Dooks' Tracy Eakin triumphs at Enniscorthy

Winners of the Whirlpool Irish Senior Men's Women's Amateur Close Championships Alan Condren and Tracy Eakin at Enniscorthy Golf Club. Credit: Inpho / Laszlo Geczo

Alan Condren and Tracy Eakin claimed silverware today at the Whirlpool Irish Senior Men’s & Women’s Amateur Close Championships respectively after an exciting final day of match play action at Enniscorthy Golf Club.

In the Women’s Championship Final, Dooks’ Eakin denied Deirdre Smith back-to-back titles with a 3&2 win in Wexford.

Leading qualifier Eakin booked her place in the afternoon’s final courtesy of a dominant 5&4 victory over Laura Webb (Royal Portrush), to set up the finale clash with Smith who had defeated Suzanne O’Brien 2&1 in her semi-final.

In the championship decider, Eakin raced into a 4UP lead through the opening six holes, but the defending champion fought back to reduce that lead to 2UP at the turn.

This advantage remained intact up to the Par 4 16th, before Eakin capitalised on a fantastic drive with a pinpoint approach to a matter of feet. Smith failed to up and down for par, conceding the hole and with it her title.

In the aftermath, the 2023 Close Champion put her win down to the work done behind the scenes after early year struggles.

“Absolutely thrilled. I haven’t been playing great golf all year. When I didn’t do well in the British, I selected this event to try and get my act back together. I practiced hard and it just shows that it pays off.” 

On the decider with Smith, Eakin pinpointed the 15th as the crucial moment in the tie.

“I was playing very well, holing everything, had two or three birdies in the first six. And then I didn’t actually play that badly, Deirdre played well. I hung on in and the turning point was probably 15. I made a good up and down from the back of the green, and then hit a perfect rescue down 16 which was a good angle in. Knocked it in to about two foot so game over."

Condren faced Gary Cullen in the Men’s Championship Final after an impressive 3&2 success over treble-chasing Joe Lyons (Galway) in his morning semi-final, with Cullen knocking out leading qualifier Karl Bornemann (Douglas) thanks to a 2UP win on 18.

Condren got off to a quick start in the final to give himself a 3UP cushion at the turn, but Malahide’s Cullen reduced the deficit to one within a matter of holes.

The 2023 Irish Senior Men’s Close Stroke Play Champion was not to be denied however, going dormie 3UP, and then a wayward drive out of bounds from Cullen on 16 resulted in a handshake on the tee box, a 4&2 result, and Condren was champion.

“Absolutely chuffed, delighted. It’s a good honour, it’s the second Irish championship I’ve won so really over the moon. Wasn’t expecting much when I came in during the week but I played really solid so yeah quite happy,” said the Irish international after his win.

Finals tend to be won on moments and the 2024 Leinster Senior Men’s Open winner, also held in Enniscorthy, put today’s triumph down to his work with the flat stick.

“Final was pretty good, we both played reasonable enough but I just held a few more putts than Gary at the right time."

The Women’s Plate was won by Sheena McElroy of Grange, who overcame Joanna Campbell (Royal County Down Ladies) 2&1 in a close affair that ended on 17.

In the Men’s Veterans, it was Tramore’s John Mitchell who secured the trophy, defeating Kilkenny’s Richard Guilfoyle 3&2.