Leitrim lads take plaudits at Bright

Leitrim lads take plaudits at Bright

3 August 2016

A MAGNIFICENT total of 105 golfers recently took to the fairways at Bright Golf Course to contest the inaugural Mary Clare Steele Charity Golf Classic in aid of Marie Curie.

The golfers had no excuses not to play well. Arnold Ennis and his green staff had the course in perfect condition. Lush fairways and greens, manicured like carpets, presented the golfers with perfect lies on the fairways and putts that rolled true to their line.

The four-man team from Leitrim effortlessly transferred their skills from the hurley stick to the golf club and recorded a highly impressive team score of 108 points to comfortably take the title.

Star player on the winning team was William McCartan who played the demanding Bright golf course in 77 shots, just four over on the card. William’s other team-mates, Miceal McCartan, Paul Burns and John McNeil, also returned highly respectable cards in the low 80s.

James Steele’s squad of Mark Keown, Colly Brown and Rory Gallagher played very much like a team. Each player contributed points with all their cards having a heavy dusting of pars. Having played well they had to settle for second place.

In third spot was the experienced golfing team from Castlewellan Soccer Club. The experience was from Mickey Ward, Jim Burns and John Burns. But to maintain third spot, rookie golfer, Rory Burns was called on to pop up with a number of good pars on both the front and back nine.

The golfing day was very well organised by the Steele, Rooney, McAlinden and O’Hare families and they had a number of other prizes that would test the golfers’ skills. Conal Milligan won the longest drive and the nearest the pin prize-winners were Brian Morgan and Simon Lynch. Best GUI golfer on the day was Gerard Kelly and Willie McCartan was the top society golfer.

Novelty prizewinner, who did the double, was Danny O’Hagan. Danny won the shortest drive and also sealed the best-dressed golfer prize. Danny was resplendent in scarlet golfing trousers and an equally understated matching scarlet print golf top. 

It was a tight decision with Brian McAlinden, and Daniel Steele calling for the judging panel to visit Spec Savers before next year’s event. Brian and Daniel were equally convinced that their lime green check ensemble should have won them the prize.

A large crowd turned up at Mooney’s Bar, Castlewellan, for the presentation evening.

Members of Mary Clare’s family distributed the prizes to the winning golfers. A beautiful replica of the famous Claret Jug was handed over to the winning team captain, William McCartan, against a back of thunderous applause.

After the awards presentation Jimmy Rooney drew out the many raffle prizes on offer and held an auction for a beautifully framed photograph of the Shimna River flowing through Tollymore Forest. 

The picture was kindly donated by a local photographer and raised a worthy sum of £150.

Up next was a signed golf hat by Rory McIlroy and bidding was very hot for the hat with the hammer coming down at a tremendous price of £200.

The main focus for organising the day was to raise funds to support the wonderful work of the Marie Curie nurses. The Steele family felt that they could never repay the kindness and care Mary Clare received throughout her illness. 

The Steele family would like to thank the generosity of the local community and the many businesses that supported the fund raising day.

At the end of the auction Rory Gallagher, on behalf of Mooney’s Golfing Society and Mooney’s Bar, presented the fund with a cheque for £900. Presently, money raised from the golf classic is sitting at £3580 with some sponsor money still to come in.

This year’s event proved a resounding success and it is hoped that local golfers will be sharpening their golfing skills for July 2017.