The 13th Annual Texas Irish American Cup Challenge

God indeed smiles on the Irish.  Tornadoes and storms blanketed Oklahoma and the Texas and Oklahoma border but in the little pocket of North Dallas that is Northwood Golf Club despite high winds all stayed relatively calm.  FelCor Lodging Trust’s CFO Andy Welch saw the Texans again retain the title.

Exciting play

Daryl Johnston, national sportscaster and committee member called the shots with an exciting commentary from the field.  The American team of Will Nelson and Randall Curington won the 13th Annual Texas Irish American Cup Challenge with a bogey on the 18th hole.  They bested the Irish duo of Brian Kennedy and David O’Donovan.  Nelson and Curington won the American shootout with a chip off over Jason Ainsworth and Reed Schnittker and Don Hanratty and Ryan Hanratty.  Kennedy and O’Donovan won the Irish Shootout with a chip off over Brian Shaw and Nick Gallagher.

The teams that do not make the Texas Irish Shootout participate in the Celtic Shootout which featured eight total teams starting on the 16th hole.  The team of Peter Leahy and Peter Smith were able to get their chip within 3 feet to move on and join three other teams on the 17th hole.  On the 17th hole, John McHale and Mark Livingston secured their spot for the final hole with an easy two putt par.  Two teams, Leahy and Smith alongside Bennie Brigham and Tom Donovan tied with bogie 5’s and another chip off took place.  With a chip that finished just two inches closer to the hole, the team of Leahy and Smith advanced to the final hole.  The final hole featured McHale and Livingston against Leahy and Smith.  McHale stripped a tee shot and Livingston followed with an approach to within 12 feet of the hole.  Leahy and Smith reached the green in four, and ultimately conceded the shootout to the winners John McHale and Mark Livingston.

Dinner Highlights

Ellen Welch, the women’s committee chair, and Michelle Andersen, who headed up the decorations committee, opted for white-on-white throughout the dining room with a hint of green provided by the Bells of Ireland in the white hydrangea table arrangements.  The evening started with all past winners in their green jackets being piped into the room to thunderous applause.  Hats off to Matthew Crowe and the Northwood staff who despite having 600 Mother’s Day celebrants the previous day came up with a delightful menu and impeccable service.

Auction action

The auction this year with our first professional auctioneer Dean McCurry realized more money for our designated charities than ever before.  Special thanks to Johnny Fortune, Rachel Gaffney, the Kennedy brothers, Susan Morrice, Bill Sullivan, Jack Foley of Aer Lingus, Coole Swan, Doonbeg Golf Club, Dromoland Castle Golf, DuMOL Wines, FelCor Lodging Trust, Charles Gallen Irish Linens, Irish Farmstead Cheeses, JD Golf Tours, Kerrygold Cheeses and Butter, Sullivan Vineyards, and Whitehall Lane Winery for their generous donations of venues and services.

As always the tournament could not happen without Tommy Gallagher and his band of golfers who descend on Dallas year after year making the month of Month of May truly “merrie” for all concerned.

Thanks to our patrons and sponsors

The Golf Chairman and Committee, and the Board of Directors of The American Ireland Fund extend their sincere thanks to our friends and supporters who have demonstrated their commitment to the Fund through their participation in the Irish American Cup Challenge. We recognize with gratitude our Sponsors and extend to them and to all our guests a sincere “Cead Mile Failte” – a hundred, thousand welcomes – and our thanks.

Emerald Sponsorship

Gold Sponsorship

Irish Sponsors

Patrons