Marriage no handicap

A little piece of history was created at Ballyhaunis Golf Club last week when a husband and wife, Pat and Laurena Freely, won the men's and women's sections in the prestigious Dillon-Leech Memorial competitions. Local Newsagent, Pat, who plays off an 11 handicap, won the men's prize with a 66 nett while Laurena, playing off 16, finished top of the women's competitors with a round of 69. This was the first time that a husband and wife succeeded in winning the double in the Dillon-Leech competition, which has been running since 1960. The competition is in memory of the club's former president and captain, the late John Dillon-Leech, a renowned solicitor in east Mayo. To make the Freelys success even more unique was the fact that this year's President is also a Dillon-Leech - John junior, a son of the late president. Mary Dillon-Leech, wife of the late John, is still a very active member of the Ballyhaunis club. Now in her 87th year, Mary says she is enjoying the game as much now as she did when she first teed off in 1922.