Dale Bolger was the first Carlow winner since Jim McVeigh in 1980 to win the Midlands Scratch Cup.
That is 41 years of a wait for Carlow Golf Club, the holders of the event since its inception in 1950. Dale can now be proud to have his name associated with the likes of current Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington who won the event , twice back in the 90’s.
He ended on two fabulous rounds of 69 and 70, with a six shot lead finishing in style with two birdies on the 17th and 18th. All though at the time Dale did not know he had won it, as he was sitting in the car with his father Jimmy ,the professional in Kilkenny golf club, when his brother Jamie called and informed him simply saying “Well Champ!”.
We seen a number of locals doing quite well in one of the most renowned amateur competitions in Ireland this year. Barry Murphy and Brian Healy from the club finished both fourth and fifth respectively. Bolger speaking to Scoreline believes his knowledge of the course helped him tremendously.
“I found I really knew where to miss, and when I did have a few misses, they kind of came in the right spot. So I think the local knowledge defiantly helped keep the score together. When I did miss it was in part of the course,and I have missed on that hole hundreds of times. There was some holes I had to accept that I was going to make bogey or not get home in two on a par five.”
“Over the last year I was able to play an awful lot more golf and getting to play there so many days during the week, it was basically I was rehearsing for the whole year for it”
Listen Back to the full interview below on Scoreline Extra :
Dale is also a musican and is scheduled to play the George Bernard Shaw soon, check out his latest song below!
