Robinson takes April Medal at Galgorm

THE April Medal at Galgorm Castle Golf Club saw the introduction of three divisions for the first time and all three provided exciting finishes with countback needed in all three to decide the winners.

At the halfway stage, club Captain Neil Fitzsimmons (16) held a slender one shot lead from Jonathan McCart (19) and Bernie Frayne (19) with Garry Robinson (16), Michael Alexander (6) and Stephen O’Loughlin (22) in close attendance another shot away.

Through 14 the Captain was joined by Frayne in the lead with Robinson, Des Beckington (9) and M.

Alexander challenging a shot away.

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A further shot behind Gary Boyd (10), David Watterson (8) and Colin Kinghan (2) were making their presence felt and joined McCart.

With two to play Frayne was leading by one shot from Robinson who was another shot ahead of Fitzsimmons and McCart. Another shot down came Boyd, Watterson, Beckington, Alexander, Kinghan and new entrant Philip Smyth (13).

Also making a late bid for glory came David Stirling (9), David I Henry (17) and Albert J Smyth (13) another shot down.

Frayne missed his chance for overall victory when he double bogeyed the last two holes and so did McCart when he bogeyed the final two holes.

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This left Robinson and Fitzsimmons on their own and they were level with one to play. Overall victory went to Robinson at the last hole when he finished with a par to a bogey from Fitzsimmons.

In Division I at the halfway M Alexander led by one shot from D Beckington who held a one shot advantage over Watterson and Kinghan with Boyd and Stirling another one and two shots respectively behind.

Through 13 Beckington joined Alexander a shot ahead of Boyd, Watterson and Kinghan with Stirling another two shots adrift.

With two to play Stirling with the help of a bogey, birdie and a par moved into a one shot lead ahead of Boyd, Watterson, Beckington, Alexander and Kinghan.

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In an exciting finish all six players finished level. Alexander finished par, bogey, Beckington par, bogey and Watterson par, bogey. Kinghan (two pars) won the Gross prize. With a better back nine Stirling (two pars) finished runner-up and Boyd (bogey, par) took first place with a better back nine.

P Smyth and Ivan Alexander (17) led Division 2 at the turn one shot ahead of DI Henry with AJ Smyth a further shot behind. Through 12 Henry and P.Smyth were leading Alexander by one shot who was another shot ahead of A Smyth.

After Beechers Henry and P Smyth were still ahead by one shot from Alexander who was joined by A Smyth. A Smyth (two bogeys) and Alexander (par, bogey) faded over the closing holes leaving I Henry and P Smyth to contest the finish.

Smyth came home par, bogey and I Henry also finished par, bogey but with a better back nine Henry took first place. Alexander had the consolation of winning the Seniors.

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In Division 3 at halfway J.McCart and Frayne were ahead by one shot from O’Loughlin with Hugh Mussen (22) four shots behind and Sam MacDonald (19) another two shots away.

Playing steady golf Frayne had forged three shots ahead of McCart through 12 with O’Loughlin another two shots behind. Then came Mussen and MacDonald another two and three shots in arrear.

With two to play Frayne held a two shot advantage over McCart with MacDonald and Mussen three shots further away and O’Loughlin who ran into bogey trouble another shot away.

MacDonald, Mussen and O’Loughlin finished level but out of contention three shots behind McCart (par, bogey) and Frayne (ran into bogey trouble, see earlier) and with a better back nine McCart claimed first place.

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Twos were recorded by: L Foster, T Alexander, R Ardis, M Burton, P Galloway, G Henry, B Killough, N McSlynn, G Robinson, G Boyd, P Christie, L Craig, G Hood, G Jackson, R Lennox, D McAleer, M McAuley, M Lamont, J McCarry and A McCart.

* Results of the Ladies and Gents Open Stableford competition held at Galgorm Castle Golf Club were:

Overall Winner – Andrew Chan (17) (Rockmount) 39 pts (bb9); 2. Caroline Speers (23) 39 pts; 3. George McKeague (11) (Moyola) 38 pts (bb9). Gross – Kevin Toner (5) (Moyola).

Ladies and Gents Open Stableford: Overall Winner – Trevor Monaghan (18) 47 pts; 2. James Mairs (14)

38 pts. Gross – Steven Penney (3) 29 pts. Ladies – Kerry Dunlop (17) 32 pts.

Twos: S.Penney, C Taylor (Carrickfergus), S Briers (Carrickfergus) and Philip Galloway.