Pitch and Putt has lost another hero with the premature passing of John O’Leary (RIP).
Eighteen-year-old John O’Leary (Dunlops) had staged a remarkable recovery to beat Mick Forrest (Carrigaline) by one hole in the 1983 National Matchplay final at Dunlops. Two down with six to play, John won three holes in a row to lead before Forrest pegged him back again. A superb putt down the final green gave O’Leary a thrilling win before a huge gallery.
In 1984, having beaten 1982 champion Tommy Rusk (Royal Meath) by 3&2 in the semi-finals, John went down by just one hole to Tony McCormack (Irish Ropes) in the final.
John contested his third National Matchplay final in a row when he faced David Poole (Campions) in the 1985 decider at Douglas. A magnificent regulation 36 holes couldn't separate two admirable players before David Poole was crowned champion at the first extra hole.
John’s three final appearances in succession constituted an all-time record for the National Gent’s Matchplay until Ray Murphy contested five on the spin in the mid-noughties.
John O'Leary scored 99 at Ferrybank in the 1990 NationalGent's Strokeplay Championship to finish third, a single stroke out of the play-off that was contested by eventual champion William Hill (Douglas) and John Carroll (Ferrybank).
In the first period of his Pitch and Putt career, John O’Leary won two National Inter-County championships with Cork. At Tipperary Hills in 1990, John O'Leary scored 97 in a Cork return of 386, which was two better than second-placed Limerick. O’Leary contributed 96 at Rocklodge in a Cork aggregate of 384 in 1984, which was six clear of Dublin.John O'Leary shot 95 when he was also a member of a runner-up Cork side at Navan in 1983 when the Leesiderstallied 379, eight behind champions Dublin.
A winner of a national juvenile Inter-County gold medal at Parteen in 1981, O’Leary represented Ireland in the 1984 international against England. John halved both his matchesat Memorial Park, Coventry as Ireland won 11-1. After playing with Andy Dempsey in foursomes to tie with John Roche and Peter Skerritt, John halved with Tony Allen in singles.
John claimed two Munster Strokeplay successes. In 1986 at Tralee, he fired 88 to finish seven strokes clear of GerCostello (Ardnacrusha). The provincial crown was regained five years later at Bruff when John’s 94 return was three ahead of Sean Minogue (Riverdale).
John was also dual 1983 Cork Strokeplay and Matchplay champion. After winning a play-off with Liam O’Brien at Douglas in the Strokeplay, he overcame Jerry O’Donoghue(St. Anne’s) in the Matchplay final at Pfizer.
O’Leary was a four-time Munster Inter-County winner with Cork - in 1982 (at Castlelyons), 1983 (John was top scorer with 94 at Hillview), 1984 (John’s score was again best at Tralee) and 1985 (Waterford Glass).
After some time away from the sport, John returned to be a very active member of first the Ballinlough and latterly Douglas clubs.
A regular contender in Scratch Cups, he won the Cunnigartournament in 2014.
In 2021, John set a new all-time record for first and most recent victory in the Cork Strokeplay championship. Rounds of 42 and 45 gave John victory by two strokes over Frank Dineen (St. Anne’s).
After collecting a third National Inter-County championship win at Rocklodge in 2022, John was runner-up to Ray Murphy in the 2025 Cork Matchplay at Collins.
At all times, John O’Leary played Pitch and Putt in an innate sporting manner, demonstrating a strong empathy for his playing partners and fellow competitors.
Sincere sympathy is extended to John's family and many friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
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