland venue, on a day which did few favours to the players but proved a great deal more enjoyable than a year ago when a near tropical storm almost caused abandonment.  Kinder conditions prevailed and Billy O’Neill from Newbridge compiled an astonishing 44 points off his 24 handicap to edge out Tom Walton from Kilkenny by a couple of points.  His score was even more extraordinary by having two blanks.

It is fair to expect that Billy’s performances will see a rapid fall in his handicap especially given that from the white stakes over the tricky Birr course he managed seven pars and a birdie.  20 points out followed by 24 points on the way home despite not scoring on the 4th or the 17th was eye-popping from a high handicapper who featured in less spectacular terms at Enniscorthy earlier in the year.

Tom Walton – a winner of the Jim Sheehan trophy two years ago – went out in 38 shots.  He had birdies on the 1st and 5th, failed to score on the par-3 second and came back in 40 shots for 19 points.  A measure of his performance is that his score was made up of two threes, eight fours and eight fives.  Tom certainly kept a six off his card and was unfortunate to come up against such hot scoring on the day.

The gross prize went to Tony Stanley, from the GPO, who hit his irons superbly to go out in 40 shots and come home in 36, for an excellent 30 gross points off his 9 handicap.

Results

Winner – Billy O’Neill (24) Newbridge 44 points; Runner up – Tom Walton (14) Kilkenny 42; Gross – Tony Stanley (9) GPO 30 points.

Category one – 1, Gerry Johnston (12) Glenageary 38; 2, Declan O’Callaghan (12) Baldoyle 36; 3, Joe Quinlan (10) Mullingar 36.

Category two – 1, Christy Hughes (17) DO 24  38; 2, Tom Murtagh ((13) Birr 37; 3 Ger Long (13) Bray 37.

Category three – 1, Brendan Knox (18) Waterford 39; 2, John English (19) Tipperary  38; 3, Mick Dillon (18) Enniscorthy 37.

Championship Qualifiers (A minimum of two outings must be played) – Gross – Tony Stanley; Kevin Monaghan GPO; Brian Murphy Wicklow; Tom Walton; Joe Quinlan.  Nett – Christy Hughes, Mick Dillon, Tom Murtagh. Ger Long, Pat Cunningham Dundalk; Mick Ryan DMC; Graham Ross Athlone; Tom Smith DMC; Sean Morrissey Kilkenny; John Foley GPO.

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Eamonn Did Not Need Any Lucky Bounces

Retired Lottery executive Eamonn Hughes carried a run of excellent performances at his home club to Roscrea in late June when he won the Mick Fallon memorial trophy at the fourth An Post golf society outing of the year.

Having won an open singles at his home club with 43 points, his handicap was cut by two full shots, the previous week, Eamonn turned in a sparkling 41 points to pip society captain Seamus McCormack of a second successive win.

Comfortable off his new 20 handicap Eamonn added 20 points on the back nine to his splendid opening nine of 21 to snatch victory from Seamus whose 41 points – split 22-19 – looked a likely winner until late in the afternoon.

An 11 handicapper from Headford, Seamus has shown excellent form all season, taking the gross at Arklow, suffering disqualification in Enniscorthy but coming back to win at Black Bush.

Declan O’Callaghan and Tony Cahill are others who have had shown excellent form so far this year. Four handicapper Tony, from Lucan, won the gross prize at Black Bush and was in the same slot at Roscrea.

73 players teed up at the nicely presented Tipperary course and scoring generally was very good with three scores in the 40s, two on 39, two on 38 and two of three players on 36 qualifying for the championship finals.

Results

Winner – Eamonn Hughes (20), National Lottery 41 points; Runner up Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 41. Gross Tony Cahill (4), DO 22  34.

Category one – 1, Aidan Shanahan (11) Roscrea 40; 2, Alan Burns (13) Navan 36; 3, Johnny McNamara (11) Ennis  35.

Category two – 1, Paul Stedmon (17) GPO 39; 2, Jim Bergin (18) Kilkenny 39; 3, Michael Cunningham (18) Navan  35 (on back 3).

Category three – 1, Conor McNamara (23) Portlaoise 38; 2, John English (19) Tipperary 37; 3, Pat O’Brien (19) 36.

