Another highly successful Links Golfing Society season will draw to a close at Co Louth on Thursday when keen competition is expected in the race for the overall prizes of the year. Eamonn Darcy leads in the professional 36 holes and 54 holes by one shot from Des Smyth, with Philip Walton, Jim Carvill, Kenny Stevenson and Bobby Browne anxious to post a score on the final day that will take them into the frame.
Peter Rogers from Dundalk holds pole position in both nett and gross in the amateur sections. In the gross he leads the 36 holes by one shot from a chasing pack of John Hutchinson, Liam Brady, Gary Cullen, Noel Fox and Barry Reddan. Rogers and Hutchinson share the lead in the 36 holes nett on one under par, with Joe Sommers, Alan Walton and Gerry Phelan just off the pace.
The Links Society broke its own record when raising £509,615 from its season of classic events.
The events and the charities which benefited include: Chris de Burgh/AudiCappagh Foundation £35,000; St Michael's House £35,000; Chris de Burgh Fund £5,000; Gerry Kelly/Gardner Merchant-Childline £40,000; Des Smyth/Mitsubishi Motors-Respect £27,000; Special Olympics £27,500; Smurfit/Christy O'Connor-Irish Hospice Foundation £82,000; Joe Dolan/Mitsubishi Electric-Mater Hospital Foundation £28,287; Renault Ireland-Irish Youth Foundation £93,300; Doyle Hotel Group-Irish Hospice Foundation £45,000; Tesco Ireland-A Nurse for Daniel, Childline, The Cari Foundation and Debra Ireland, £17,500 each; Links Donations-Spina Bifida £15,000; various others £6,028.