Monaghan pips Curley for Kilkenny Scratch Cup
James Monaghan (The Island) - winner of the Smithwicks Scratch Cup at Kilkenny Golf Club is pictured with Paul Colfer, Smithwicks (left) and Charlie Phelan, Captain, Kilkenny Golf Club. Picture: Michael Brophy.The Island’s James Monaghan brilliantly birdied the 18th to to claim the 47th Smithwicks Kilkenny Senior Scratch Cup by a stroke from Newlands’ Cian Curley and Carlow’s Paul Bulfin.
With Bulfin leading in the clubhouse on one-under par 141 after rounds of 71 and 70, Curley and Monaghan came to the last needing pars to force a three-way play-off.
With a difficult pin tucked in left over the front bunker, Curley played a superb 75 yard approach from the left rough to six feet.
Monaghan was also in the left rough but from slightly closer to the green he played a superb pitch to two feet.
After watching Curley’s birdie attempt lip out, the 21-year old calmly holed his birdie putt for a closing 71 and victory.
Woodbrook’s Brian McSweeney finished fourth on 142 with Cian Geraghty from Carton House in fifth on 143.
Five-time winner Eddie Power from the host club finished in sixth place on 145.
Smithwicks Kilkenny Senior Scratch Cup
Rd 1 Rd 2 Total
Winner James Monaghan (The Island) 69 71 140
2nd Cian Curley (Newlands) 71 70 141
3rd Paul Bulfin (Carlow) 71 70 141
4th Brian McSweeney (Woodbrook) 71 71 142
5th Cian Geraghty (Carton House) 72 71 143
6th Eddie Power (Kilkenny) 73 72 145
7th Michael Buggy (Castlecomer) 74 72 146
1st 18 Gross David Reilly (Westmanstown) 70
2nd 18 Gross Richard Walsh (Kilkenny) 70
1st Nett Liam O’Mahony (Waterford) 70 70 140
2nd Nett Ryan O’Dwyer (Callan) 73 69 142
3rd Nett Ray Lonergan (Kilkenny) 70 72 142
4th Nett Richard Guilfoyle (Kilkenny) 75 69 144
1st 18 Nett Daragh Walsh (Castletroy) 70
2nd 18 Nett Alan McAuley (Ardee) 69
Past winners of the Smithwicks Kilkenny Senior Scratch Cup
1964 Tom Duggan
1965 Joe Carr
1966 Tom Duggan
1967 Brian Malone
1968 Liam Higgins
1969 John O’Leary
1970 Ted Higgins
1971 Martin O’Brien
1972 Martin O’Brien
1973 Denis Leonard
1974 Pat Mulcare
1975 Eddie Dunne
1976 Martin O’Brien
1977 Pauric O’Rourke
1978 John Coyne
1979 Liam McNamara
1980 Jim Mahon
1981 Pat Carew
1982 David McDonald
1983 Mark Gannon
1984 David Conway
1985 Tom Deegan (Jnr)
1986 Brendan Cashell
1987 Liam McNamara
1988 Leslie Walker
1989 Tony Hayes (Silver J.)
1990 Ray Moore
1991 Damien McGrane
1992 Padraig Harrington
1993 Peter Power
1994 Eddie Power
1995 Stephen Moloney
1996 Eddie Power
1997 Eddie Power
1998 Ronan Flood
1999 Eddie Power
2000 Simon Cranley
2001 Stephen Moloney
2002 Greg Bowden
2003 John Mitchell
2004 Eddie Power
2005 Stephen O’Flaherty
2006 Mark Shanahan
2007 Michael Buggy
2008 David O’Reilly
2009 Paul O’Hara
2010 James Monaghan