Championship Qualifiers (A minimum of two outings must be played) – Gross - Aidan Shanahan, Matt Feenane Bir, Seamus Breen Birr   Nett – Eamonn Hughes, Paul Stedmon, Jim Bergin, Conor McNamara, John English, Pat O’Brien, Jack Gleeson GPO.

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Office No Burden for Captain Seamus

The myth that the burden of office undermines performance was spectacularly ridiculed by An Post golf society Captain Seamus McCormack at the Black Bush golf course in Dunshaughlin in early June.  It is a myth that borders on the alibi and it was shown to have no relevance as the Navan man’s 39 points in a most contrary wind survived all technical questions to put him clear of the field.

Having been disqualified at the Arklow and Enniscorthy outings with scores that would have seen him in the prizes, Seamus compiled a serene 22 points on the outward nine and then added an impressive 17 more on the way home.

Only local member Donal Farnham from the GPO, with 37 points, came close to Seamus’ excellent score.  One of the early starters his 19 points on the back nine added to 18 out gave him the clubhouse lead for several hours.

Excellent driving was at a premium in the heavy, cold crosswind which exacerbated the effects of all but the well struck shot.   30 points was the mean return from the 80 competitors in the society’s first visit to Black Bush.

16 handicapper Donal had an advantage of local knowledge but the conditions were such that his return looked for a long while to be good enough to win.  Tony Cahill from Lucan had 34 points which won him the gross prize.

Declan O’Callaghan from Baldoyle, Liam Duggan from Enniscorthy and Bernard McDonnell from Athlone each returned 34 points to take class awards and win them spots in the championship final at Mullingar.

Results

Winner – Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 39 points. Runner up – Donal Farnham (16) GPO.  Gross – Tony Cahill (4) Lucan DO 30.

Category one – 1, Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 34; 2, Paul Ryan (9) Dublin 22  33; 3, Gerry Johnston (12) Glenageary 33.

Category two – 1, Liam Duggan (18) Enniscorthy 34; 2, Eoin Hynes (17) Athlone 33; 3, Liam Darcy (17) Tallaght 33.

Category three – 1, Bernard McDonnell (21) Athlone Mail Centre 34; 2, Seamus Mulhern (19) Roscommon 33; 3, P J Fletcher (24) Roscrea 32.

Championship Qualifiers (A minimum of two outings must be played) – Gross -  Paul Ryan; Tony Maher Navan; Brendan Daly Athlone. Net – Donal Farnham, Liam Duggan, Bernard McDonnell, Eoin Hynes, Liam Darcy, Gerry Johnstone, Seamus Mulhern, Timmy Finlay, Portlaoise.

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O’Callaghan’s Finish Takes “Jim Sheehan “

Reigning golfer of the year Declan O’Callaghan produced a finish worthy of his status to add the Jim Sheehan Memorial Trophy to his growing collection of An Post golf society awards.

A stunning run of five pars and a final birdie over the testing Enniscorthy finish produced 18 points for a back nine tally of 23 and a total of 39.  It was good enough to snatch victory- on a count back - from Wexford‘s Larry Doyle.

“It all happened over the last six holes,” Declan said, “I had 16 points on the opening nine and nothing much was happening but it took off from the 13th.” The 13 handicapper won the President’s Prize last year and is the society’s form player.  With this win, Declan reclaims top spot in the Golfer of the Year rankings.

Larry, also a very consistent performer, compiled 22 points on the front nine and added 17 more on the back for what looked like a good score on a day when a stiff northerly breeze posed many challenges.

Former champion golfer Stephen McCarthy made a welcome return to the society and showed he has lost little of his skill in taking the gross prize with 31 points and a place amongst the qualifiers.

Despite the seemingly endless winter the course was in good condition but tricky pin positions made scoring difficult for the 73 competitors – up 10 on last year – who enjoyed their day in the south-east.  The revamped championship format continues to win more support – 98 different players have competed in the Arklow and Enniscorthy outings – and 18 players, who did not play in 2014, have joined the chase for qualification.

Results

Winner – Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 39 points; runner-up Larry Doyle  (20) Wexford 39; Gross – Stephen McCarthy (6) GPO 31.

Class one – 1, Declan Murray (12) National Lottery 37; 2, Tom Behan (11) Newbridge 34; 3, Aidan Manicle (13) Nenagh 34.

Class two -1, Brendan Knox (19) Waterford 38; Charlie Connolly (17) DO 24; 3m Tom O’Shea (15) Wexford 35.

