Lernihan sick on Bettystown rollercoaster

Laytown and Bettystown

Gus Fitzpatrick cruised to a four-stroke win in the opening RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society outing of the season at a wet and windy Laytown and Bettystown. But it was a day of mixed emotions for Dara Lernihan.

Such was the quality of Fitzpatrick’s golf that the four handicapper from Naas could afford to three-putt the last for his par five and still card a four under 67 nett to win by four shots from St Annes’ Greg Cooke (71), who pipped Clem Walsh for second place on countback

Eoin O’Kelly from Co Meath captured the gross prize with a level par 71, beating Irish Amateur Open Champion, Gavin Moynihan by a single stroke.

But the bittersweet story of the day came from former Irish Close winner Dara Lernihan, who is now at Elm Park. Lernihan finished a shot further back in the gross section on 73 after a roller coaster round which saw him ace the par-three ninth hole with a pitching wedge (according to our report!) only to have his celebratations quickly dampened by a quadruple bogey eight at the 10th. Dara reported on Facebook that it was a six iron from 184 yards.

RaboDirect Hilary Golf Society at Laytown and Bettystown Golf Club, Sunday February 3rd

1st: G Fitzpatrick (Naas) (4) 67

2nd: G Cooke (St.Annes) (6) 71

Gross: E O’ Kelly ( Co Meath) 71

3rd: C Walshe (Dundalk) (5) 72

Team: RJ Browne (Laytown & Bettystown), A Montgomery (The Island), C Walshe (Dundalk) 60.

Hole in one: Dara Lernihan (Elm Park) at the 9th.

Hilary 2013 outings

• Sun Feb 17 Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links

• Sun March 3 Seapoint

• Sun March 24 County Louth

• Sun April 7 Royal Dublin

• Fri April 12 Portmarnock G.C

• Fri April 19 Sutton