Doherty’s golden shot
On another sunny but extremely windy day at Portmarnock links yesterday, Oliver defied the testing conditions to add a round of 84 to his earlier scores of 86 and 78, to posting a total of 248. He stands nine strokes ahead of his nearest rival, Mark Merrett of Britain with Icelander Ragnar Olafson back in third spot but effectively out of contention for gold.
The Bernhard Langer designed links is a handful at the best of times, containing as it does some of the deepest and most difficult bunkers in all of golf. When it has been burned a typically 'linksy' brown by the wind and is bouncy and hard, sticking close to par is anything but an easy task. However, Oliver Doherty has proved more than equal to the task which, perhaps, is not all that surprising given that he now plays off a handicap of seven.
However, these World Summer Games are about a lot more than just the winning of medals and for everybody involved in the golfing disciplines, this has been a wonderfully rewarding few days. The crowds have turned out in numbers, warmly applauding the golfers and appreciating the delightful sportsmanship as much as the golfing expertise.
For the people at Portmarnock links, it's a week they will never forget with golf director Moira Cassidy graphically capturing the unique atmosphere when commenting: "I'll need a box of tissues for the medal ceremony. I'm sure it will be very emotional. They call these the Special Olympics and that's what they are special, very special. It may sound corny to say so but it has been absolutely fulfilling. They are delightful people, overjoyed and not ashamed to show off their delight when they hole a putt but happy to get on with it when they miss. No tantrums, nothing at all like that."
Ms Cassidy won't admit as to who exactly is her favourite participant but nevertheless seems to lean just a little in favour of Carlos Mujica from Venezuela. "He's a terrific character," she points out. "he goes around hugging and high-fiving just about everyone and the people love him in return."
Oliver Doherty is accompanied by his coach, Philip Patterson, and his father, Jim, who also acts as his caddy. Oliver plays out of the nine hole Buncrana course beside Lough Swilly.
"He began at the age of 11 and was always on the course," revealed Jim. "He had trouble with his hands at first but once he got the hang of it, he developed a pretty good swing. I can't tell you how much I've loved caddying this week. I've loved every minute of it. I've caddied for him in a number of competitions but this has been absolutely brilliant. The interaction with the other competitors has been fantastic and the way everybody is together is fantastic. The spectators and the volunteers and the ball spotters are combining to make it all absolutely memorable."
Oliver has demonstrated his prowess in highly impressive fashion over the opening three rounds, hitting the ball very crisply from the tee and managing in impressive fashion to avoid the links's many dangerous sand traps.
"I think my driving is the strongest point of my game at the moment although that has gone off a little and I used my three wood a lot today," said Oliver. "I've been concentrating on keeping the ball in play." Very wise, too, bearing in mind the threat posed by the bunkers but as if to prove a point, he did knock a drive all of 314 yards at the 14th yesterday when he managed 'only' one birdie as against four the previous day!
As a youngster, Oliver's role model was Severiano Ballesteros but it's hardly surprising that in more recent times he has become an ardent follower of Tiger Woods.
"I would love to meet him", he declared, words that perhaps JP McManus and Dermot Desmond, close friends of the world number one, might bear in mind when Tiger arrives in Ireland in a few weeks time for his customary pre-open championship visit to our shores.
If Ireland are in pole position at Portmarnock links, that is even more the case over at Elm Green where the home contingent are really hitting the high spots. Ruth O'Mahony of Cork takes a ten shot lead into her division of the nine hole individual competition and is emerging as one of the stars of the tournament hardly surprising given the fact that her mum, also Ruth, was an outstanding sports lady and golf runs deep in the blood of the whole family.
Kevin O'Callaghan from Ovens leads his division by four and again this was to be expected for he captured the 2002 National Games and went on to help his country win the Scottish Cup. The individual skills event at Elm Green incorporate chipping, putting and wood and iron play, a discipline clearly much to the liking of Barbara Carragy from the golfing hotbed of Rosses Point in Co Sligo. Barbara has gold very much in her sights as has yet another Cork girl, the multi talented Catherine Atkins who is also an outstanding tennis player and swimmer.
Fergal McDermott from Limerick is out in front in his division while Paul Clohessy (a nephew of rugby star Peter) is in second spot in his group. Dermot and Francis Short from Kildare hold a nine hole advantage in the alternate shot division while Martina McAllister and John Monaghan are in second place in their section.
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