Tramore Golf Club land Pierce Purcell Shield

Another chapter in the illustrious history of Tramore Golf Club was written this month when they were crowned Munster Champions in the Pierce Purcell Shield for the first time.

One of the five big national inter-club competitions, it is one of the most competitive, attracting over 350 entries across the country.

Inaugurated in 1970, the Pierce Purcell Shield is in commemoration of Professor Pierce Purcell, one of the great administrators of Irish golf from the 1920 to the 1950s. The format is four teams of Foursomes playing off a combined handicap of 25, and the minimum handicap being 10.5.

Team Manager Eddie Jackman, assisted by Pat McDermott and John Hayden, set about working with the squad back in February, as they looked to put together a group of players that could deliver the coveted pennant.

They commenced their tilt at the title back in June with an extra holes win over Williamstown Golf Club before getting by Lismore to face Dungarvan in the area final.

Home advantage proved to be crucial with their first pairing of Richard Kearney and Michael Ryan winning their match on the 17th to deliver the first point.

Dungarvan levelled the tie with a 4 & 3 win over Sean Collins and John Breen before taking the lead with a 2&1 over Tony Eiffe and Tony Whelan.

It all came down to the crucial final match where Donnacha O’ Kane and Noel Burns closed out the victory on the 16th to level matters and send the match to extra holes where Kearney and Ryan secured the win to send Tramore through to the Munster semifinal.

Fermoy was the venue for the semi finals and final where Tramore faced stern opponents in Thurles Golf Club.

Kearney & Ryan led Tramore out in the opening match and quickly established a one up lead through six holes. They were pegged back with losses at 7 and 8 before reestablishing a 2 hole lead by the thirteenth and they never looked back.

Michael Crowley and Tony Whelan dominated their match to close it out on the fourteenth before James Dunphy and James Twomey secured the winning point with a 6 & 5 win while Tony Eiffe and John Breen were well in front in the bottom match when victory was declared for Tramore.

In the other semifinal it was Mahon Golf Club of Cork who came through with an extra holes win over fellow Corkmen Lee Valley to set up a thrilling final on the Sunday.

The management kept faith with the four pairs who came through the semifinal but did change the order.

Once again it was Kearney and Ryan who led Tramore out and the match was level until the sixth where Tramore took the lead before losing the next but regained the lead to head into the back nine, one up.

However, Mahon rallied to take wins on 12, 14 and 15 and lead 2 up with three to play. Tramore won the 16th but Mahon held on for a one up win and the first point.

James Dunphy and James Twomey were out second and after halving the first they fell behind with a loss on 2. Once again, they held their nerve and by the 13th they were two up but once again Mahon came charging back and secured a half point with a win on 18.

Michael Crowley and Tony Whelan were always in control of their match and eventually closed it out on 16 for a 4 & 3 victory to put the pressure on the final pairing of Tony Eiffe and John Breen.

And Eiffe rose to the occasion with a pressure putt on the last to secure a half and send the tie to sudden death extra holes where Crowley and Whelan headed out for Tramore.

The 19th and 20th holes were halved, and it was Whelan who proved to be the hero for Tramore with another crucial putt from six feet, which secured the title for the seasiders.

The team now heads to Athlone on Friday, August 22nd, for the All-Ireland quarter final, where they will face either Mayobridge Golf Club of County Down or Castle Hume Golf Club of Enniskillen for a place in the National Finals, which are set for September 12, again in Athlone.