Industry golfers battle it out for the fourth Celtic Cup
Team Ireland managed to retain the Celtic Cup after a series of tough matches in Sussex earlier this month.
In the fourth Celtic Cup travel industry golf tournament, Team Ireland was captained by Niall McDonnell, Classic Collection Holidays, and sponsored by Cassidy Travel, Topflight and Shannon Airport.
Team UK was led by Keith Chuter, British Airways, and sponsored by Unique Travel Representation.
Fourball and Singles matches were held at Dale Hill Golf Club and Chart Hills Golf Club respectively.
Team Ireland flew to Gatwick on Wednesday morning confident it could retain the trophy, despite not having talisman Senor Martin Skelly.
The Fourball matches at Dales Hill finished Team Ireland 4 and Team UK 2, with all to play for in the 12 singles matches on day two.
"As each of the singles matches finished at Chart Hills, it was becoming clear that Team UK had launched a serious comeback," said TravelMole’s Graham McKenzie.
"Captain Keith was beginning to look like a man on a mission and at one stage was seen preparing a victory speech. Sadly for Team UK, Ireland managed to cling on and although Team UK won the singles 6 ½ to 5 ½ the overall result was a win by the tightest of margins Team Ireland 9 ½ – Team UK 8 ½ ."
Making excuses for his team’s defeat, Chuter said: "Slow greens cost us. We are a team of touch putters and the state of the greens played into the hands of the Irish."
Dinner at Dale Hill was followed by the presentation of the Cup to the Irish Team and announcement of Captains for next year.
Team UK will be led by Fred Bickmore (unattached) and Clem Walshe (LocalMarketing.ie) will captain Team Ireland.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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