National title for Malone as Custume savours double delight

It was a weekend to remember for Athlone’s Custume Pitch & Putt Club as Daniel Malone was crowned National Junior Gents Strokeplay champion, while clubmate John O’Keeffe secured an impressive third-place finish in the Intermediate grade.

Malone claimed the National Junior title at Kilbeggan Pitch & Putt Club, where players from across the country gathered to compete for the 2026 championship.

The Custume player recorded rounds of 53, 57 and 54 to finish on a final score of +2. That proved enough to secure the national title by two shots and cap a fantastic weekend for Malone and the Athlone club.

There was further success for Custume at Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club, where John O’Keeffe produced an excellent performance in the National Intermediate Gents Strokeplay Championship.

O’Keeffe recorded rounds of 53, 53 and 51 to finish on a three-round total of -5, securing third place in the Intermediate grade. John also serves as PRO of Custume Pitch & Putt Club.

His performance ensured Custume had representation on the podium in two different National grades over the weekend.

Westmeath also played an important role in hosting this year’s championships, with Kilbeggan Pitch & Putt Club staging the Junior Gents event, while nearby Tullamore Pitch & Putt Club hosted the Intermediate and Senior grades.

The National Strokeplay Championships are among the major events on the Pitch & Putt Ireland calendar and brought players and supporters from clubs across the country to the Midlands over the weekend.

For Custume, the weekend ended with a national champion in Daniel Malone and a national third-place finish for John O’Keeffe — an excellent return for the Athlone club on one of the biggest weekends of the season.