Shane Kennedy is the talk of Black Bush Golf Club after setting a blistering course record of 64, nine under par.
The 22-year-old – pictured above with captains Colin Rogers and Edel McDermott – carded ten birdies, including four off the spin from the 15th, to better the previous mark of 68, set by Alan Geraghty.
It earned him a place in the club record books and a cut in handicap from 0.8 to +1.6.
Kennedy, a final year student of Biology and Physical Education at Dublin City University, was competing in the Lady Captain’s Prize to the men. (on June 30).
‘I didn’t think about the record until I was coming down the last,’ said Kennedy, a Dunshaughlin local who has been a member since he was 10 years old.
Kennedy’s length off the tee saw him go through the back of the 562-yard ninth in two while he needed a drive and a gap wedge to reach the par five 18th.
After turning in 32, four under par, Kennedy bagged six birdies on the back nine where he also ran up his lone bogey at the short 11th. ‘I kind of shanked off the tee,’ he said.
The 17th is one of feature holes at the County Meath venue, capable of wrecking many a card, but Kennedy tamed it with a five-iron and gap wedge.
“I was swinging it well off the tee and left myself with a few simple up and downs,” he said modestly.