Greene sends out message to Leinster selectors

In spite of winning the South of Ireland Championship in 2010 and playing a major role in Portmarnock’s victory in last year’s Irish Senior Cup, John Greene has surprisingly failed to catch the eye of various selection committees at provincial and national levels.

However, he reacted in the best possible manner to his omission from the Leinster team for next week’s Interprovincial Championships at Royal Co Down with a highly impressive victory in Saturday’s Killarney Plaza sponsored Killarney Scratch Cup.

Greene recovered from a mediocre opening round of 77 to improve by five shots in the afternoon and post a total of 149 that left him two clear of Shane McGlynn from Carton House.

Greene and McGlynn were well off the pace at the half way stage when rounds of 74 by current South of Ireland champion Stephen Walsh (Portmarnock) and Brendan Walton (Malahide) left them two ahead of Patrick O’Brien (Fota Island) and Dermot Costello (Cork) with Ian O’Rourke (Cork) on 77.

Conditions in the morning seemed a little more favourable but as the players accustomed themselves to the demands of the 7, 150 yards lay-out playing its full length, several others challenged the leader board. The afternoon scores were noticeably lower. Greene added a 72 to an opening 77 and his 149 total left him two clear of McGlynn, whose 71 saw him share the best individual round of the day with David O’Donovan of Muskerry.

Hard luck story of an outstanding day’s golf centred on Eanna Griffin of Waterford who would have been third had he signed his card for a second round 72 after an opening 80. Having failed to do so, however, he had to be disqualified.

149 - J Greene (Portmarnock) 77, 72. 151 — S McGlynn (Carton House) 80, 71. 152 — M Shanahan (Castlemartyr) 80, 72; P O’Hara (Kilkenny) 77, 75; S Walsh (Portmarnock) 74, 78.

Best gross, 1st 18, B Walton (Malahide) 74; best gross, 2nd 18, David O’Donovan (Muskerry) 71. Best net, Jordan Shanahan (3, West Waterford) 153.