Dave Stockton, the former US Ryder Cup captain, was at Mount Wolseley yesterday to help an absent friend from the Senior British Open generate money for a local charity. As it happened, the Christy O'Connor Jnr Charity Classic contributed £43,000 for the Tullow Day Care Centre.
"I've enjoyed playing a very fine course," said Stockton, who also gave a one-hour clinic. Earlier in the day, he enjoyed some fishing in the River Slaney.
O'Connor wasn't forgotten by Jack Nicklaus, who shared third place on his first competitive visit to this country. "Jack phoned me every day while he was at Co Down," said the Galwayman. "It was a wonderful gesture."
Top score in the team event was 92 points. And one member of the triumphant quartet, Ned Kelly from Newlands, had the distinction of contributing two eagles to the card, the first of the nett variety on the long seventh and the other a gross two at the 409-yard 13th, where he holed a pitch.
Leading scores: 92pts - N Kelly (11) Newlands, D Lavin (9) Hermitage, P Sheehan (9) Hermitage, E O'Donoghue (21) Portarlington; 91 - J O'Sullivan (15) Woodbrook, T Higgins (16), M Colley (12), Ms A O'Sullivan (27) all Woodbrook, on countback from Ms A Nash (21), M Nash (5), Ms M Dunne (30), B Moane (18) all Mount Wolseley.
