Small piece of success for Kenny

At halfway Kenny Small (14) held a one point advantage over Ian Henry (18) with Robert Topping (16) and James McAuley (15) at two point intervals respectively behind.

Through fourteen Small still held his slender one point lead over Henry with Topping another point down and McAuley a further point adrift.

There was no change in the order through sixteen. Small finished bogey, par to win by one point from McAuley (bogey, par) and Henry (bogey, bogey) who finished together but with a better back nine J McAuley took the runner's up spot. Henry won the Division 3 and Topping (par, bogey) who finished a further point behind won the Seniors.

In Division 1 at the turn Mal Bellew (7) was one point ahead of Leonard Craig (12) with Henry Cubitt (12), David Keys (10) and Chris Cooke (10) at one point intervals respectively behind.

Through thirteen only two points separated these five golfers with Bellew still one point ahead of Craig. A further point behind Keys and Cooke had moved up to join Cubitt. Bellew surrendered his advantage after sixteen to Craig when he 'dinged' fifteen to fall one point behind.

Cubitt parred sixteen to join Bellew followed by Cooke and Keys another point away. Craig managed to hold on to his lead when he finished with two pars for a one point win from Bellew (par, par).

Cubitt (bogey, bogey), Keys (par, bogey) and Cooke (bogey, par) all finished level but third position went to Cooke (better back nine).

In Division 2 at the turn Derrick McClelland (16) and David Millar (14) were one point ahead of Raymond Lynn (16) and David Kilpatrick (14) with George Watt (15) and Des Cousley (13) another two points back.

With four holes to play Kilpatrick had moved up to join Millar at the front by one point ahead of McClelland who was one point clear of Cousley.

Watt and Lynn who had stumbled with a 'ding' on thirteen were another point away. In a storming finish only two points

separated the first six players.

McClelland regained the lead over the closing holes (two bogeys) to win by one point from Millar (bogey, par) with the remaining four players finishing together.

In a driving finish Kilpatrick (bogey, bogey), Cousley (bogey, bogey), and Lynn (bogey, par) were joined by an improving Watt (bogey, par) and by the closest of margins Watt with a better back three was placed third.

As mentioned earlier Ian Henry won Division 3. He was clear by four points of his nearest challenger at the finish

At halfway Henry was two points ahead of James Rea (27) with Gary Hood (19) and vice-captain Austin McGillian (18) close up one and two points further behind.

Approaching fourteen Henry was still ahead of Rea by two points with McGillian and Hood trailing by another two points. With two holes left to play Henry had his lead cut to one point by Rea with McGillian and Hood another two and three points down.

‘Dings’ by Rea on eighteen and McGillian on seventeen left the way clear for Henry who took advantage with a two bogey finish for first place.

Rea held on for second place one point ahead of McGillian who bogeyed the last and Hood (bogey, double bogey) who finished level but with a better back nine McGillian finished in third place.

RESULTS

Overall Winner – Kenny Small (14) 42 pts; Runner-up – James McAuley (15) 41 pts (bb9).

Division 1 – 1. Leonard Craig (12) 39 pts; 2. Malachy Bellew (7) 38 pts; 3. Chris Cooke (36 pts (bb9).

Division 2 – 1. Derrick McClelland (16) 39 pts; 2. David Millar (14) 38 pts; 3. George Watt (15) 37 pts (bb3).

Division 3 – 1. David I Henry (18) 41 pts; 2. James Rea (27) 37 pts; 3. Austin McGillian (18) 36 pts (bb9).

Gross – Liam Reilly jnr (0) 35 gross pts; Seniors – Robert Topping (16) 40 pts.

Twos were recorded by: R Beckington. I Stewart, D Watterson (x2), D Black, M Brown, J McFarland, W McVeigh, D Murray, A Proctor, R Topping, A Workman, K Andrews, D Chappell and D Cousley.

BELFAST & DISTRICT CUP

Galgorm were drawn against Donaghadee in the Third Round of the Belfast & District Cup. The first leg was played at Donaghadee and Galgorm suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat.

First match out was Paul Christie who never really got going and lost 5 and 4.

The second match between Paul Houston and his opponent was a close affair right up to the 17th where Houston lost 2 and 1.

Steven Penney brought a glimmer of hope to Galgorm when he halved his match but Johnny Rodgers and Liam Reilly jnr also lost heavily by 5 and 4.

At this stage Galgorm Castle were trailing 4.5-0.5 with the outlook very bleak.

Ben Churchill gave Galgorm a valuable win when in a very tense finish he won 1 up.

Dave Kernohan halved his match to leave Galgorm with a three match deficit to overturn at home if they were to make any further progress.

In the opening match Dave Kernohan gave the home side a good start when he won 4 and 2. Ben Churchill was next out and he kept up the good work with a 4 and 3 win.

Things were going well at this stage and the rest of the team were gaining momentum. A setback occurred when Liam Reilly jnr lost 4 and 3 leaving Galgorm still two matches behind overall.

Next up Steven Penney had a rather facile victory by 8 and 7. Johnny McNeill lost 4 and 3 but Johnny Rodgers kept home hopes alive when he won his match 3 and 2.

Everything now depended on the last match between Paul Houston and N Jenkins. After a close front nine Houston edged in front for a 3 and 2 win to make the second leg result 5–2 in favour of Galgorm Castle and the overall result Galgorm Castle 7, Donaghadee 7.

With the scores level over the two legs this meant a play-off was required to decide the winner.

Dave Kernohan was Galgorm’s selected player and he won the play-off sending Galgorm into the next round (fourth round).

The victory for Galgorm, an unseeded team, in their first year in the Belfast & District Cup was excellent after overcoming a huge deficit.

Galgorm Castle Golf Club will now become a seeded team next year. Congratulations to Gary Henry and his team and good luck for the remaining rounds of the competition.