CIAN Healy fired a new course record of 68 (bettering the old one by a stroke) during President Eamon Ryan’s Prize at Rathbane GC.

Not surprisingly, Healy’s heroic efforts around the challenge municipal course earned him pole position in the gross category, a position to which he is no stranger.

Overall, the 27-hole competition was won outright by Mark O’Doherty with a combined total of 62 points, of which a magnificent 23 arrived in the nine hole play-off reserved for the leading qualifiers.

John McCoy, also with 62 points, was forced to settle for the runners-up spot with John Murphy next best on 60 points.

Leading returns were also carded by Michael Collopy and Eugene Kennedy.

HOME knowledge was crucial to Pat Murray’s splendid victory in the prestigious Bank of Ireland sponsored Munster Mid-Amateur Open Championship at Limerick GC.

The popular international and club secretary/manager carded rounds of 67, 75 and a flawless 65 to finish the tournament on an exemplary nine under par, a massive nine shots ahead of second-placed Karl Bourneman with Ken Kearney third a further shot behind. Kiernan Maher was the best performer on the nett front.

Undoubtedly, Murray reveled on his home course and in front of scores of loyal local supporters, all of which contributed to a handsome victory for a real in-form sweet striker and Irish Open performer.

On the club front at Limerick, Joe Daly will stage his President’s Prize at Ballyclough next Friday and Saturday (time sheet in operation).

FIFTEEN handicapper Stephen Brouder produced the round of his career to win President Michael O’Riordan’s stunning prize at Newcastle West GC.

Young Brouder didn’t drop a single shot during a round that yielded an incredible nett score of 62, to finish two strokes clear of his nearest challenger in Adrian Enright, who in turn edged-out Tom Enright on the closing nine holes.

Pat O’Mahony and Damien White also returned leading scores. Brouder’s awesome 62 was eight shots better than the day’s standard scratch.

In the gross category, Brian Goulding was just a few shots over par with his round of 74 to lift the prize. Category wins were taken by Alistar Lynch (5), Dave Wrenne (9) and John Cunningham (17).

One of the club’s social highlights of the year was that night’s prize-giving ceremony, at which there was a wide variety of talented contributors.

IT’S interesting to note that local scribe Eugene Phelan’s Pro-Am partner, Oliver Wilson, at the Irish Open at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort earlier this year has made the Europe Team for the Ryder Cup at Vahalla, Kentucky in three weeks time.

For the 28-year-old rookie it’s been a season of consistent performances with plenty of ten ten finishes but no outright victory.

He becomes the first European to appear in the famed competition without still having won a tournament.

Still, he showed great courage and determination in tying down that tenth and final spot through a testing weekend in the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles.

Phelan this week told the Limerick Independent he had personally contacted Wilson to offer his congratulations and was considering making the trip to the US to view first-hand this bi-annual tournament between Europe and the United States.

LONG-SERVING PGA Professional at Limerick County CG Donal McSweeney sponsored a very competitive Team of Three in balmy conditions, with only a countback separating the top two teams.

Winners with a commendable 90 points were Brian Mortell (12), Declan Brown (11) and Damian Brown (17), while the second place was filled by the trio of Eugene Clancy (12), Aaron O’Neill (11) and Gearoid Clancy (16).

Cathal Godfrey and the Nash brothers of Ger and Noel were a few points adrift in third spot.

PLANS for a new course at Tinarana House on the shores of Lough Derg, near Killaloe, are on hold while the developers prepare additional information for Clare County Council.

The planning application involves the refurbishment of Tinarana House, 30 two-bedroom apparthotels units, 155 two-bedroom short-term accommodation units, an equestrian village, a Jeff Howes-designed course and other facilities now associated with this type of development.

Leading Limerick developer Joe Hanrahan is involved, as are Sean Lyne and Noel Connellan.

ABBEYFEALE GC will host an Open Nine Hole Weekend from Friday next through to Sunday, with a variety of competitions arranaged.

Entry to any competition is €10, with re-entry priced at only €5. Abbeyfeale is a little-known but delightful nine-hole course on the Limerick approach into the border town with Kerry.

“It’s not just the serious golfer we want, everyone is welcome to partake in this charity weekend,” said a club spokesperson.

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