Collinstown Scratch Cup 2013
Larry Mahar (Erry) – winner of the 2013 Collinstown Scratch Cup
On a wonderful sunny Sunday morning in mid June, the 2013 Collinstown Scratch cup teed off at 8.00 am. First on the box were local seniors Larry McGinn and John McDonald. Larry set the pace for the day with a second round 44, which was to end up the best round of the day, giving him a total of 96. This score led for a few hours until fellow Collinstown player Rene Bloem bettered it by 1 shot. Rene’s score held the lead for most of the rest of the day until two of the last entrants of the day bettered it. In-form Pat Malone from Custume shot a 93 to lead the scratch cup going into the final round with Larry Mahar (jnr) from Erry one shot behind on 94. With the cut finally settling on 98 there was a real buzz of anticipation going out in the final round as only 5 shots separated the field.
Exactly twelve competitors took to the course for a third and final time. First out was defending champion Derek Courtney from St Bridget’s and Meath’s Michael Coneelly – both men on 10 under par. Courtney shot a 50 in the last round to eventually take the last 18 prize – a fine defense of his title. Next up was local men Liam Buckley and John Browne – also on 10 under. Conditions had become very firm at this stage so when Liam returned a 49, it was obvious that he had put himself in the shakeup for a prize – in the end he finished in third place. Brendan
Pat Malone (Custume) receiving his second place prize from chairman Michael Buckley
McMahon and Stackallen’s Colin Somers were next out but neither men could make an impact on the leader-board. Next up on 12 under par were Michael Buckley from the home club and Cement’s George Beardsley. An unfortunate bogie on the last cost George third place as he finished tied with Liam Buckley but lost on the break of a tie. In the penultimate two-ball, Larry McGinn and Rene Bloem both struggled with the firm conditions and finished 1 stroke behind Liam’s clubhouse lead of 15 under par.
And so it all came down tot he final two ball between Larry Mahar and Pat Malone. Larry had overtaken Pat’s lead early in the final round and looked home and dry with 2 to play as he held a 3 shot lead from Pat on 20 under par. Pat’s vast experience in winning though once again came to the fore and birdies on 17 and 18 put a lot of pressure on Mahar’s chip from out the back of the 18th green. Mahar though, hit a superb chip to 18 inches and rolled in the putt to win by a shot.
Liam Buckley (Collinstown) finished third at the 2013 Collinstown Scratch Cup
In the rest of the grades, the prizes were won quite comprehensively in each grade. Brendan McMahon from Kilbeggan took the Intermediate prize with a 98 which included a superb 46. Indeed 46′s seemed to be the order of the day for the grade winners with Sean Langdon from Custume also recording an 8 under par in his 101 winning Junior score. Margaret Hogan from Tullamore comfortably won the Ladies section with 106 and Liz Bloem from the home club picked up the runners-up prize with 112.
Collinstown would like to thank all the people who supported our scratch cup and hoped they enjoyed the course and hospitality on the day.