Class three – 1, Eddie Hickey (20) GPO 36; Billy O’Neill (24) Newbridge 36; Phil Drake (21) DMC 35.

Provisional Championship Qualifiers (a minimum of two outings must be played) –Stephen McCarthy; Tony Cahill Lucan; Cormac Hickey Kilkenny; Brendan Knox; Declan Murray; Eddie Hickey; Billy O’Neill; Tom O’Shea; Aidan Hosty DMC; Phil Drake; Charles Brady DMC.

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Arklow Winner No Spring Lambe!

Arklow’s reputation as an intimidating links was further endorsed at the end of April when it again proved a miserly host for 69 hopefuls who turned up for the opening outing of the year round an first qualifying opportunity for the An Post Golf Championship.

Heavy downpours and plunging temperatures brought a Spring week to an icy close and put the always unyielding course well beyond the skills of all but a few.

Mick Lambe from Portlaoise was out late and avoided the worst of the rain but not the increasing cold.  However his 39 points – built around an even par front nine – was a stunning return.  Off his 10 handicap an outward run of 33 shots earned him 23 points and with four pars, four bogeys and a blank, on the index one 17, he came back with 16 points to finish two points clear on Wexford postman Larry Gainford.

Larry (15) was one of the first off and faced the worst conditions.  His 37 points was earned through the worst of the weather and could arguably be seen as a better score than Mick’s.

There were but eight scores of 30 points or better on a day when some whimsical pin placings confounded the players and long before the finish several  groupings took refuge in the clubhouse.

Seamus McCormack (11) debuted as society captain to take the gross prize with 23 points and a nett of 33 points which 2014 Golfer of the Year Declan O’Callaghan equalled.

Results

Overall Winner – Mick Lambe (10) Portlaoise  39 points. Runner-up – Larry Gainford (15) Wexford 37.  Gross – Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 33.

Class 1 – 1, Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 33;  2, Jimmy Flanagan (13) Greystones 27; 3, Joe Quinlan (9) Mullingar 26.

Class 2 – 1, Vincent O’Connor (18) DMC 31; 2, Peter Sheehan (16) Gorey 30; 3, Charlie Connolly (17) DO 24, 28.

Class 3 – 1, Larry Doyle (20) Wexford 30; 2, Maire Treasa Ni Chonghaile (36) Ballinahown 30; 3, Kevin Fizmaurice (23) Lucan DO, 28.

Provisional Championship Qualifiers (a minimum of two outings must be played) – Mick Lambe; Seamus McCormack; Larry Gainford; Declan O’Callaghan; Vincent O’Connor; Larry Doyle; M T Ni Chonghaile; Peter Sheehan; Charlie Connolly; Kevin Fitzmaurice. Reserves – Jimmy Flanagan; Brendan Knox Waterford 27; Michael Cunningham (Navan) 27; Liam Darcy, Tallaght 27; Joe Quinlan.

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Navan man Seamus Takes Over as Captain

Seamus McCormack from Navan Co Meath has taken over as 2015 Captain of the An Post Golf Society.

He succeeds Eddie Hickey whose distinguished period in office concluded at the society’s 2014 Christmas outing at Arklow.

Having enjoyed a 21 year long career as a senior intercounty football referee, Seamus is now a member at the picturesque Headford club where he competes off a comfortable 11 handicap.  He controlled games at every level bar a senior All-Ireland final, but succumbed to the lure of golf in 2004.  Though still involved as an umpire with top referee Dave Coldrick, he also found time to captain the now defunct Navan golf club in 2009. A native of Walterstown in Meath, where he played in goal for the local side, he is a working leader at Navan Mail Centre.

He joined the An Post golf society in 2007 and won the Mick Fallon Trophy at Roscrea in 2013. “I was thrilled and delighted to be asked to become Captain of the An Post Golf Society.  It will be a challenge to maintain the high standards set by my predecessors but I am looking forward to the start of our season in April”, he said.

The 2015 schedule will again feature the revamped championship qualifying system which proved an outstanding success last year.  More than 500 entrants competed for places in the 2014 final at Mullingar. The schedule opens in Arklow on April 25,  followed by Enniscorthy on May 16 for the Jim Sheehan Memorial Trophy.  On June 6 Black Bush in north County Dublin is included for the first time.  The Mick Fallon Trophy will be competed for at Roscrea on June 27, followed by the Captains Prize at Birr on July 11.  The President’s Prize will take place at Carlow on August 15.

