The 24th Annual Texas Irish American Cup Challenge was played under sunny skies at Lakewood Country Club on Monday, May 22, 2023. Ten Irish golfers travelled to Dallas for the friendly competition between the Americans and Irish. In all, there were 21 teams vying for the Waterford Crystal Harp Trophy to be awarded after the final Shootout across holes 10, 17 and 18.
With a beautiful shotgun start at 9am, all teams enjoyed a few hours along the rolling greens of east Dallas. During lunch the top teams were awarded the Net and Gross trophies which ensured their participation in the afternoon’s Irish-American Shootout.
The team winners after 18 holes included:
- 1st Gross – Team Hanratty/Lyons
- 2nd Gross – Team Grimes #2
- 3rd Gross – Team Medlin #2
- 1st Net – Team McCarthy
- 2nd Net – Team Chantilis
- 3rd Net – Team Remington Hotels
- 4th Net – Team Curley
- 5th Net – Team Geary
Low Irish Team – Eamonn Cregan, Geraldine Doran, Tadhg McCarthy and John Punch
These eight American teams, two players from each, along with six Irish teams of two players each teed off for the Shootout on #10. Four American and two Irish teams were eliminated on #10. Moving on to the par 5 #17, the American winners were Marc Lyons and Ryan Hanratty making an incredible eagle 3! The Irish team of Nick Gallagher and John Kennedy outlasted John Rafferty and Geraldine Doran in a chip off. So, it was game on to #18 to determine the winner.
As these final two teams approached the 18th green, the Americans, who had won the Crystal Harp Trophy twice before, conceded a long putt to the Irish thus demanding a replay of the hole from the tee. As overheard, this concession embodied ‘the essence of the tournament’ by showcasing friendship and sportsmanship of the highest caliber. Once again, the two teams halved the hole which, according to the rules, called for a chip off to determine the winner. All four players competed, and Marc Lyons put his chip approximately 12″ from the hole, giving the title once again to the American duo of Marc Lyons and Ryan Hanratty. This was their third time to clinch the title and don the Green Jackets.
The afternoon ended with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the Garden Terrace overlooking the 18th green. Friends and teammates had witnessed the exciting end to this year’s Shootout, staying to recap the best, and the worst, shots of the day. Many guests chose to complete the evening with dinner together thereby extending the tournament weekend as long as possible before traveling home to Ireland the next day.
Texas Hall of Fame Inductee Dinner
Photos: Can Turkyilmaz, Judy Curtis