Joe O'Connor, one of the most consistent golfers in Elm Park over the years was a popular winner of the Captain's (Padraic O Gaora) prize last week. Playing off a handicap of five, O'Connor returned 39 points. In fact there were five scores of 39 points and O'Connor survived on the count back to win from Joey Costello (3).
It was O'Connor's second captain's prize win. He was successful in 1972, when playing off three. However, this year's success has added another dimension to the long list of O'Connor achievements. Golfer of the year on five occasions, Club championship winner four times, winner of the Pembroke Cup, the club's premier matchplay competition twice, and with Eddie Dunne, the present Irish team captain, Padraig Hogan and Bryan Malone made up the team that won the Leinster Barton Shield in 1981.
O'Connor will be in Lahinch this weekend when he hopes that the 75th anniversary of the founding of the club will be celebrated with a first green pennant when Elm Park represent Leinster in the Irish Senior Cup finals.
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