UH/1205

GOLFING TOURNAMENT RAISES £130,000

Ireland's golfers turn out to support Fund
A magnificent sum of £130,000 was raised as a result of the grand final of the golf competition organised last weekend by the Newry and Dundalk friends of Omagh, with all proceeds going to the Omagh Memorial Fund.
This was probably the most prestigious and momentous tournament to have ever graced the fairways and greens of Omagh Golf Club as representatives of ninety teams in all took part over the two days, including various celebrities.
The events of Saturday and Sunday encapsulated the warmth and generosity of the golfing community and the tenacity of club members. The commitment, industry and selflessness of all the participants has to be applauded.
The idea for the fundraiser was hatched by Newry golfer Eamon O'Hagan, who along with friends Sean Monaghan, Jim McKay and Michael Savage, made contact with Omagh District Council in the immediate aftermath of the August 15 atrocity.
Invites were then issued to clubs throughout Ireland, with everyone throwing their support behind the worthwhile cause. All involved worked long and hard to bring the event to its magnificent conclusion.
Many of the visiting players made the comment last weekend that it was the biggest and best organised tournament that they had ever played in a tribute indeed to the hard working Omagh and Newry committees.
Solidarity was the words on everyone's lips over the two days as they witnessed golfers arriving from every corner of the land, with their generous cheques and messages of sympathy.
From Carlow to Ballyliffin, from Royal County Down to Gweedore and Cruit Island,and from Portrush to Dundalk - players mixed and drank together. In all over 70 clubs travelled to play and along with teams representing the sponsors the numbers climbed to over 90 teams.
Club captain Robert Johnston had suggested earlier in the week that it would be standing room only on Sunday night at the cabaret and presentation of prizes and how right he was.
When he made his welcoming speech and presented prizes, the magnificent marquee, sponsored by Guinness, was filled to capacity.
The Omagh team were appropriately out first on Saturday morning and went on to be the winners of the top prize on the first day. Carryduff were runners-up with Castlehume third.
The weather took a turn for the worse on Sunday but highlights how well the top three teams on the second day - Kirkistown, Carlow and Brightcastle - performed.
The captain in his speech at the prizegiving paid a special tribute to organiser Eamon O'Hagan and his committee for their magnificent work on Omagh's behalf.
Sean Phillips and Omagh District Council also received his warm appreciations and congratulations on their great work.
He then took special pleasure in announcing the amount of money raised, a magnificent £130,000.
£117,000 of the proceeds came from the clubs and sponsors, while the remainder resulted from the club draw and auction.
Club president, Alan McDowell, also spoke and suggested that work being the perfect therapy for those in sorrow said that organising the event was the perfect exercise, with every member entering into the spirit of the occasion, endeavouring to come to terms with their sorrow for those bereaved and injured in the atrocity.
The captain then read a message of sympathy from Nick Faldo and Christy O'Connor (sen), who remembered their visits to Omagh to play an exhibition match for the late Fr Shields.
Compere supreme, George Jones, then commenced the auction and in less than twenty minutes, over £7,000 had been raised.
Highlight of the auction was the sale of a beautiful Waterford crystal lamp of which the captain was the recipient, at Portmarnock from an anonymous donor. It was eventually knocked down to a professional man, after strong opposition for the princely sum of £3,000.
Amongst the items auctioned was a host of golfing weekends at the clubs, many top of the range sets of woods and irons plus many other valuable goods all donated free to the function
To cap a marvellous weekend of course, was the cabaret evening in the marquee where that man Jones was very much the star attraction, ably backed up by Gene Fitzpatrick and Chapter Five.
Also present were the Omagh Swing Band and host of entertainers an celebrities which include John Lenaghan (Mae McFettridge), Jackie Fullerton, Adrian Logan Stephen Watson and Trevor Kelly. Others were also present on the night, giving their talents free for the fund.
Though the phenomena weekend has ended and visiting golfers have gone back to their own clubs, the experience will never be forgotten at Omagh Golf Club where the memory of it will live forever.
Meanwhile on the club front, Gareth Raflewski beat Sean McBride in the final of the scratch matchplay championship. Seamus Martin beat Dominic Pinto in the Joe Mullan sponsored senior matchplay.
Eugene Bradley beat Justin O'Doherty in the Nixon singles matchplay championship. Frank McElhatton and Frank McCanny beat Damien and Denis McGartland in the final of the Provincial Rentals fourball championships.
There is a junior open stableford this Sunday which is sponsored by Dunnes Stores.