Club News 1st September
Club News
Claire McGonagle wins President's Prize
Claire McGonagle mastered the toughest of playing conditions on Saturday to land the final Major of the season in Portsalon as she won Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize in the wind and rain.
The conditions were far from appealing but the large turnout reflected the esteem in which Madam President is held and the chance to claim the final major of the season was enough to entice the players out in the rain.
Claire's tally of 40 points was enough to secure the top prize, with just one point to spare on a trio of 39-point finishers.
Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize – Saturday August 30th
Winner: Claire McGonagle – 40 pts
Runner-up: Bernard McGettigan – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Jack Friel – 28 gross pts
Third: Damien Buchanan – 39 pts BOT
First Nine: Noel Gillespie – 21 pts
Second Nine: Connor Scallon – 20 pts
Nearest the Pin: Dean Doherty
Longest Drive: Brian McAleer
Past President: Garett Horkan
Visitor: John Mee
Ladies Second: Frances Shannon – 33 pts
Ladies Gross: Roisin McCormack – 19 gross pts
Ladies Third: Anne Busche – 31 pts BOT
Beginner Lady: Erin Scanlon
Ladies Longest Drive: Claire McGonagle
Ladies Nearest the Pin: Pamela Clinton-McDermott
Ladies First Nine: Aedeen Conway – 16 pts
Ladies Second Nine: Karen McGlinchey – 16 pts
Club Results
Wednesday August 27th
Winner: Bernard Nash (25) – 42 pts
Sunday August 31st
Winner: Vincent Bradley (22) – 30 pts
Team News
Another busy weekend in store for Portsalon's remaining teams. On Saturday, Cathal Canning takes his Donegal League squad to Strabane for the second leg of their semi-final. Portsalon are clutching a 4-1 advantage from the first leg, but it is sure to be a tough test against a strong Strabane team on home soil. The winners will face Buncrana GC in the 2025 final after they overcame Murvagh in their semi-final on Saturday.
On Sunday, Joe Hensey and his Donegal Over 55s are heading Thru the Gap to tackle Murvagh in second leg of their final. Portsalon have their noses in front after the first leg, 3.5 to 1.5, and once again a battle to the winning post is almost certain. After missing out at the final hurdle 12 months ago, Joe and his panel will be eager to see it over the line now and he's picked a strong side to go into battle. Best of luck to both Portsalon teams over the weekend.
Ladies News
President’s Day
While it is true to say that some pilots found the conditions tough 30,000 feet above the ground, the same could not be said for Claire McGonagle who embraced the conditions on President Mae Blaney’s Day in Portsalon Golf Club on Saturday 30thAugust. While flights were being diverted from Dublin, and unable to land, the ball of Claire McGonagle remained on course and on target.
Playing off 6hcp, Claire’s gusty performance returned an incredible 40 points to win the overall President’s Prize and final major of the year. 5 Pars and 2 Birdies on the front 9 were quickly followed by 8 Pars and 1 birdie on the Back 9, which also included the longest drive for the Ladies.
As the third lady to hold the office of President of Portsalon Golf Club, Mae Blaney, who is also a past Lady Captain, has been a committed member of the club over many years serving on the Ladies Committee and currently as Chair of Council. She is universally respected by the members, and that was proven by the huge turnout in conditions that really dictated a cosy lie-in on Saturday morning.
Congratulations to everyone, who in teeing off at the first, showed Madam President the esteem in which she is held.
Results Mae Blaney’s President’s Day
2025 President’s Prize Winner – Claire McGonagle 40pts
Ladies Results
2nd – Frances Shannon 33pts Bot
Gross – Roisin McCormack 19 gross points
3rd – Anne Busch 31pts Bot
Front 9 – Aedeen Conway 16 pts
Back 9 – Karen McGlinchey 16pts
Nearest the Pin – 10th Hole -Pamela Clinton McDermott
Longest Drive – 11th Hole -Claire McGonagle
Beginner Lady – Erin Scanlon
Ulster Women’s Silver and Broze Medals 2025
Representing Portsalon Golf Club in Bangor on the 1st Sept, the winner of the 2025 Silver Medal is Claire McGonagle. The Ulster area finals will determine who goes forward to play in Headford on Oct 1st in the All Ireland Silver and Bronze Medal Finals 2025. Lady Captain Roisin McCormack and the ladies branch send good luck wishes to Claire.
Weekend members results.
While President’s Day was the main event of the weekend, it was also the August medal competition. The blustery weather conditions on Sunday meant a valid competition could not be determined, as not enough players entered.
I don’t usually post results if there is no valid competition, but two ladies took to the course on Friday, the Alternate Day and played the Stroke Competition. What is special about these ladies is, they are part of the lady beginner group who took up golf in 2024. It is indeed wonderful to see the ladies progressing and enjoying competitive golf!
Erin Scanlon and Maeve Ward, we will definitely be hearing more about you in the coming seasons!
