Big Custume contingent on Westmeath pitch & putt teams

FIVE local pitch and putt players will represent Westmeath at this weekend's National Inter-County Championship at Cloghogue in Co Down. Custume Pitch & Putt members Michael Foley, Martin Kenny and Pat Malone form part of Westmeath's six-strong panel, while David Reddin - also Custume Pitch & Putt Club - manages the Westmeath team. Fellow Custume member Mildred Kelly shares managerial responsibility for the county's women's team with Kilbeggan's Michael Cunningham. Custume's Pat Malone makes his third consecutive appearance at national inter county level. The winner of the Custume Scratch Cup for the second successive season, Pat's progress in the game continues with each passing year. He possesses a game for the big occasion as was clearly evident at last year's finals in Larkspur Park, when he returned a splendid second round of 46 eight under par. Martin Kenny will be making his eight appearance for Westmeath at inter-county level and his experience of the pressure of playing at championship level could prove invaluable to the team cause. A player renowned for his abilities on the putting surface, Martin is the holder of three county titles. Michael Foley is this year's sixth man on the team and, while it is very rare that the substitute is required at these championships, manager David Reddin knows that he would be calling on this year's Westmeath Matchplay champion should the need arise. Having his best season to date, Michael gained valuable experience at this year's Leinster Inter-County Championship finals. David Reddin manages the Westmeath team for the third successive year. Secretary of the Custume club, Davy excels when it comes to planning and organising. On the playing side of things this year, Davy recently completed a Westmeath double when he added the Intermediate Matchplay Championship to his Strokeplay success of earlier in the season. The other members of the Westmeath men's team are Alan McCormack (Kilbeggan), Ronan Whelan (Kilbeggan) and Larry McGinn (Coralstown). The ladies' team consists of Liz Quinn (Collinstown), Aoife Carton (Kilbeggan), Kathleen Carton (Kilbeggan), Noeleen Coffey (Kilbeggan), Eleanor Gillic (Kilbeggan), and Rose McCormack (Kilbeggan). The National finals are played using five players with the best four individual scores over 36 holes counting against the team total. Once again, the Cork men's team are the team to beat, looking to gain a seventh successive championship. Their team will be boosted by the inclusions of National Matchplay champion Ray Murphy and Strokeplay champion Bryan Delaney. Westmeath's highest placed finish at the championships in recent years was a third placed spot in 2000.