Ballybunion, Rathfarnham, Enniscrone and Rockmount crowned Miele Regional Champions at Tullamore Golf Club

                               Ballybunion Miele Team (Region 3 Champions)

ILGU NEWS RELEASE

Players, panels and supports arrived to Tullamore Golf Club early this morning to warm up and prepare for battle in the Miele Fourball Regional Finals. 

All eight teams played steady and impressive golf to get to the regional finals but they had one last hill to climb before they could get their hands on the regional title. They took to the beautifully manicured Tullamore golf course on a calm and dry day in search of success.  

 The first rounds of the Miele Four-ball began in April so it has been a long but enjoyable endurance test for the eight teams to get this far.

All eight teams put up a strong fight with the hopes of capturing the regional title and progressing to the all-Ireland semi-finals and final at Newlands Golf Club on October 3-4.

First out this morning was Region 3, Ballybunion v East Cork. Ballybunion took the upper hand in the top match as they secured a 4 and 3 victory and it was only good news to follow for the Kerry team as the third pairing of Pat Joyce and Geraldine Williams overcame their opponents on the 13^th green to secure the second win. 

With a combined ten hole margin of victory for Ballybunion, there was no more East Cork could do.  Ballybunion were crowned the champions of Region 3 and will now prepare for the all-Ireland semi-finals and final at Newlands next month.

Region 1 followed suit with two Dublin clubs in the regional final. The top match required all 18 holes to produce a winner but Rathfarnham had the edge in the end after holding their one-hole lead to emerge as the winners. 

Rathfarnham’s third pairing were strong contenders as they put the second point on the board for their side, leaving just one last pair to seal the deal and this was successfully done by the final pairing of Christine Richardson and Roz Burgess on the 17th. This now sees the south Dublin club progress to the all-Ireland’s at Newlands Golf Club.

Enniscrone and Portumna were next to take to the course in Region 4. Enniscrone set a winning tone from the beginning after their first pairing put a 3 and 1 win on the board. This gave confidence for the pairings to follow as the third pairing for Enniscrone triumphed on the 16^th. 

Portumna did, however, clinch a point in the final match, with a 3 and 2 win but it was too late for the Galway side. Enniscrone will now be travelling to Newlands in October where the all-Ireland semis and final will take place.

Last but not least Rockmount and Co. Armagh took to the course in search of the Miele regional title. 

 The first win came for Rockmount from the final pairing of Andrea Watson and Sue McDonagh, securing victory on the 15^th green. Success followed suit as the third pairing for Rockmount overcame their opponents on the 16^th. With two matches won and a winning hole difference of 8, there was nothing Co. Armagh could do so the remaining matches were called in. 

Rockmount will join Ballybunion, Rathfarnham and Ennsicrone in the all-Ireland semi-finals and final at Newlands Golf Club on  October 3-4.  

Results

Region 3 

Ballybunion 3, East Cork 1
Caitriona Corrigan and Nora Quaid bt Sarah O'Brien and Mary B Walsh 4 and 3
Margaret McAuliffe and Ann O'Riordan halved with Lillian Harrington and Breda McCarthy (called in)
Pat Joyce and Geraldine Williams bt Emma Curtin and Ruth Evans 6 and 5
Una Deneefe and Maeve Barrett halved with Deirdre O'Brien and Paula Carey (called in)

Region 1
Roganstown 0.5, Rathfarnham 3.5
Brenda Craig and Jackie Flynn lost to Carol Loftus and Sylvia Meggie 1 hole
Aine Derham and Patricia Flood halved with Carol Camill and Jane Jones
Kathleen Gleeson and Phil Keane lost to Lynda Keartland and Sandra Gray 5 and 3
Monica Flynn and Frances Arthurs lost to Christine Richardson and Roz Burgess 2 and 1

Region 4
Enniscrone 2.5, Portumna 1.5
Rita McGoldrick and Louise Loftus bt Claire Callahan and Mary McElroy 3 and 1
Mimi Franklin and Josephine Gillespie halved with Kathleen Lynch and Carmel Cunningham
Sophie Dodd and Cindy Hughes bt Anita Carey and Brid Kelly 3 and 2
Mary McNamara and Ann Marie Hughes lost to Alle Fahy and Mary Kelly 3 and 2

Region 2
Rockmount 3, Co. Armagh 1
Jo Donaldson and Leonie Power halved with Lily McMullan and Paula McCrory (called in)
Maureen Entwistle & Noreen Mikhale halved with Ellen Brady and Valerie Gordon (called in)
Jan Lindsay and Rosie McCrea bt June Humphries and Flo McCall 3 and 2
Andrea Watson and Sue McDonagh bt Teresa McVeigh and Gail Steed ​5 and 3