Each of these outings will be qualifying competitions for the An Post golf championship which will take place at Mullingar on September 19. Our annual end of season Chrismas outing will be held at Arklow on November 22.

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Arklow Fails to Hamper Brennan

John Brennan from Carlow produced an excellent score of 37 points to win the season ending outing in Arklow on Saturday 22nd November 2104.  Please see Results 2014 for all prize winners.

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Birr’s Breen Best in Birdie Burst

A brilliant front nine of one-under par gross over the testing Mullingar course set up Birr’s Seamus Breen to claim his second title in the An Post golf championship.  Breen, covering holes six to nine in a superb run of birdie, birdie, par, birdie (3, 3, 4, 3) for an outward total of 34 shots and 22 points (19 gross) the 7-handicapper, finished two clear of Eugene McDermott.  By comparison his back nine yielded only 11 points but he made the most of his scoring as McDermott – off 8 from the DMC, shot four birdies – on 8, 9, 12 and 18 – but crucially failed to score on holes 4, 5, 11 and 13.

Despite mixing the brilliant with the disappointing he compiled 28 gross points which was one more than Matt Feenane from Birr. Matt had an excellent 16 points on the homeward nine. Seamus – one of the Society’s most consistent performers – last won the championship in 2002 and his experience and knowledge of the Mullingar track were sufficient to see him win with 30 gross points.

The championship finals were held for the first time in Mullingar where the tees were pushed back to the blue markers. That put a premium on straight driving and accurate placing of the second shot.  All of that was within the scope of the top finishers, including the nett winner Wexford’s Larry Doyle, who belied his 20 handicap, to register six pars in 39 points (21-18) despite a blank on the last.

And Larry, who was nett runner-up last year at Athlone, had a single point to spare over the consistent Aidan Shanahan from Roscrea. Aidan was out in two over 38 for 21 points and home 43 shots for 17 points.

At the presentation dinner Society President John Foley congratulated the 81 qualifiers and said 500 entrants had competed in the revamped championship format over the season.  The revised format had proven a favourite with An Post golfers and had given the championship a needed boost after several year of declining numbers, he said.

Prize winners

Gross – 1 and Champion golfer, Seamus Breen (7) Birr 30 gross points; 2, Eugene McDermott (8) DMC 28; 3, Matt Feenane (8) Birr 27.

Nett – 1, LarryDoyle (20) Wexford 39; 2, Aidan Shanahan (12) Roscrea 38; 3, Martin Cahill (9) Cavan 35; 4, Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 35; 5, Martin Little (15) Mullingar 34; 6, PJ Delaney (13) Portlaoise 34.

Nett team – 1, Jim Kavanagh (Arklow), Tom O’Shea (Wexford), Larry Doyle 104 points; 2, David Durack (Wexford), Conor McNamara (Portlaoise), Martin Cahill 93 points.

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In Form Declan Takes President’s Prize in Carlow

An Post golfers flocked to Carlow in record numbers on August 16th when Declan O’Callaghan scored an impressive 41 points to win John Foley’s Presidents Prize.

Just under a hundred competitors teed off from the white markers on the splendid parkland course on a day more typical of Autumn than late summer.   Tricky greens added to the testing conditions but Baldoyle DO man O’Callaghan showed that his earlier win with 44 points at Trim and a class win at Roscrea were not flukes.

He just held off the challenge of local 3-handicapper Paul Dowling with 40 points and the Wexford pair of Larry Doyle and big-hitting David Durack close by with 39.  Nines of 20 and 21 showed the strength of the game of 13 handicapper O’Callaghan but he needed the good finish to beat Dowling who went out in 18 points and stormed home in 22 points.

The gross prize went to the consistent Matt Feenane from Birr.  He finished with 36 points off 8 for 28 gross points.  Class One went to Aidan Shanahan from Roscrea with an excellent 38.

A welcome feature of the day was the emergence of Patricia Gleeson (GPO) and Anne Marie Murray (Athlone) to take two of the three prizes available in Class Three.

Prize Winners

Overall Winner – Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle DO 41 points; Runner up – Paul Dowling (3) Carlow 40; Gross – Matt Feenane Birr  28.

