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| Lord
Mayor's Cup 
Since
its inception in 1951 the Lord Mayor's Cup has been synonymous with Clontarf Golf
Club. The brainchild of Jack Belton, the then Lord Mayor of Dublin and former
Captain of Clontarf Golf Club, the Lord Mayor's Cup has been competed for by golfers
of distinction for 58 years now. Players such as Ryder Cup star Philip Walton,
Martin Sludds and David Kinsella, who won in 1964, have all been entrants. The
1989 winner, Robbie Moore from Howth G.C., competed in the 1999 Canadian Open
at Glen Abbey G.C.

Pictured
at the presentation of the Lord Mayor's Cup 2011 were, L - R, Winner Turlough
Considine, Clontarf G.C., Councillor Deirdre Heney representing the Lord Mayor
of Dublin and Jack McGuinnness (Captain Clontarf G.C. and former double winner) |
The qualifying round is
18 holes singles strokes, played on a scratch basis, and usually takes place on
the second Sunday in August each year, with the leading 64 players qualifying
for the match play stages which are played throughout the week. Entry is open
to players of affiliated golf clubs who hold a handicap of four to nine at the
date of the qualifying round. The timesheet opens two weeks in advance of the
competition and those interested in competing are advised to enter early as this
event is one of the most popular on Leinster's golfing calendar. A full timesheet
each year, comprising of all single figure golfers, bears testament to its popularity
with many competitors returning year after year with the hope of finally getting
their names inscribed on the famous cup. LORD
MAYOR'S CUP FINAL 2011 The home representative,
Turlough Considine, became the oldest winner of the competition when he defeated
youngster Leo Connolly of Malahide G.C. 3 & 2 in the final on a dull and overcast
day at Clontarf G.C. Considine has been long associated with the event as both
a sponsor and player. Connolly got
off to a great start when he birdied the 1st hole; however, Considine immediately
indicated his intentions with wins on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes. Connolly took
both the 5th and 7th holes with the intervening short 6th hole being halved. Connolly
looked like taking the 8th when he was just off the green in two with Considine
missing the green very wide left with his approach shot and with a tree blocking
his approach he sensibly played to the front of the green and superbly pitched
in for a four while Connolly three-putted to lose the hole. The 9th was halved
in fours to leave Considine 2up at the turn. Considine piled the pressure
on his young opponent winning the 10th and 12th with the par three 11th being
halved. Although Connolly reduced the deficit with a birdie win at the 13th Considine
replied with a birdie on the 14th to go 3up. Connolly won the 15th but the game
ended on the 16th with Considine hitting the green in two and, Connolly, from
a perfect tee shot, missed the green right and failed to match Considine's par.
So Considine, a former beaten finalist, won by a 3 & 2 margin and finally
got his hands on one of the most coveted trophies for single-figure junior handicap
golfer. The match was played throughout in the best sporting tradition by two
worthy finalists. In the semi-finals played earlier in the day Considine beat
his fellow member, a young 16 year-old Conor Stone 4 & 3 and Connolly beat
Jamie Doyle from Forrest Little 1up.
Click
on above link for past winners' list. BROTHERS
MAKE HISTORY IN 2002 There was no
brotherly love lost when the Fennelly brothers contested the 2002 final of the
52nd Lord Mayor's Cup. Against all the odds, the two brothers, Damien (18) and
Barry (14) came through a top class field of 198 players to meet in the final. Interested
spectators at the final were Don MacAulay who won the trophy 50 years ago in 1952
and captured it three times in all. The late Gerry O'Brien, former Hon. Secretary
of the G.U.I. was also present. He had contested the final four times and won
in 1976. Paul and June Fennelly, the
proud parents, kept a discreet distance in the large crowd following the final
which saw Barry, the youngest winner ever, triumph by 3 & 2. |