Club News 8th October

Portsalon make flying start in Donegal League final
Cathal Canning's Donegal League team are in control of the decider against Gweedore after they made a clean sweep on Sunday afternoon, winning all five matches in the home leg on what turned into a sun-kissed afternoon in Portsalon.
The day started with mizzle lingering over the course as the teams took to the first tee but, by late afternoon, it was perfect autumnal sunshine and idyllic golfing conditions.
After some near misses in recent times, Cathal and his team are eager to get a first Donegal League pennant for Portsalon since 2003 and they have made the ideal start.
There were wins for Ryan McGettigan and Kevin Boyce over Padraig Doherty and Michael Dwyer in match one and Stephen Connolly and Jack Friel over Dylan Dwyer and Emmet McGee in match two as Portsalon got the perfect start from the front end.
In match three Patrick McGowan and David Butler turned around a deficit at midway to win their tussle with Declan McBride and Anthony Doherty, while Enda McElhinney and Odhran McGowan won the final match against Joe Bonar and Neil Paul Whoriskey.
By that point, it left only Donal Callaghan Jnr and Shane Sandilands on the course as they duelled with Lorcan Mulligan and Paul McCool in a nail biting contest.
A superb up and down from Paul McCool on the 15th cut the Portsalon lead to one hole. It remained at one-up when Donal Callaghan's birdie attempt on the 16th sat on the lip but Gweedore would level matters on the 17th after an incredibly good pitch shot from Lorcan Mulligan out of the right-hand rough set him up for a five-foot birdie chance that he took.
With the swelling gallery around them, it was a simply stunning up and down and it sent the match up the 18th all-square.
With neither Gweedore player able to par from tricky spots, it left Shane Sandilands needing two putts from off the back of the 18th green to complete the sweep and a superb lag putt afforded him the chance to win the match, which he duly took, holing out from 3.5 feet under pressure.
Cathal and his team will head to Machaire Gathlán on Saturday afternoon requiring a half-point to bring the Donegal League crown to Portsalon for the first time since in 21 years. All support is welcome for the second leg, with a strong Gweedore side certain to make life difficult on home soil.
On Sunday, squad member Alistair Rodger was on hand with nourishment for the Portsalon team on the 12th tee, which were much welcomed, while the teams' 11th man was John Shields, who was all over the course throughout the match to relay score updates and give encouragement to those in yellow and black.
Club Results
Wednesday 2nd October
Winner: Cathal O'Brien (23) – 42 pts
Runner-up: Dean Shields (12) – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Kevin Boyce (5) – 32 gross pts
Third: Seanan McAleer (14) – 39 pts
Saturday 5th October
Winner: Cathal O'Brien (24) – 45
Sunday 6th October
Winner: Marty Doran (30) – 40 pts
Runner-up: Philip Durning (10) – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Sean Hensey (4) – 32 pts
Third: Sean Barrett (19) – 39 pts

Ladies News

Ladies in the Pink
A very well supported Play in Pink fundraiser for breast cancer research took place on Fri 4th October. There were no blushes on Mary Barrett as she took the top honours with a magnificent 38 pts. Challenging weather from the start brought out a pink flush on most players who wrapped up in any shade of pink, or just any shade at all!
A fun day while also supporting a charity very close to all our hearts was enjoyed by everyone. The Pink Raffle will continue through the month of October, and all funds from the October ladies re-entry will also be donated. Raffle tickets are available in the shop.

Winner – Mary Barrett 38pts
Runner-Up – Evelyn O’Malley 36pts
3rd – Miriam Bennett 34pts

Front 9 – Noreen McConigley 17pts
Back 9 – Kathleen Kelly 21pts

Sunday Members 6th October
Winner - Anne Speedie 33pts Bot
Runner-Up - Aedeen Conway – 33pts Bot

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