CRUMLIN HOSPITAL CHALLENGE: Whether playing on the lush pastures of Ireland or the sun-drenched fairways of South Africa, Nenagh members Winnie Ryan, Paddy Kennedy and Garry Howard seem to have the winning formula.
Last week in South Africa the trio added the Musgrave's Crumlin Children's Hospital Challenge to Nenagh's list of successes in 2003.
Winners of the All-Ireland Mixed Foursomes in Galway in September, as well as the Central Towns Cup and the Midland Seniors, the trio, under the captaincy of Noel Cleary, won another All-Ireland pennant.
The Munster champions were runaway winners of the Musgrave's Challenge over the Erinvale, Mowbray and Devonvale courses. Their final total of 291 points left them with a comfortable, 19-point margin in this popular annual challenge.
In second place were Carrick-on-Shannon's team of Albert Hogg, Chris Lowe and Noel Sharkey on 272 points, with Seafield's James Murphy, Paul Power and Gary Sheahan edging out Rossmore's John Toohey, Nigel Graham and John O'Gorman for third place.
Starting back in May, the tournament, now in its sixth year, attracted an entry of over 100 clubs representing some 10,000 golfers countrywide, with the winners in each province securing a place in the All-Ireland finals played on the picturesque courses of Cape Town.
Strolling down the fairways of Erinvale Golf Club, which came to prominence in 1996 when it staged the World Cup (won by South Africa) and is now the home of the South African Open, one can only marvel at the layout of a course that also caters for some 326 dwellings, which run parallel to fairways on the opening and closing holes.
The diverse scenery, dramatic light and almost guaranteed clear skies obviously help make the week a great success. Apart from the challenging layout, with bunkering and long, narrow greens a feature, the magnificent backdrop of the Hottentots Holland mountains and the sweeping vistas of Gordon's Bay combine to produce one of the most pleasing of golfing experiences.
The Musgrave's Challenge is played over four days - two days at Erinvale and one round each on Devonvale and Mowbray. Each team has three players with one individual score to count on day one, two scores on day two, all three on the third day, and finishing with a rumble over the final 18 holes.
Sharkey, a nine-handicapper from Carrick-on-Shannon, gave the Connacht champions the edge on day one by shooting an impressive 37 points at Erinvale.
However, the signs were ominous when Nenagh's Ryan and Kennedy shared second place with 35 points each. The Nenagh partnership have been in excellent form all season, which included winning all their matches in their march to All-Ireland success in the Irish Mixed Foursomes.
Kennedy gave notice of his form on day two by shooting 42 points at the testing Devonvale Golf Club.
Nothing spectacular over the first nine, a steady 18 points, but he really got down to business on the run home. Three birdies in the last four holes and 15 points from the last five gave him a back nine of 24 points, and with Howard contributing 33 points Nenagh opened a gap of nine points over Rossmore, Carrick-on-Shannon and Seafield.
On day three at Mowbray, with all three scores to count, Nenagh really pulled away, with Kennedy again leading from the front.
With birdies at nine, 10 and 12, in a gross 74, Kennedy was out in level-par 36 (22 points) and back in 38 (19 points) for 41 points. Howard was also showing form in shooting 38 points while Ryan was secure with 33. Nenagh's total of 112 points to go with their 110 of the first two days gave them a cushion of 21 with the rumble to come.
And here, back at Erinvale, the honours went to Carrick-on-Shannon with 71 points, with Nenagh on 69, Seafield on 68 and Rossmore on 61.
So worthy winners from a trio that thought they had missed the trip of a lifetime when they finished second in their home qualifier. However, with the winners opting for another event on the same day as the Munster final, Ryan, Kennedy and Howard took full advantage of the second chance to book their place in the final in South Africa.
Rossmore captain Vincent Lee made sure the occasion was recorded with copious photographs and also took the honours from the three other captains, Cleary (Nenagh), Michael Daly (Carrick) and Peter O'Reilly (Seafield). Ronnie Kane of Rossmore was an all-the-way winner of the retailers' section, with 124 points, from Michael Doran (Borris), PJ Queally (Lahinch) and Pat McNamara (Bearna), while "most improved player" of the party award was Musgrave's Norma Sullivan.
Musgrave managing director Séamus Scally, while not having much luck in the daily sweeps, was high in his praise of the skill and spirit of the four teams.
"When we launched the event we were delighted with the response. The competition has grown each year and the monies raised certainly go to a very worthy cause and we at Musgrave are very happy to be associated with that," said Scally when presenting the pennant.
RESULTS
DAY ONE (Erinvale - one score to count): Carrick-on-Shannon (N Sharkey 37, C Lowe 34, A Hogg 31); Nenagh (W Ryan 35, P Kennedy 35, G Howard 29); Rossmore (J Toohey 30, J O'Gorman 30, N Graham 28); Seafield (P Power 29, J Murphy 27, G Sheahan 26).
DAY TWO (Devonvale - two scores to count): Nenagh (P Kennedy 42, G Howard 33, W Ryan 27); Rossmore (J Toohey 37, J O'Gorman 34, N Graham 32); Carrick-on-Shannon (A Hogg 35, C Lowe 21, N Sharkey 27); Seafield (G Sheahan 37, P Power 34, J Murphy 32).
DAY THREE (Mowbray - all three to count): Nenagh (P Kennedy 41, G Howard 38, W Ryan 33); Carrick-on-Shannon (A Hogg 37, C Lowe 35, N Sharkey 30); Seafield (G Sheahan 37, P Power 32, J Murphy 27); Rossmore (J Toohey 37, J O'Gorman 32, N Graham 32).
DAY FOUR (Erinvale - Rumble): Carrick-on-Shannon 71 pts, Nenagh 69, Seafield 68, Rossmore 61.
OVERALL: Nenagh 291 pts, Carrick-on-Shannon 272, Seafield 262, Rossmore 258.
