Kinsale Golf Club hosted two major competitions last week and the mature parkland course at Farrangalway was in pristine condition for the Irish Seniors Championships.  Close to 150 Ladies and Men teed it up on over three days.  Kinsale was in great condition for the event, it was clear that the greenkeeping team had left nothing to chance as plenty of competitors commented on the quality of the course and in particular the greens.

The only negative to the week was that there wasn’t a home winner.  Shane Kenneally was the holder coming into the event but couldn’t match last year’s feat.  He battled all the way and finished in 17^th place.  Fellow Kinsale golfer Kieran McCarthy was also in the mix, trading shots with Bandon’s Dave McCarthy in the final round.  The Bandon golfer shot a tournament low round of 69 on the opening day to lead by two, and he added a level par 72 in the second round to keep the lead.

Kieran McCarthy opened with a 73 but added an impressive 70 on Thursday to finish in second place, two shots behind the leader from Bandon.  The two McCarthy’s battled in the final round, and Kieran very nearly chipped in on the last hole for what might have got him into a playoff.  He tapped in for a birdie but that left him one behind 2024 European Champion Eddie McCormack.  Dave McCarthy meanwhile missed the green on his approach but chipped to five feet for a likely birdie.

McCormack however spoiled the local party, after a great second shot from the trees on the left of 18, he holed his 20 foot putt for eagle to lead by one and claim the Irish Seniors Close Championship.  Both McCarthy’s finished two shots behind at the finish with Kieran taking second place on the countback.

The winner was delighted to come away with the win after a tough battle on the final day.  “It was a great battle all day, there was no inch or quarter given or taken so it was a good battle all day with the boys, it was tough,” said McCormack.  “Conditions were very tough and a lot of wind up. You don’t mind the wind if there’s no trees, but there’s lots of trees around here, but it was good fun all day.”

Kinsale Captain Gavin Farrissey was delighted with the success of the event.  “We as a club were thrilled with the event and how it ran off and we had great support from the Golf Ireland team.  The feedback on the course was great. Fast greens, great layout and very fair but challenging pins. People couldn’t have been more complimentary on the course.”

“There was not so much increased work on the course leading up to the event as they had plenty time to prepare.  The activity increase was each morning, cutting, ironing the greens and the new pin locations. June would have seen our Captain’s prize and the work we had done led all the way up to last week.”

While the greenkeeping team were busy working on the course preparation and setup, there was another group who were instrumental in the success of last week.  “The club had plenty of support too from members with volunteers’ ball spotting to help the competitors and assist with the pace of play.  “If you look throughout the week, the volunteers were predominantly retired members, they have the time to dedicate. I only sent an email out two weeks before the event and filled the schedule within days. The days we had a surplus, I doubled up the spotters at particular holes.”

The Captain is a proud clubman and he was delighted to see a home golfer challenging for the win on the final day.  “We were so proud of all of our entrants and especially delighted to see Kieran challenging on the final day. It would have been special if he could have pulled it off.  Over the next couple of weeks our Senior Cup and Barton Shield teams will be in action in the Munster East semi-finals. September will see us host to the Finals of the Vincent Nevin. President’s Prize at the end of August.”