10 lady team, 18 holes fourball aggregate
Result: Malone 11 points : DUGS 4 points
Match 1: Deirdre Hoey & Karen O’Kelly (DUGS) vs Renee Keys & Rosie Kirk (Malone) 0-3
Malone got off to a fast start with pars on holes one and two putting them 2up. Pars from Deirdre at three, four and five stopped the rot, but still left DUGS one down. We traded blows for the rest of the front nine but despite our best efforts, we were 2 down at the turn. The challenge continued with both Renee and Rosie playing very solid golf in warm but showery conditions. DUGS were four down after 11. A fantastic birdie from Karen on 13 with a monster putt was just what was needed and Deirdre’s par at 14 meant we were back to 2 down. As Deirdre lined up her birdie putt on the wonderful 15th hole, Rosie sank a 20-footer for par and the win. DUGS were three down with three to play, but still a chance to win the back nine and halve the match. Hole 16 was halved with pars from Renee and Deirdre. With Captain Judith watching on, Deirdre birdied 17 to get the match back to 2 down but a very solid par from Renee at the last meant the match ended with the lovely Malone girls 3up.
Match 2: Elaine Thompson & Darina Heavey (DUGS) vs Caroline Jones & Gillian Browne (Malone) 0-3
Malone were very experienced match players and dovetailed brilliantly to beat Darina and Elaine on the 17th with an excellent par. It was a very friendly match which was never more than 2 up/down either side. The difference in the end was that Malone played the lake/water holes in Carton better to close things out. A very competitive match throughout was played in good spirits and we enjoyed the dinner afterwards.
Match 3: Maeve Whelan & Edel O’Reilly (DUGS) vs Cathy Batty & Trish Neely (Malone) 3-0
Maeve went to scratch and Edel got 10 shots, Cathy got 11 shots and Trish got 5 shots. After 9 holes Maeve & Edel were one up. Unfortunately Trish became unwell and went in from the 9th. Cathy kept the show on the road taking on Maeve & Edel single handed and not doing too much wrong for the whole of the back 9. Maeve played really solid golf to keep the match on solid ground. It was Edel’s 30 ft putt on the 18th that closed the match for DUGS.
Match 4: Linda Fitzgerald & Olivia Moore (DUGS) vs Margaret & Linda Dean (Malone) 0-3
Linda and Olivia started strongly, quickly racing to 2 up after 4 holes. Margaret and Linda then started to make full use of their 12 and 13 shots respectively and DUGS were 1 down at the turn. The 2nd 9 started badly and we were 4 down through 13. Perhaps the Malone pair started to tire because the 14th was halved before 15 – 17 went DUGS way. With no shots to be given on 18 there was a chance to level the match but a careless shot from us both meant the 18th was halved and DUGS lost one down.
Match 5: Ger Victory & Juliet Overend (DUGS) vs Barbara Black & Ann McHugh (Malone) 1-2
The last match out saw the Malone pair get off to an early lead winning the first hole. DUGS hung in for the next few holes but Malone dovetailed very nicely and were 2 up by the 9th. Malone maintained their superior play and also won the back 9 and the match.
Both Juliet and Ger were suffering with minor injuries so travelled in a buggy. The Malone pair said they had walked 17,000 steps over the course of the match but this did not make any difference to their energy or play!!
The match was played in a most friendly atmosphere, and with the backdrop of the beautiful O’Meara course in Carton, it was a wonderful day out.