Ryan Wins on the Double

By Niall O’Shea

David Ryan took the honours in Fota on Monday as the Munster PGA Professionals battled tough conditions.  Almost 30 golfers took to the course and while the weather was cold and wet, Fota was in great condition given the recent winds and rain.  Ryan was the only golfer to finish under par as he recorded a 69.  This was Ryan’s second win in a row as he also took the honours when they played in Dungarvan two weeks ago.  John McHenry was fresh from his Seniors qualifying round in Portugal as he finished tied for second place with a 74, Castlemartyr’s Brady Sherwood also finishing on the same score.  Sherwood was not doubt trying to emulate his compatriot Jason Day’s feats in Arizona but came up a few shots short.  Padraig Dooley was fourth with a 75, and Killarney’s Danny Sugrue secured a top six spot with a 77.  Sugrue maintains his position at the top of the order of merit.  Monkstown’s cian McNamara is in second place and David Ryan is a close third.  The PGA Winter League continues and will conclude in late March with Monkstown hosting the Morgan O’Donovan trophy.

The GUI annual delegates meeting took place recently and two Munster motions were carried.  Castletroy’s motion limiting “point one” increases to only those golfers who complete a round was passed at national level and will now be put forward to CONGU.  Limerick Golf Club’s proposal to limit the maximum number of point one increments to 20 in a single year was also passed.  Both motions will now go on to CONGU where the GUI will propose the changes.  At the provincial ADM’s the hope was that both changes would be effective from 2015, however time will tell as the current CONGU rules fare due to run until the end of 2015.

The most contentious motion at the provincial meetings was Leinster’s motion to require golfer to have three home qualifying scores to compete in away competitions.  There was a perceived issue that many golfers were using away handicaps without ever playing at their home course.  The motion was passed by a narrow majority at the Munster meeting and the GUI must now decide on how this rule will be implemented by clubs.  The golfing season will finally start this weekend after two months of inclement weather. The first round of the south east league takes place this weekend with ten teams taking part in the annual Bruen and Purcell warm up compeititon.