Sport

Dowling fights his way to the top at Carlow

Alan Dowling came from six shots back at the half-way mark to win the Ulster Bank-sponsored Midland Scratch Cup at Carlow on …

By SHAY KEENAN
Tue Sept 30 1997 - 01:00

Alan Dowling came from six shots back at the half-way mark to win the Ulster Bank-sponsored Midland Scratch Cup at Carlow on Sunday. The Hermitage Senior Cup player coolly rolled in a 10foot putt on the final green to win by one shot from Declan Coolican from Milltown and Cork's Gary O'Flaherty.

Although this is Dowling's first major win, he has provided glimpses of his potential on a number of occasions this season, most notably when beating Irish international Sean Quinlivan in the South of Ireland championship at Lahinch before going out to the eventual winner Pat Collier in the third round.

Dowling shared the lead after the first round with local favourite Tommy Lennon on 69, one under par. Lennon added another 69 in the second round but was caught by O'Flaherty, who shot the best round of the tournament, a three-under-par 67 to take a share of the lead as Dowling faded to a five-over-par 75. Dowling came right back into contention with a level par 70 in the third round and his 74 in the afternoon was enough to put his name on the Midland Scratch Cup for the first time.

Only four players managed to break the par of 70 - Dowling, O'Flaherty, Enda McMenamin and Lennon, twice.

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Without a trophy for 52 years, Edmondstown Golf Club have now won two in the last three weeks. The south Dublin club won the Metropolitan Cup at the end of August and last weekend they added the Hibernian Trophy to their collection.

Home advantage proved decisive when they beat the Provincial Towns Cup winners Headfort 5-1 in the final at Edmondstown.

A special presentation was made to our five more recent Ryder Cup players, Eamonn Darcy, Christy O'Connor Jnr, Philip Walton, Des Smyth and Peter Townsend, at the awards ceremony following last week's Mastercard Southern PGA Championship at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links.

A special Pro-Am preceded the championship. The proceeds went to two local charities, "Arch" in Portmarnock and "L'Arche" in Baldoyle, both of which cater for adults and children with special needs.

AS, Tralee, taking third place with 98 points on a count back from Lisburn Borough Council.

Roscrea Golf Club will host a singles stableford competition all this week with the proceeds going to the Shane Broderick Appeal Fund. The entry Entry fee is a modest £5 and times may be booked at 0505 21130.

Portumna have qualified for the All-Ireland final of the Ulster Bank Ladies Fourball Championship. In the second semi-final at Cavan Golf Club, Portumna edged out Donegal's Ballybofey/Stranorlar by two matches to one and meet Borris in the final on Saturday.

Semi-Final: Portumna 2 Ballybofey/ Stranorlar 1 (Portumna names first) - S Corcoran, R Curley bt D McGowan, A Clancy 3 and 2; C Lynch, K Lynch lost to W Patterson, C Speer 4 and 3; A Hynes, M Moloney bt A McGranaghan, S Brady 4 and 3.

Roscrea Golf Club will host a singles stableford competition all this week with the proceeds going to the Shane Broderick Appeal Fund. The entry fee is a modest £5 and times may be booked at 0505 21130.

Holes in one are fairly rare. However, at Slade Valley Golf Club, three players had aces at different par threes during Saturday's fourball. Jim Phelan scored the first ace at the 133-yard fifth hole only to be followed by Jim McNevin at the 113-yard 13th. Shay O'Melia completed the hattrick when he holed out at the difficult 195-yard par three 17th.