Roscommon Golf Club

CLUB WEEKLY NEWS 24.08.26

Men: Open Friday sponsored by GoToFinance: 1st Harry Gordon 46pts, 2nd Senan Kilbride 43pts, 3rd JP O’Gara 41pts. Weekly competition sponsored by Class Grass; Overall winner Padraig Walshe 47pts, Cat 1 Padraic Cuddy 41pts, Cat 2 Gerry Finn 43pts, Cat 3 Frank Beattie 45pts, Gross: Alan Connaughton 40pts.

Women: Gala Day sponsored by Kathleen Kearney Kelly 18h winner: Fen Thompson (Beech Park) 43pts, 2nd Martina Glennon (Longford) 43pts, 3rd Dolores Keane (Longford) 41pts. 9h overall winner: Paula Whyte 27pts, 2nd Cliona Baker 20pts, 3rd Marian Connolly 20pts.

Senior Men: Winner of the Sean Hanly Cup Charlie Brennan 41 pts, Cat 1 Matt Farrell 36 pts, Cat 2: Des Bruen 34 pts, Cat 3 JT Finn 33 pts, Cat 4 Tommie Murphy 34 pts. Deuces: Matt Farrell, Michael Sharkey, Declan Browne, Michael Healy, Pauric Dervin.
Senior Women: Winner Mary O’Keeffe 23pts, 2nd Paula Whyte 22pts, 3rd Marie Keane 20pts, 4th ⁠Bernie Maher 20pts, 5th Maura Quigley 19pts.

Parent and Child: There was a huge entry at the weekend for the annual parent and child competition kindly sponsored by the MacGuigan family. Winners of the 7 hole competition were Clodagh Whyte and Rian Murray, 2nd were Richie and Luke Evans. Winners of the 9 hole competition were Daniel and Gerry McNulty, 2nd were Liam and Milo Casey. Thanks to everyone who played and supported the event.

Stephen Hession Memorial Fund Raiser: The annual Stephen Hession Memorial fund raiser for Mayo-Roscommon Hospice takes place this Saturday, There will be a raffle and auction on the evening in the clubhouse after the golf and everyone is welcome to attend.

Olivia Costello: Olivia players in the KPMG Irish Open at the K Club this week. There are practice rounds Monday and Tuesday, the Pro-am is on Wednesday and the tournament starts on Thursday, Many club members will travel to see her in action and we wish her the best of luck.

Thomas Higgins: Thomas begins his quest to get on the European Tour at the qualifying school in Bristol this week. Forty players will progress to stage two which is in Spain next week. We wish Thomas the best of luck.

Inter Club: Our Jack O’Sullivan team defeated Loughrea last week and will now face Portumna in the next round. More details next week.

PARENT AND CHILD COMPETITION A HUGE SUCCESS

A very popular fixture on our calendar each year is the MacGuigan family Parent (Adult) and Child competition and this year’s event proved to be no exception. There was a great turn out for both the 7 hole and 9-hole competitions played over 2 days on Friday and Saturday. This is a lovely competition kindly sponsored by the MacGuigan family in memory of two remarkable people Mary and John who gave a lifetime of service to our Club.

Winners of the 7-hole competition were Clodagh Whyte and Rian Murray; 2nd were Richie and Luke Evans. Winners of the 9-hole competition were Daniel and Gerry McNulty; 2nd were Liam and Milo Casey.

A very special word of appreciation to Aidan Mulvihill for his help in organising this competition and indeed his trojan work with the Juniors throughout the year. Thanks also to Richie Evans for his help. Thank you to Michael and his staff for the lovely refreshments afterwards. They were very much appreciated. Grateful thanks to all who played over both days. Thanks also to Jacqui McCormack for her work as always and for the photos.

THIS FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING

Stuart Grehan will be the only Irishman in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team after Roscommon's Thomas Higgins and Fota Island's David Howard were named as first and second reserves for the matches at Lahinch next month.

While Paul McGinley will be there in an advisory role for skipper Dean Robertson from September 5-6, the Scot opted for England's Josh Hill over Higgins after England's Jack Whaley came from nowhere to win the other available spot in the 10-man team by lifting the US Amateur Championship at Merion on Sunday.

