Jason O'Connor has news of success for Kerry in Pitch & Putt.
A momentous weekend in more ways than one for Kerry U16 Pitch & Putt last Saturday in Seapoint, Termonfeckin in Co Louth as the Kerry ‘Gold’ team won the National Inter-County event for the county for a fourth straight staging while three of the team had further reason to celebrate later in the evening.
A combined total of 16 under par gave Brian McCarthy, A Jay Barrett, Nathan Cronin and Ronan Bennett victory in the county colours but they were pushed all the way to the last hole by Kilkenny before their win was confirmed. Kerry were six under par combined for the Singles, Brian and Ronan both taking two under par 18 hole rounds out of their 36 hole Singles while both Nathan and A Jay had one under par rounds.
They were actually two behind Kilkenny after the Singles combined with Jack McShane’s score in winning the National Boys Strokeplay title a major reason for that but Kerry managed to go ahead again in the Scotch Foursomes Doubles. Brian and A Jay brought in three under par for their round while there was a seven under par score from Nathan and Ronan as it brought Kerry to 16 under overall. Kilkenny were 14 under on the last tee-box but could only get a birdie to finish on 15 under as Kerry would be bringing the Tommy Murphy Cup back to the Kingdom yet again.
Well done to the four lads on their win as we say well done to our U16 Officer Gearoid Cronin for his work with the team and we thank both Sewells Pharmacy and Utility Trust again for their sponsorship of the team. The Kerry ‘Green’ team of Daniel Leahy, Kane Dillon, Luke Doolan and Sean O’Mahony finished a combined total of 18 over par meanwhile in the same event. Brian McCarthy meanwhile was second overall in the National Boys Strokeplay with a score of four under par for his 36-hole Singles, finishing second ahead of Kildare’s Peadar O’Toole on countback after both shot four under par.
Jack McShane had nine under par in winning the event as at the presentation of prizes the Irish U16 team for the International Challenge with Catalonia in October was announced. Three of the six players will be from Kerry after their performances in the past two years as Brian McCarthy and Nathan Cronin (Deerpark) and Listowel’s A Jay Barrett were announced for selection based on their performances over the last two years along with the aforementioned McShane, O’Toole and Tipperary’s Joe Franklin. Well done to all three on their selection as it is a fitting tribute yet again to the work both Deerpark and Listowel are doing to promote the underage game in the county.
Elsewhere on Saturday Tralee hosted their Scratch Cup events. Jason Cregan won the Senior event with 13 under par, two ahead of club-mate Jason O’Regan with another Tralee player Gavin Carroll a further two shots back on nine under par. Listowel’s Chris Gibney won the Last 18 here with four under par. The Intermediate event saw another local success with Keith O’Brien winning on six under par six ahead of club-mate Danny O’Leary who was second on level par. Last 18 went to Roger Guthrie meanwhile on one over par.
The Junior event was won by Mark O’Regan meanwhile on 169, three ahead of Kevin Magee on 172 as Mike Kenny from Bruff in Limerick won the Last 18 Junior prize with two over par. Other prizes on the day were won by more Tralee players in Reece Sugrue (Junior B) along with Catriona O’Connor (Ladies Gross) and Bernadette O’Regan (Ladies Junior). This coming weekend is all about the National Mens Inter-County Championships in Lucan as the Kerry Mens team will hope to be in the medals for a fourth consecutive event.
Last year saw them second at the curtailed event in Rocklodge in Cork but they head to Dublin hoping to be at the forefront of proceedings once more. Our best wishes to team manager James Fleming, Jason O’Regan, Jason Cregan, Alan Hobbart, Michael Conway, Damien Fleming and John McGrath in their exploits over this coming Saturday and Sunday.
