Westmeath finish 3rd at the Leinster Inter-Counties

 
Westmeath County Team 2013 - Leinster Bronze Winners Back row, left to right: Rene Bloem, Alan Hanlon, Pat Malone, Martin Carter (manager) Front row, left to right: Michael Buckley, John Browne, Liam Buckley, Niall Cuffe. (Missing from photo, Ronan Whelan)

Westmeath County Team 2013 – Leinster Bronze Winners
Back row, left to right: Rene Bloem, Alan Hanlon, Pat Malone, Martin Carter (manager)
Front row, left to right: Michael Buckley, John Browne, Liam Buckley, Niall Cuffe. (Missing from photo, Ronan Whelan)

Success on the Inter-County stage has been rare over the past few decades in Westmeath Pitch & Putt so when the Westmeath team brought home a bronze medal last Sunday, there was a quiet contentment within the county. Don’t get me wrong – this Westmeath team has a lot of potential and the sky is the limit for what they can achieve but on a difficult day, in a relatively unfamiliar course,  3rd place was a very acceptable result.

Collinstown were represented by 5 of the 6 members on the team on the day and indeed it was our own John Browne together with Custume’s Pat Malone that led the way with a very decent score of 44 in the doubles. This was followed by a 47 from Alan Hanlon and Rene Bloem, with the Buckley brothers recording a 49. This gave Westmeath a total of 22 under after the opening 18 holes which was 5 behind the leaders Meath. Westmeath lay in 4th spot at this stage and knew a big effort was required in the singles.

Pat Malone opened up with a brilliant 47. Early trouble for John Browne seen him have to battle against the odds and he eventually retrieved the round back to a level par. Birdies on the final two holes gave Rene Bloem a total of 50. Alan Hanlon followed with a solid 51. Liam Buckley also battled back well to record a 52 and finally the captain, Michael Buckley signed for 50. This gave the team a total of 42 under par – a total which was good enough to secure the bronze medal in the end. Louth ran out winners on 52 under with Dublin securing the runners-up spot on 49 under par.

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