Bleakley completes Shandon treble

Stuart Bleakley, a 19-year-old from Shandon Park, became the third member of the illustrious Belfast club to win the Clare Coast Hotels South of Ireland in extremely difficult weather conditions at Lahinch yesterday when he defeated Darragh Coghlan (Portmarnock) in the final by 3 and 2.

Fittingly, David Long, the first Shandon golfer to capture the title in 1974 when he beat Richard Fleury of Portmarnock in the final, was a member of yesterday’s gallery. And by a remarkable coincidence, when Neil Anderson became champion in 1984, the beaten finalist was another Portmarnock man, Mick Morris.

Bleakley’s father Geoff, the former professional at Balmoral Golf Club, acted as caddie and between them they certainly made a formidable pair.