Claire McGonagle mastered the toughest of playing conditions on Saturday to land the final Major of the season in Portsalon as she won Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize in the wind and rain.
The conditions were far from appealing but the large turnout reflected the esteem in which Madam President is held and the chance to claim the final major of the season was enough to entice the players out in the rain.
Claire's tally of 40 points was enough to secure the top prize, with just one point to spare on a trio of 39-point finishers.
Mae Blaney's Presidents' Prize – Saturday August 30th
Winner: Claire McGonagle – 40 pts
Runner-up: Bernard McGettigan – 39 pts BOT
Gross: Jack Friel – 28 gross pts
Third: Damien Buchanan – 39 pts BOT
First Nine: Noel Gillespie – 21 pts
Second Nine: Connor Scallon – 20 pts
Nearest the Pin: Dean Doherty
Longest Drive: Brian McAleer
Past President: Garett Horkan
Visitor: John Mee
Ladies Second: Frances Shannon – 33 pts
Ladies Gross: Roisin McCormack – 19 gross pts
Ladies Third: Anne Busche – 31 pts BOT
Beginner Lady: Erin Scanlon
Ladies Longest Drive: Claire McGonagle
Ladies Nearest the Pin: Pamela Clinton-McDermott
Ladies First Nine: Aedeen Conway – 16 pts
Ladies Second Nine: Karen McGlinchey – 16 pts
Club Results
Wednesday August 27th
Winner: Bernard Nash (25) – 42 pts
Sunday August 31st
Winner: Vincent Bradley (22) – 30 pts
Team News
Another busy weekend in store for Portsalon's remaining teams. On Saturday, Cathal Canning takes his Donegal League squad to Strabane for the second leg of their semi-final. Portsalon are clutching a 4-1 advantage from the first leg, but it is sure to be a tough test against a strong Strabane team on home soil. The winners will face Buncrana GC in the 2025 final after they overcame Murvagh in their semi-final on Saturday.
On Sunday, Joe Hensey and his Donegal Over 55s are heading Thru the Gap to tackle Murvagh in second leg of their final. Portsalon have their noses in front after the first leg, 3.5 to 1.5, and once again a battle to the winning post is almost certain. After missing out at the final hurdle 12 months ago, Joe and his panel will be eager to see it over the line now and he's picked a strong side to go into battle. Best of luck to both Portsalon teams over the weekend.
Ladies News
President’s Day
While it is true to say that some pilots found the conditions tough 30,000 feet above the ground, the same could not be said for Claire McGonagle who embraced the conditions on President Mae Blaney’s Day in Portsalon Golf Club on Saturday 30thAugust. While flights were being diverted from Dublin, and unable to land, the ball of Claire McGonagle remained on course and on target.
Playing off 6hcp, Claire’s gusty performance returned an incredible 40 points to win the overall President’s Prize and final major of the year. 5 Pars and 2 Birdies on the front 9 were quickly followed by 8 Pars and 1 birdie on the Back 9, which also included the longest drive for the Ladies.
As the third lady to hold the office of President of Portsalon Golf Club, Mae Blaney, who is also a past Lady Captain, has been a committed member of the club over many years serving on the Ladies Committee and currently as Chair of Council. She is universally respected by the members, and that was proven by the huge turnout in conditions that really dictated a cosy lie-in on Saturday morning.
Congratulations to everyone, who in teeing off at the first, showed Madam President the esteem in which she is held.
Results Mae Blaney’s President’s Day
2025 President’s Prize Winner – Claire McGonagle 40pts
Ladies Results
2nd – Frances Shannon 33pts Bot
Gross – Roisin McCormack 19 gross points
3rd – Anne Busch 31pts Bot
Front 9 – Aedeen Conway 16 pts
Back 9 – Karen McGlinchey 16pts
Nearest the Pin – 10th Hole -Pamela Clinton McDermott
Longest Drive – 11th Hole -Claire McGonagle
Beginner Lady – Erin Scanlon
Ulster Women’s Silver and Broze Medals 2025
Representing Portsalon Golf Club in Bangor on the 1st Sept, the winner of the 2025 Silver Medal is Claire McGonagle. The Ulster area finals will determine who goes forward to play in Headford on Oct 1st in the All Ireland Silver and Bronze Medal Finals 2025. Lady Captain Roisin McCormack and the ladies branch send good luck wishes to Claire.
Weekend members results.
While President’s Day was the main event of the weekend, it was also the August medal competition. The blustery weather conditions on Sunday meant a valid competition could not be determined, as not enough players entered.
I don’t usually post results if there is no valid competition, but two ladies took to the course on Friday, the Alternate Day and played the Stroke Competition. What is special about these ladies is, they are part of the lady beginner group who took up golf in 2024. It is indeed wonderful to see the ladies progressing and enjoying competitive golf!
Erin Scanlon and Maeve Ward, we will definitely be hearing more about you in the coming seasons!