The start of championship season is almost upon us as the scratch cups got underway this weekend with Caolan Rafferty and Kate Lanigan collecting silverware at Laytown & Bettystown and Carlow Golf Club respectively.
Both players capitalised on the fine weather and showcased some of their best stuff in shooting low 36-hole scores to clinch victory.
On Sunday, provincial slam winner Rafferty warmed up for next month’s West of Ireland Championship with a blistering six shot win at the Ray Moore Senior Scratch Cup to continue his excellent record in the competition.
The Dundalk man completed a wire to wire victory after a morning seven-under 64 gave him at three shot lead and he doubled his winning margin in the afternoon with a five-under 66 to march to the title on 12-under-par.
In second place was Stephen Coulter on six-under while former Irish Close champion took third place, also on six-under. Seapoint star Dylan Keating was fourth on five-under while Sean Downes was a shot further back to round off the top-5.
Perhaps it’s because the weather has been so poor recently or with the West in Rosses Point on the horizon, there was a huge appetite for the competition this weekend with the cut for the field falling at +1.9 as a host of star names like Keith Egan, David Howard, Matthew McClean, Stuart Grehan, Quentin Carew, Ryan Griffin, TJ Ford and Jonathan Keane teed it up.
On Saturday, Hermitage star Lanigan also held off a stellar field to win the Carlow Women’s Scratch Cup.
Lanigan fired rounds of seven-under and three-under for a ten-under total as she ran out a comfortable six-shot winner.
In second place was Tramore’s Anna Dawson on four-under while youngster Ella Cantwell took third on four-under. Aideen Walsh rounded off the top four on one-under-par.
Both the men and the woman will continue their championship warm ups across the country with big scratch cups to come next weekend in Rosslare, Rosapenna and Royal County Down.
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