Agony and ecstasy for Headfort ladies

Headfort ladies experienced the agony and ecstasy of competitive matchplay golf at the ILGU finals held at Milltown Golf Club, Dublin on Sunday.

Played in excellent conditions on a tight course the Kells club took on Edmondstown Golf Club in both the Intermediate Cup and Challenge Cup finals which consisted of five singles matches.

The Challenge Cup team won a hard-fought match where Oonagh Clarke lead from the front. The Headfort player was one-up through the 14th before losing the next hole, but secured a magnificent half on 16 with the most difficult two-putt finish.

Clarke went on to win 17 and secured the required half on the last hole to register a win.

Mary Davis and Mary Bowler fought valiantly for the Kells side, but fell short of victory.

However, Ita Gribbin, after finding herself three down after five holes, won the next three to start a solid comeback which culminated with her walking off the 17th winning 3&1 to leave the match 2-2 overall.

All eyes then were on Headfort’s Christine Foley in match five where it all ended on the 16th with a 4&2 win for the Headfort golfer. Foley was in control throughout and was a comfortable winner.

In the Intermediate Cup Headfort, managed by Mary McCabe and Carol McEnroe, came up against a very strong Edmonstown team who won three out of the first four games on the course.

Headfort’s sole victory came from current Lady Captain Claire Farrell who found herself one down through 14, but knuckled down to grind out a fine win on the 18th.

In match one Teresa Coleman brought her opponent all the way to the 18th having played her best golf in the earlier part of the round, but after losing the 15th to go one down she didn’t get the opportunity to get back in control.

In match three Sue Ennis fought back valiantly from three-down after 11 to be only one-down walking off the par-3 16th. A half at 17th left Ennis with too much to do as her opponent played the final hole well for the required half and a win.

In the two remaining matches, Jennifer Martin started brightly, but her opponent played excellent golf from the sixth hole onwards and was difficult to haul back, while in the final match Headfort’s Mary Moran was making a strong comeback when they were called in as a result had been reached.

Next Saturday Headfort take a 3-2 lead to Woodbrook for the second leg of the Barton Cup final (10.30).

Challenge Cup team - O Clarke, M Davis, M Bowler, I Gribbin, C Foley, P Tyrrell, S Reilly, K Curtis, H Stafford.

Intermediate Cup team – T Coleman, S Ennis, C Farrell, J Martin, M Moran, J McCormack, P Casserly.