Entries for Laytown and Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup close this Sunday
The 14th at Laytown and Bettystown
The West of Ireland Championship is just over four weeks away and golfers looking to hone their games for the opening amateur “major” will have a chance to prepare by teeing it up on links terrain in the 36-hole Laytown and Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup on Sunday, March 27.
The 36-hole battle over the lovely Co Meath links should give the field plenty of competitive practice for “the West”, which has a new format this year — 54-hole strokeplay qualifying with the top 16 going through to the matchplay.
Galway’s Ronan Mullarney, who is now a professional, won the most recent edition of the Laytown and Bettystown Scratch Cup in 2019 carding rounds of 70 and 66 to win by five strokes from home player Alex Maguire on six-under 136.
The Covid-19 pandemic put paid to the event in 2020 and 2021 but it’s back with a bang this year and thanks to sponsors PING and the club’s new PGA professional. Gavin Byrne the first prize is €600.
It will be a shotgun start in the morning and afternoon with a redraw for the second round with the top nine starting at the first.
The entry of €50 includes lunch and there is an excellent entry so far which includes reigning South of Ireland champion TJ Ford from Co Sligo, Forrest Little’s Irish international Jack McDonnell, Dundalk international Colm Campbell, two-time winner Caolan Rafferty from Dundalk, Grange’s Jake Whelan and Galway man Mark O’Sullivan, who won the Irish Close title in Tramore in 2003.
This year marks the 51st anniversary of the inaugural Laytown and Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup, which was captured by County Louth’s Mark Gannon, when it was a 72-hole affair, in 1971.
Multiple winners include Gannon (four times), Barry Reddan (three), and Declan Branigan, Finbar Ronan and Rafferty (two each).
Entries close this Sunday, March 20.
To enter, call 041 982 7170 with your details.
Past winners of Laytown & Bettystown Senior Scratch Cup
2019 Ronan Mullarney, Galway
2018 Caolan Rafferty, Dundalk
2017 Ryan McKinstry, Cairndhu
2013 Caolan Rafferty, Dundalk
2012 Richard Bridges, Stackstown
2011 Stephen Barry, Laytown & Bettystown
2010 Jeff Hopkins, Skerries
2009 Russell Durnin, Laytown & Bettystown
2008 Jim Carvill, Warrenpoint
2007 Joe Moore, Laytown & Bettystown
2006 Alan Condren, Greystones
2005 Rory Leonard, Banbridge
2004 Adrian Brogan, Forrest Little
2003 Eoin O’Sullivan, Island
2002 Adrian Morrow, Portmarnock
2001 Eddie McCormack, Slieve Russell
2000 Michael McGinley, Grange
1999 Barry V Reddan, Co Louth
1998 JP Fitzgerald, Co Louth
1997 N/A
1996 Declan Moran, Island
1995 Paul Bray, Hermitage
1994 John P Gannon, Co Louth
1993 Mark Gannon, Balbriggan
1992 Mark Gannon, Balbriggan
1991 Denis White, Moate
1990 Frank Gannon, Co Louth
1989 Tony Smith, The Island
1988 John Hutchinson, Royal Dublin
1987 Finbarr Ronan, Co Louth
1986 Finbarr Ronan, Co Louth
1985 Padraig Hogan, Elm Park
1984 Barry V Reddan, Co Louth
1983 Peter Rogers, Dundalk
1982 Declan Branigan, Laytown & Bettystown
1981 Val Smyth, Laytown & Bettystown
1980 Declan Branigan, Laytown & Bettystown
1979 Kevin F Garvey, Co Louth
1978 Barry V Reddan, Co Louth
1977 JJ Clynch, Laytown & Bettystown
1976 John M Gannon, Co Louth
1975 Richie McDonnell, Laytown & Bettystown
1974 Paddy Caul, Malahide
1973 Mark Gannon, Co Louth
1972 Des Smyth, Laytown & Bettystown
1971 Mark Gannon, Co Louth
