Aidan wins on better back nine

In the Wednesday Sweep on July 18 there was a big response of 132 entries. On the day 14 golfers produced under par figures and this represented around eleven per cent of the field.

There were two returns of 40 points and so the back nine resolved the issue. As a result young Aidan Murphy was the recipient of the main prize with his tally of 40 points. This fifteen handicapper had a slow start with just pars at holes two and seven on the opening nine. He played smartly on the back nine and a quintet of pars at holes ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen and seventeen guided him safely home. Indeed a pair of double bogeys on holes eleven and eighteen deprived him of a higher return.

Twelve handicapper Gerard Henderson was runner-up with the other total of 40 points. Gerard was in the thick of things through nine holes with six pars and three bogeys on his card. Holes five, six and eight were the non-par holes. He found the going more of a struggle on the inward nine but a birdie on the fourteenth and pars on holes fifteen and eighteen were his key plays.

Ben McKnight captured the third net award with his score of 39 points. This seven handicapper had a variety of scores from a no-return on the fifth to bogeys on holes six, nine, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen. A selection of birdies on holes three, ten, twelve and sixteen took care of most of these bogeys. Pars on the remaining holes eased him into third spot.

Hammie Baxter was fourth with a fighting effort of 39 points. This twenty four handicapper had one of his best scores for quite some time. In spite of a trio of double bogeys his numerous net pars kept his score mounting. A birdie at the eighth and pars at holes one and seven was the mainstay of his scoring.

Four handicapper Martin McAvoy was fifth with the best return in the 38 point bracket. Bogeys on holes two and six and a no-return at the eighth were wholly out of character on the front nine. Still a birdie at the seventh and pars on the other five holes kept him afloat. He played superbly on the homeward nine. It comprised eight pars alongside a birdie on the eighteenth.

However on his way to a score of thirty six points Conor Wilson had the ‘shot of the day’. This twelve handicapper had an ace at the par three second hole.

Finally the gross award went to Philip Shaw. This four handicapper triumphed with his effort of 35 gross points.