Brucie bonus as McKenzie wins at Raceview

He did it in some style as well, finishing three points clear of the field after posting a grand total of 45 points.

Playing off a handicap of 13 didn’t prove unlucky in the slightest as he played the opening nine holes in two over gross, dropping shots at the first, fourth, fifth and sixth, although he reclaimed two of them with birdies at the seventh and ninth.

Into the closing nine with a trio of dropped shots, he then surged to the finish with five straight pars and signed off with a birdie at the final hole for 23 points on the homeward nine.

Second place was taken by William Owens (21) who registered his first ‘major’ win as he posted 42 points, winning on a better back nine from similar totals recorded by John McElroy and Brian Russell.

Owens played the front nine very much to his handicap, scoring 19 points, but the second nine was somewhat different as he was six over, three of them being conceded on the last two holes, after four pars and three bogeys on the previous seven holes.

McElroy (13) also had 42 points but with equal nines of 21 points which pipped Russell on the second nine, where he had only 18.

John opened with four bogeys in the first five holes but his next four holes were par, birdie, bogey, birdie for 21 points, while six pars on the back nine proved priceless.

Brian Russell, with a shot on handicap at each hole, got away to a flier with six pars and three bogeys for 24 points out but the second nine failed to live up to that standard, with pars at the final two holes the best he could manage.

Fifth prize went to Darren McGaughey (14), one of a number of family members who have recently joined the club and all have acquitted themselves well in competitions.

Darren’s first nine of 23 points came from seven pars and bogeys at the first and ninth. The second nine was less spectacular, dropping eight shots on the first seven holes before finishing with a par and a birdie.

The final prize was won by Seamus O’Boyle (18) who had 40 points, 22 of them coming from a back nine of five pars, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Best gross was returned by junior member Richard Campbell who, off seven, completed the course in 71 shots. His card contained 11 pars, five bogeys and birdies at 14 and 18.

THURSDAY – SENIORS

The Thursday competition was seniors in the morning and juniors in the afternoon and the former saw recent Captain’s Day winner Gordon Caldwell mount the podium again.

The 16-handicapper scored 37 points, with his second nine total of 19 being one better than second-placed Michael Thompson (11).

Jim Drennan (11) took third place, also on 37 points but on an inferior second nine after a round in which he had been one under gross after six holes.

THURSDAY – JUNIORS

The juniors’ competition was won by Martin Young who, off a handicap of 23, scored an amazing total of 48 points, which will result in a handicap reduction.

Second prize went to Mark Crawford who, off 20, posted a total of 41.

The best gross prize was won by Jordan Hood (+2) of Galgorm Castle, with a score of 68.

FRIDAY – OPEN FOURBALL

This competition normally produces a large number of points and that was the case with winners John and Sean McElroy returning a total of 46 points.

John (13) and Sean (14) notched 24 on the front nine where Sean counted on six holes and John on the other three. The back nine saw the reverse with John’s scores being responsible for 16 of the 22 points they scored.

Second prize was taken by Lawrence Kerr (14) partnered by club secretary Ken Herbison (19) with a total of 45 points, of which 25 came from the front nine.

Third nett prize went to C McCrory (16) and partner Gareth McCullough (24) who had 44 points.

NORTH OF IRELAND

Ballymena Golf CLub’s Dermot McElroy experienced the highs and lows of golf at last week’s Magners North of Ireland Open Championship.

Having topped the list of qualifiers in the opening strokeplay section of the competition - thanks to a sparkling round of 63 - Dermot then lost his opening matchplay game to exit from the competition.

He did, however, receive a medal for being leading qualifier.

LADIES

MARY Kearney and Colette Delargy are through to the regional finals of the Nellie Garrett Stableford competition at Knock Golf Club in September after winning last week’s qualifiying event at Ballymena Golf Club.

They accumulated 40 points and saw off nearest challengers Jacqui Brown and Liz Small by six points.