Class A – 1, Aidan Shanahan (12) Roscrea 38; 2, Gerry Johnston (12) Glenageary 38; 3, Seamus McCormack (11) Navan 36.

Class B – 1, David Durack (15) Wexford 39; 2, Mick Condren (18) Enniscorthy 37; 3, Charlie Connolly (16) DO 24 36.

Class C – 1, Larry Doyle (19) Wexford 39; 2, Anne Marie Murray (Athlone) 26; 3, Patricia Gleeson (36) GPO 35.

Longest drive – David Durack.

Nearest the Pin (9 feet 3 ins on the 3rd) Patricia Gleeson.

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Hughes Defies the Deluge at Birr

The vagaries of an Irish summer threatened to turn Eddie Hickey’s captains’ prize – and the return of the An Post Golf Society to Birr after a four year gap – into a nightmare on July 19th.

Early starters experienced warm, sunny and dry conditions but the final groups were barely 45 minutes into their rounds when heavy rain began to fall from leaden skies and seven hours later it was still hammering down.

Greens and fairways flooded under the relentless downpour and play was suspended. Some heard the signal, others did not and continued on.  Many others walked, soaking, to the clubhouse presenting the organisers with a serious problem.

An outing which began on a windless day of immense promise for the society, with 97 competitors setting out to experience the revamped Birr track, looked for a time as if it would have to be abandoned.  That highly unpalatable prospect would have presented enormous difficulties both in finding another date within the time available before the Presidents’ prize and the championship final in Mullingar.

Members were offered the facility of returning to the course to finish their rounds. Only Mick Lambe and Donal Farnham gave it a shot and eventually just over 70 completed cards were returned.

Amid the threatening chaos Tommy Hughes scrambled like a professional over the final holes for eighteen points and a highly commendable score of 42 to take his first major society prize.  In bucketing rain the DO 12 man capitalised on a super front nine of 24 points with three pars, four bogeys and two blanks for a battling 18 points and was ultimately a clear winner from local man Tom Murtagh and Gerry Purcell.

Tommy said later that he had never managed his play as well. “Things went my way and I kept on battling though everything was soaked through. I’m delighted to win my first serious competition,” he added.

Because of the conditions and the reduced level of finishers, the committee decided that the number of championship qualifiers would be reduced to 10.  The final places for the finals in Mullingar will be decided at the Presidents Prize in Carlow.

The condition of Birr - the spiritual home of the society due to the work and influence of the late Con Kennedy - was a revelation.  Three new holes have given it an appealing breadth and eliminated its earlier cramped opening feel.

Prize Winners

Overall Winner – Tommy Hughes (21) DO 12, 42 points.  Runner-Up Tom Murtagh (13) Birr 39.  Gross – Gerry Purcell (6) Mullingar 32.

Class A – 1, Seamus Breen (7) Birr 36; 2, Eugene McDermott (DMC) 35; 3, John McNamara (11) Ennis 35.

Class B – 1, Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 38; 2, Owen Hynes (16) Athlone 38; 3, J J Hurley (17) Limerick 37.

Class C – 1, Christie Fitzgerald (20) DMC 36; 2, Brendan Knox (18) Waterford 36; 3, Jim Harrold (19) Limerick (35).

Championship Qualifiers – Gerry Purcell; Brendan Daly (8) Athlone  35pts; Eugene McDermott; Tom Murtagh; Owen Hynes; Christie Fitzgerald; Jim Harold; Ollie Nolan (19) Birr 34 pts; Mick Rabbitte (18) Mullingar 34 pts; Charlie Connolly (16)  DO 24 34 pts.

Golfer of the Year update. Waterford veteran Brendan Knox holds a commanding lead in the standings for the Golfer of the Year.   A storming start which saw him high in the prizes at Arklow,  winner in Roscrea, tied second in Trim and with a handy score in Birr puts him 21 points in front.  Second , third and fourth placings has Captain’s prizewinner Tommy Hughes, Navan’s Seamus McCormack and Declan O’Callaghan from Baldoyle covered  by just seven points in the chase for the coveted award.

With two more competitions to go and 40 points to play for, the outcome could be decided at the championship final in Mullingar.  Points are awarded on the basis of overall placings – 20 points for the winner or tied, 19 for second, 18 for third, etc.  Please select the Golfer of the Year link to see the current standings.

