Sean Coyne Memorial – 1st Leg Review
Last year’s winning Collinstown team of the Sean Coyne Memorial Trophy
It’s that time of year again – the season opening Sean Coyne Memorial challenge is upon us. This year the first leg of this annual challenge between Collinstown and Gaeil Colmcille was held in Collinstown. The Collinstown course was presented in immaculate condition which is a credit to the grounds staff at this early stage of the season. 35 players took to the course for this highly anticipated match between the two clubs.
Collinstown are the current holders of this prestigious trophy and indeed they left no stone unturned in getting all their big guns out for this opening leg at home. The early season in-form player, Gary Middleton, led the home team with a superb 82 nett which included a personal best 45 gross second round. This score was closely backed up by the ever improving Michael Scally who had an 84. Kevin Flanagan also managed to break the 90 mark with a nett 87. Indeed it has to be said that right across the board, the Collinstown players played extremely well with the last of the 9 counting gents scores standing at an impressive 95. With only 1 ladies score to count this year, that honour went to Anne Kelly on the Collinstown team with a nett total of 112. The best gross score of the day from either side was done by former National Champion Niall Cuffe who shot 13 under par. When all 10 Collinstown scores were added up, it came to a very impressive 922 total.
Gaeil Colmcille were led by the always consistent, Ted Tighe with a very impressive 93 nett. On the day though the Collinstown course proved to be a tough challenge for the majority of the Gaeil Colmcille team. Their next best score after Ted was 104 which was returned by John McInerney and Johnny Mooney. Monica McGovern recorded the best ladies score of the day with a 109 nett which did gain some ground on the Collinstown Ladies. When the 10 Gaeil Colmcille scores were added up, the total came to 1060. This means that Collinstown lead by 138 shots going into the second leg in Kells on April 13th. Although this sounds like a huge margin – it must be noted that we are only at the half-way stage and there are still 20 more rounds of Pitch & Putt to count. Nothing is won until the final card is returned in Kells in a fortnight’s time.
Click here for the full Collinstown scores from the 1st Leg
Click here for the full Gaeil Colmcille scores from the 1st Leg