News

Player of the Year Race

Posted on 30 Jun '25 by Gary Ryan

With three months to go, the Player of the year race is starting to heat up in both the ladies and gents. In the gents Matthew Finlay is in the lead with 57 points after a terrific start to the year. Matthew was gaining points every week and took a big lead which had started to slow and now with some players starting to hit form he had to put in another good weekend performance to stretch his lead out from the chasing pack. Dublin Matchplay Runner up Niall Leahy is only 10 points behind now on 47 and has started to bridge the gap. With some big competitions still to play such as the Handicap Matchplay and the Presidents Prize there could be some late drama if Niall can put in some good rounds. Some of the other players in the Top 10 are the ever present Damian Creevey always likely to do a good score which could gain him a few points could he make a late charge? Dublin Team hopeful Gareth Walsh lies in 4th place on 32 points, the new arrival of daughter Daisy has not slowed this man down as he still has a chance in the run in. Laying quietly in joint 5th place is Ronnie Guinan on 31 points. Ronnie this year's Captains Prize winner and giant slayer in the Scratch Matchplay (beating Mr Creevey) could have a late charge if he keeps playing as well as he played during the Matchplay. Also tied 5th is Gary Ryan on 31 points a strong month of June for Gary earning 23 points. Hitting form at the right time after a -16 in the Leinster qualifying this past weekend another contender in the running for the title. Closing out the Top 10 we have David Hargadon, Dermot Buckley and John Dunne Snr on 24 and 23 points. All three men need to put in some strong performances to catch Matthew at the top. Finally in 10th is Chris Gallagher, 2025 Dublin Strokeplay champion on 19 points.

In the ladies it is a remarkably close race. Early on captain Ann took a commanding lead but has started to cool off these last few months biding her time to make another late charge. She sits in 3rd place with 28 points. Glenda Hoey currently holds a 1 point lead from Ladies Captains Prize winner Catherine Leonard. Both ladies are currently in some fantastic form having strong performances in June. With the Handicap Matchplay next month a long run to the final could be especially important for both players. In 4th place is Adrienne Kelly another prize winner from the recent Captains Prize is on 24 points. Adrienne could be a late bolter if she can find some strong performances. In 5th place is Kathleen Croke the recent Scratch Matchplay winner she is sitting on 20 points and if she has another strong showing in the Handicap Matchplay or even the presidents prize she could move through the placings and chase down the ladies at the top. In 6th place is Eileen Loakman on 18 points. Eileen has been a little quite in June but another lady who can definitely make a late charge into the running with some strong performances. In joint 7th we have recent runner up in the Scratch Matchplay Sandra Keogh and Dublin Intercounty hopeful Tracey Smith. Both Ladies are well capable of shooting low scores to gain some points and start charging toward the top of the Leaderboard. There are a sizeable portion of other ladies snapping at the heels of the top 10 can one of those ladies make a charge for the Trophy.

We are in for an interesting last half of the season and with 1 major left and 2 outside Majors to contend for in the Leinster Strokeplay and the National Strokeplay can one of our players bring home some more silverware after strong showing in both Dublin Championships so far this season.