"Before last week, I wouldn't have seen Jack in the team," said Robertson, who still expects the home crowd to be his 11th man as Great Britain and Ireland tries to win the biennial trophy for the first time since 2015, when there were five Irishmen in the side at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

"But after watching him, the talent that he's got and the humility that he's got and the way that he spoke, I'm really excited to welcome him. The only downside of that is that if it wasn't for Jack, Tom Higgins would have been in the team, 100 per cent."

It was a tough decision for Robertson, who had Amateur champion Grehan and the leading five players from the World Amateur Golf Ranking—England's world number two Tyler Weaver, his compatriots Luke Poulter and Eliot Baker, and Scots Niall Sheils Donegan and Connor Graham—pencilled into his team before last month's South of Ireland at Lahinch.

Having watched them in action in Co Clare, he filled out the team with England's Ben Bolton and Sam Easterbrook, who reached the last 16, and beaten quarter-finalist Hill before Whaley's win at Merion knocked Roscommon's Higgins, soon to turn professional, out of the reckoning.

Thomas Higgins en route to victory in the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship, Portumna Golf Club, Galway 14/8/2026. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Thomas Higgins en route to victory in the AIG Irish Men's Amateur Close Championship, Portumna Golf Club, Galway 14/8/2026. ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Higgins (23) beat Dylan Holmes at the third tie hole to win the AIG Irish Amateur Close title at Portumna on Saturday evening, having already shone by getting the winning point for Ireland in the European Amateur Team Championship and beating Graham to reach the quarter-finals of the South.

"Absolutely, I would have loved to have had more Irish on the team," Robertson said of an experienced side which has Graham (19) making his third appearance in the match as Baker, Poulter, Sheils Donegan, Weaver and Grehan return from last year for a second successive time alongside debutants Bolton, Easterbrook, Hill and Whaley.

"I spoke to Thomas at length this morning on the phone, and he was brilliant. We went through in detail some feedback from what I had seen watching him. He had a brilliant year.

"He stood up, and he won the Europeans for Ireland in Estonia. He makes more birdies than any of the other players in the team, but he offsets that with a lot of bogeys as well, and that's why the likes of Josh Hill just gets ahead of him.

"But I do think he's going to have a fabulous career, given that if he can raise his floor, he is already able to do all the great things once he starts to improve in areas like maybe a little bit more rhythm on the golf course.

"He can take a little bit of excessive time and maybe indecision in short selection or commitment. These are things we spoke about, or I gave my feedback, and he agreed with all of it, and we had a lovely conversation, and he was absolutely class."

WALKER CUP DISAPPOINTMENT

Unfortunately we are the bearers of bad news today as it is revealed this morning that Thomas Higgins has not been selected on the Walker Cup team to play the USA in Lahinch in the next couple of weeks. Both himself and David Howard were named this morning as 'reserves' on the team.

There is only one Irish man on the team and that is Stuart Grehan. It's a big disappointment after such a brilliant run of form for Thomas. He can go on now and pursue his professional career and he will have everyone at Roscommon Golf Club behind him.

Well done to our Jack O'Sullivan team who defeated Loughrea earlier on Monday evening. Well done to management and players and everyone who came out to support.

Our Sixes team were victorious in the second leg of the Sixes League hosted at home in Roscommon on Saturday evening. We were joined by our golfing neighbours in Strokestown, Longford and Castlerea. A special word of thanks to Lady Captain Una Clay, our parents volunteers Tricia, Lars and Shane and also to Aidan Mulvihill who helped with cousre set up. The winning team are pictured here with Lady Captain Una Clay and Junior Girls Convenor Clodagh White.

Well done to Tom Og Reddington who had a hole in one on the 16th on Sunday!!!!!!!

CLUB WEEKLY NEWS 17.08.26

Thomas Higgins: The club welcomed back Thomas Higgins on Saturday night after his fantastic win in the Irish Close Championship at Portumna. (see story elsewhere)

Men: Open Friday sponsored by GoToFinance: Winner William O’Doherty 40pts, 2nd Richie Evans 39pts. Weekly 18h sponsored by the Abbey Hotel: overall winner Alan Craven 65, Cat 1 Liam Casey 68, Cat 2 Gerry Keane 67, Cat 3 Oisin Hynes 70. Tom Og Reddington had a hole in one on the 16th in the competition last weekend. Well done to him.