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Condren Back to Winning Form (Enniscorthy GC)

Local knowledge was a key influence in deciding the final placings in the An Post golf outing played at Enniscorthy on June 28. Four of the 12 prize winners were from Wexford and of the top three scores – which were the only returns in the 40s – two were recorded by Enniscorthy members and the other was from Wexford.

Top of the pile with 42 points was Mick Condren, who transferred his club membership from Arklow to Enniscorthy at the start of the year, winning by a single point from Tom O’Shea from Wexford.  Local man Mick Dillon also returned a super 41 points on a day when 67 players competed in near perfect weather conditions over the tight but delightful parkland course.

Condren, whose last success was in the 2013 President’s Prize at Carlow, had a tentative start with just four points after three holes but in the company of captain Eddie Hickey he steadied to reach the turn in 20 points.  Straight driving allied to his excellent putting saw him take 22 points over the back nine, the feature of which was a birdie four on the par-5 10^th  and a fine round in which he had eight pars.

The gross prize went to Navan 4-handicapper Tony Maher who had nines of 14 points and 15 points and clinched one of the three championship gross qualifying spots.

O’Shea, off 14 handicap, scored 18 points on the front nine but stormed home with a brilliant 23 points to finish runner up while veteran Dillon went out with 19 points and had 22 on the trip home.  Another notable achievement on the day was the eagle 3 scored by 16 handicapper Donal Farnham on the 10th hole, giving him 5 of his 36 points that won him second place in his class.

Prize Winners

Overall Winner – Mick Condren (18) Enniscorthy 42 points; Second - Tom O’Shea (14) Wexford 41;  Gross - Tony Maher (4) Navan 29.

Class A – 1, John Larkin (10) Kilkenny 36;  2, Paul Ryan (9) Dublin 36;  3, Martin Cahill (9) Cavan 34.

Class B – 1, Mick Ryan (18) DMC  37; 2, Donal Farnham (16) DMC 36; David Durack (16) Wexford 35.

Class C – 1, Mick Dillon (20) Enniscorthy 41; Eamonn Hughes (24) NLC 39; Tommy Hughes (21) DO 12 37.

Championship Qualifiers – Tony Maher; Paul Ryan; John Larkin; Mick Condren; Mick Dillon; David Durack;  Larry Doyle – Wexford;  Martin Cahill;  P J  Farrell – Kilkenny; Eddie Hickey – GPO; Damien Whelan - Greystones.

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Declan King in Royal Meath

An excellent entry of 74 members defied an unpromising weather forecast to tee it up at the County Meath golf club in Trim on June 7 when Declan O’Callaghan from Baldoyle scored a superb 44 points.

Declan shredded the lush Co Meath parkland track with 23 points on the front nine and an equally impressive 21 on the return trip.  He finished a remarkable three points clear of the inform Brendan Knox from Waterford.

Forward tees always render a course vulnerable when the An Post golfers are competing and it was no different at Trim.  Declan, off a 13 handicap swept to the top award and put himself in line for a championship qualifying spot at Mullingar.

Brendan, who earlier won the Mick Fallon Trophy at Roscrea and took his class award in Arklow, is playing his best ever golf.  A new set of woods and irons bought late last year has transformed his game, he says. He covered the opening nine holes in 22 points and added a further 19 for a very impressive 41 points on a course which yielded little but whose greens putted consistently, if a little slower than normal.

Seamus McCormack did starter duty from an early hour but was still good for 40 points to take the gross prize while the fourth 40 points on the day – from Mick McCarthy of Lucan- was good enough to win Class A.

Prize Winners

Overall Winner – Declan O’Callaghan (13) Baldoyle 44 points; Runner Up – Brendan Knox (18)Waterford 41; Gross – Seamus McCormack (10) 30.

Class A – 1, Mick McCarthy ( 12) Lucan 40; 2, Stephen Mangan (11) GPO 39; 3, Paul Browne (10) Navan 39.

Class B – 1, Stephen Flanagan (16) Bray 37; 2, Donal Farnham (16) DMC 37; 3, Tom Smith (16) DMC 36

Class C – 1, Eamonn Hughes (24) NLC 38; 2, Tommy Hughes (21) DO 12 37; 3, Pat Cunningham (20) Dundalk 35.

