Intervarsities Ladies Golf 2009

Enniscrone Golf Club, 8th – 9th October

On Wednesday 8th October a team of four ladies set off to Enniscrone Golf Club to play in the Inter- Varsities Championships 2009. The team was made up off Niamh O’Connor (Captain), Caroline Murphy, Aisling O’Shea and Tara Fahey. The club is newly set up with the players having no playing experience with each other in the past, which makes this achievement even more adirable. The format of the competition stated that that we had to select a team of 3 players and the best 2 scores out of those 3 would count towards our team total. The team was Caroline Murphy, Niamh O’Connor and Ailing O’Shea

Thursday the team was lead out was Caroline Murphy, followed by Aisling O’Shea, Niamh O’Connor and Tara Fahey. A golf course shaped by rolling dunes and running parallel alongside the crashing Atlantic ocean, it was challenging to say the least. Although conditions were the best they could have hoped for, not knowing the course cost the girls dearly on a number of holes. The end of the first day produced very impressive scores considering none of us had played the course before with Caroline Murphy shot a 78, Niamh O’Connor 79, Ailing O’Shea 83 and Tara Fahey had a 99; a team total of 157. A good start, but still trailing Maynooth by 4 shots.

Scores sky rocketed on the second day due to the adverse weather conditions including 50mph wind and torrential rain, so the UCD team moved closer to the leaders with a chance at the title. Tara Fahey had improved and shot 96, Aisling O’Shea shot an amazing 82 and Niamh O’Connor shot 84. At this stage in the proceedings UCD were leading Maynooth by 11. However UCD and Maynooth still had a player each out on the golf course that could change everything.  The final group were a long way behind so tension in the clubhouse began to build as people realised how close this competition could be. After an agonising wait the final group were in. Caroline Murphy had a 90, which left the UCD team with a total of 166 for the second day. The final Maynooth girl came in with an impressive score of 85, giving them a total of 171 for the final day but that wasn’t quite enough......UCD had won by a shot!!! To add to the delight of winning the team event, UCD also brilliantly claimed the top 3 nett prizes as well. Overall a fantasticl start to the 2009/10 season. 

Team Totals