Ladies: Weekly 18h sponsored by Rosoran overall winner Rosemary O’Brien 41pts, Cat 1 Annie Timothy 37pts, Cat 2 Patricia Donnelly 36pts, Cat 3 Nuala Hughes 40pts. 9h: overall winner Jackie McCormack 25pts, Cat 1 Joan Hannon 20pts, Cat 2 Margaruite Farrell 23 pts, Cat 3 Teresa Duke 20pts.

Senior Women: Winner: Teresa Duke 22pts, 2nd Margaret Madden 20pts, 3rd Una Clay 20pts, 4th Pat Lyons 19pts, 5th Monica Lennon 19pts.

Senior Men: Winner Larry Doyle 38pts, Cat 1 Des Mahon 37pts, Cat 2 Fintan Burke 34pts, Cat 3: Tommy Gilleran 37pts, Cat 4 Sean Brennan 37pts. Deuces: Ollie Dempsey, Michael Sharkey, Seamus Mulhern, Fra Flanagan, JT Finn, Fintan Burke, Des Mahon.

Parent and Child competition: The annual parent (adult) and child competition kindly sponsored by the MacGuigan family will take place on this Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd of August. Friday will be for Juniors who don't have an official GUI handicap with Saturday being for those Juniors that do. Timesheet available in the bar.

Underage Golf: Our Sixes team were victorious in the second leg of the Sixes League hosted at home in Roscommon on Saturday. We were joined by our golfing neighbours in Strokestown, Longford and Castlerea. A special word of thanks to Lady Captain Una Clay, our parents, volunteers, Tricia, Lars and Shane and also to Aidan Mulvihill who helped with course set up.

A GREAT WIN AND A GREAT HOMECOMING TOO................

FROM THE GOLF IRELAND WEBSITE

Roscommon golfer Thomas Higgins won his first major title as he claimed the AIG Irish Men’s Amateur Close Championship after a thrilling play-off victory.

The 23-year-old defeated Dylan Holmes (Greystones) with a par on the third extra hole, the 75th hole of an enthralling three days in Portumna.

Higgins continued his fine form after he sunk the winning putt for Ireland in the European Team Championship in Estonia last month and also helped Ireland to victory in the Men’s & Women’s Home Internationals last week.

“It’s just a brilliant way to cap off the amateur career. I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to get it done,” said Higgins.

“Main thing is my coach just told me to go out there and enjoy it. It is my last ever amateur championship round and so I go out there and have fun and enjoy it.

“I wasn’t having too much fun after I tapped in for bogey on seven but I just stuck to it and kept going, sticking to my process, and found myself making a few birdies and a run, and that was pretty fun.

“I knew I was playing well and I was waiting for the putts to drop, so delighted that they started the drop there in the back nine.”

Harry McArdle (Warrenpoint) made the most significant move on Saturday morning, with a 67 giving him the lead on seven-under. He had opened with rounds of 73 and 69, and four birdies on his front nine, coupled with two down the home stretch, helped him to take the ascendency.

He took a two-shot lead, ahead of William O’Riordan (Greystones) and Conor McCarthy (Headfort). Overnight leader Dylan Keating (Seapoint) fell back to T5 on three-under alongside his playing partner Holmes.

McArdle made an emphatic start to his final round with eight pars in a row before he birdied nine and eleven, and while he stumbled on the 13, Higgins put on his run. He ended his front nine with back-to-back birdies and three more followed between 12 and 15.

Higgins had an eagle opportunity on 17 but had to settle for a birdie and his bogey on the last looked costly. However, McArdle couldn’t take advantage and finished with a bogey. And there was further drama in behind as Holmes and Keating battled back into contention.

A sensational round, which included seven birdies, had Keating tied for the lead with Higgins. Three birdies on the back nine meant Holmes was also in the lead and while he suffered a bogey on 16, he bounced back with a brilliant birdie on the Par 5 17th.

Holmes had his chance on 18 the first time around but he became the latest contender to bogey, and it resulted in a play-off with Higgins as they both finished on seven-under.

They played the 18th twice over and when neither player could seal the win, they had to return to the tricky Par 5. Higgins’ tee shot ended up behind a tree down the right side but he recovered well and it resulted in a par being enough to secure a precious win.

“It was unreal to have everyone here, most of my family are here, so it was unreal to have them see me win and have them here to celebrate as well,” said Higgins.

“It was an amazing experience.