Published: Friday, 2nd October, 2009 9:00am

Dunne and Gorman among the winners in senior strokeplay finals

The weekend certainly served up some top class pitch & putt at the National Seniors Strokeplay Finals at Tullamore with the locals faring up very well in the Gents grade.

The finals teed off on Saturday with the Ladies leading the way in perfect weather conditions and the course in immaculate order. In the Junior section Betty Coady, a Cork native but playing out of Loughlinstown, was a jubilant winner by two shots from fellow rebel Ida O'Halloran of Crosshaven. The Intermediate section also went down to the wire with Kilbeggan's Eleanor Gillic pipping the title by one shot from Bernie Dunne of St. Bridget's. Eleanor held a fantastic and what became a vital birdie putt on the 17th hole to finish on +6 overall. In the top class Senior section through 27 holes it was still too tight to call on Saturday afternoon as the evening light faded. However, the class rose to the challenge of the course and it was Philo Condron of Lucan who claimed her first individual National title by three shots..

It was the turn of the Senior Gents on Sunday morning to take on the Arden course which succumbed to a stiff cool breeze. You couldn't have written the script any better across the Gents section and in particular in the Junior section which saw a three-way play-off needed to decide the honours. Following nine holes PJ (the Darby) Dunne (Ferbane), Paddy Gaffney (Royal Meath) and Billy Hamilton (Poulaphouca) were still deadlocked and it took a further 2 holes of sudden death to separate them and it was Ferbane's Darby Dunne who held a terrific eight foot downhill birdie putt to claim victory to the delight of the local gallery. Second place was then decided by a further two further sudden death holes with Billy Hamilton edging out Paddy Gaffney's efforts for runner-up spot.

The Intermediate section was dominated by local Brendan Gorman who shot an impressive -9, picking five of those birdies on the tough back nine.

It was an impressive performance by the popular Tullamore player who won by four shots from Colm Hanley of Bellewstown. Colm secured runner-up spot on the back nine's from Erry's Johnny Scully who finished on -5 also, a double tap chipping on the 12th hole costing him dearly. The big hitters then took to the course Sunday afternoon as the Senior section went to battle. On this occasion it was McBride's Michael Bedford who tamed the Arden course with a fantastic second round -9 to card a total score of -14 to win by three shots from Seapoint's Pat Greene.

Best of the Offaly players were Ferbane's Patsy Reams and Tullamore's John Fleming who both finished on -8. Michael Bedford was indeed a deserved and very popular winner at Tullamore this weekend in a very competitive championship once again. Congratulations to all the prize winners especially our very own Darby Dunne and Brendan Gorman on fantastic National victories. Also well done to the Tullamore committee on providing an excellent venue for the Seniors Nationals 2009.

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