Another eleven players have put themselves in line to earn their place in the championship finals – attendance at a minimum of two outings in required – as interest in the competition intensifies.  They are Declan O’Callaghan, Paul Browne, Matt Feenane (8) Birr, Mick McCarthy, Stephen Mangan, Johnny McNamara (12) Ennis, Eamonn Hughes, Thomas McKiernan (12) Cavan, Stephen Flanagan, Donal Farnham, Tommy Hughes.

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Opportunity Knox for Brendan at Roscrea

A record entry, brilliant early spring weather and a spectacular hole-in-one by Bernard McDonnell highlighted the second golf outing of the season at Roscrea on May 16. 86 members of the An Post Golf Society made the trip to the North Tipperary course – smashing all previous attendance levels – as the search for championship qualification intensified.  The tricky greens and tight layout ensured modest scoring levels but Brendan Knox from Waterford was again in fine form and his 41 points were enough to take the Mick Fallon Memorial Trophy. Having made a return to society action at Arklow, Brendan was out in 20 points and maintained his form over the back nine with 21 points to edge out Phil Drake on 39 and four others on 38 – Ger Long, returnee JJ Hurley, P J Delaney and Seamus Mulhern. Also signalling his return – after a bout of serious illness – was Athlone stalwart McDonnell who holed in one on the tough 11th which at 175 yards into the wind was a demanding par three.  Bernard insisted amid acclaim afterwards that the excitement of his first ever ‘one’ had no adverse affect on his heart rate. His ace was the third in the recent history of the society – Pat Madden (Birr) at Birr GC and the late Christy Dunne (Tallaght) at Carlow GC having previously holed out from the tee. A further twelve members earned provisional qualification for the championship finals in Mullingar in September.  They were Seamus Breen, Kevin Monaghan, Maurice Ebbs, Phil Drake, Ger Long, J J Hurley, P J Delaney, Seamus Mulhern, Anne Marie Murray, Ronan Lynch. Martin Little and Mick Ryan.   Prize Winners Overall Winner – Brendan Knox (18) Waterford 41 points. Runner up – Phil Drake (22) DMC 39. Gross Seamus Breen (6) Birr 30 points Class A – 1, Kevin Monaghan (6) Wicklow 36; 2, Jim Kavanagh (12) Portlaoise 35; 3, Maurice Ebbs (7) DMC 35. Class B – 1, Ger Long (13) Bray 38; 2, J J Hurley (17) Limerick RLB 38; 3, P J Delaney (13) Portlaoise 38. Class C – 1, Seamus Mulhern (20) Roscommon 38; 2, Anne Marie Murray (26) Athlone 37; 3, Mick Ryan (18) DMC 36; 4, John McCarthy (22) Portlaoise 36. Nearest the Pin (14th) Mick Lambe (Portlaoise) – 11ft 5in Hole in One – Bernard McDonnell (Athlone ) at the 11th

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Few Answers to Arklow’s Challenge

The 2014 golf season commenced at the Arklow links on Saturday last (April 26) on a day when the onset of spring was thrown into reverse and a strong cold wind from the sea swept the course.  85 members went to the first tee and those who played to the end experienced the links in its most challenging mood. The organisers, who have revamped the season to present the An Post championship as the centrepiece and climax of the society season, were rewarded with a highly encouraging increase in entries.  Despite a negative weather forecast only one member failed to turn up. Those-who-know reckoned that in the conditions a score of 33 points would be excellent – and it was. Tom O’Shea from Wexford was amongst the early starters and came in with 33.  But that was ultimately beaten by Jim O’Shea with 37 points and Timmy Finlay on 36. The scores were almost heroic in the circumstances.  The heavy showers, the most contrary and unrelenting wind seemingly presented little problem to the two O’Sheas and Timmy from Portlaoise.  But they with Jimmy Flanagan and John Brennan were the only players to score 30 points or better. Jim O’Shea continued his excellent form of last year to take the overall prize with Timmy but a single point away on a highly impressive 36 points. Local expert Jimmy Flanagan (31) and last season’s captain John Brennan with 30 were amongst the day’s elite performers. The event provided eleven provisional qualifiers for the championship finals at Mullingar in September.  They were Brian Murphy, Tom O’Shea, Jim O’Shea, Timmy Finlay, Jimmy Flanagan, John Brennan, Niall Lambert, Brendan Knox, John Croke and Aidan Manicle.  All qualifiers must have played in at least two outings in order to be eligible take their place.  Up coming  events will offer further opportunities to qualify for the 80 final places available.