GOLF: Busy week coming up at Prehen & Faughan Valley

Another busy week is planned at Prehen with the fabulous Wednesday Meal Deal '“ book early to avoid disappointment, an Open is down for decision tomorrow.
Pictured is the Par 4 second hole 'The Valley', at City of Derry Golf Club.Pictured is the Par 4 second hole 'The Valley', at City of Derry Golf Club.
Pictured is the Par 4 second hole 'The Valley', at City of Derry Golf Club.

The Chambers Concrete Open (L&G) on Saturday and an any combination Pairs Scramble on Sunday.

As usual visitors can take part in many of these activities and may book tee-times by contacting Sam Smallwoods on 02871311496.

While the Rathowen Cup was the competition on offer at Prehen on Sunday and David Spence (7) emerged as the winner after a hotly contested competition.

Mr Spence experienced somewhat of a rollercoaster ride on the outward nine as he interlaced birdies and bogies with abandon to emerge, somehow, with eighteen points for the nine holes.

On the back holes he steadied the ship, carded birdies at the intricate Par 4 10th, ‘Spires’, the tricky Par 4 16th, ‘The Widow’s’ and the scenic Par 4 18th, ‘Journey’s End’ for a 23 point total to win by a single point!

Kevin Green (15) was the man who just fell short on 40 points.

After attacking the front nine Green emerged with 22 points but his steady progress on the back nine was arrested at the difficult Par 4 17th, ‘The Red Barn’ where he failed to record a score and, consequently, had to be content with second prize.

George Curry (13) cooked up a fine score of 39 points and the icing on the cake was taking third prize. Two-handicapper James Mackay found that his fine 70 shot total was enough to take the Gross Prize on the day.

The fare on Saturday at Prehen was the Black and Adams Open Stableford for Ladies and Gents.

Thankfully the weather relented and the competition was played in perfect golfing conditions.

Eleven-handicapper David Bradley carded a fine 41 points to take top prize by a margin of two from a chasing pack of five who had to be separated through the intricacies of the overworked break-of-tie system!

On this occasion Messrs Richard Ayton and Paul McLaughlin were the first eliminated, Iain Anthony (6) took second spot and his Gross 73 was the best of the day, Andrew McFeely (11) showed no ill effects from his savage cut of the previous week and landed third prize and Michael Lynch (19) took the fourth prize on offer.

Mark Sheridan and Richard Lavery took the Front and Back nine respectively with 22 point total apiece.

Last Thursday’s Open Series at Prehen was a hotly contested affair this week and scoring was pretty exciting despite the blustery conditions and heavy showers.

When the scores were counted it was the 43 points of big-hitting Barry McMenamin that topped the board but only by a single shot.

Mr McMenamin built his score on the outward nine where he carved out 24 points. A further tally of 19 points on the closing nine ensured his victory.

Second spot went to Lester Moore (2) on 42 points. Into the bargain, Mr Moore’s 66 Gross was the best of the day! Interestingly, Mr Moore also carded 24 points in a first nine holes that included five birdies.

John Woods (15) found that his 41 points was enough to lift third prize but he will be still regretting the small slip-ups that pushed his score away for the top prize. Messrs, Graham Hepburn, Richard Porter, Cecil Thompson and Lewis Callen all recorded 39 point totals but the fourth place on this occasion went to Mr Callen (22) on a break-of-tie.

Meanwhile at Faughan Valley the Singles,

Doubles and Irons competitions are now in full swing and at the weekend the popular Annual Yellow Ball Competition which this year was kindly sponsored by McCarter Carpets, Church Brae, and the winners for the second year was the pairing of Tommy Donnell and Stephen Nicholl who beat the pairing of Conrad Carlin and Terry Dornan on a BOT both carding 62 gross,

The winner in the strokeplay competition was 16 handicapper Colin Robinson with 65 gross.

In the Sunday Stableford Open the winner was Lee O’Connor (5) with 40 points, in second spot on a BOT was Conor Peace (39) with 39 points, with Gregory McGlinchey (15) in third spot.

Competing in the Final of this years Club Champion Singles Competition, which is kindly sponsored by David Forbes is Paul Duffy and Neal Black.

Whilst the Robert Quigley Estate Agents sponsored Doubles competition is now in the quarter-final stages which has to be played by August the 20th and Irons competition is now now moving into its fifth week with 14 players in contention to make the final.

This weekend we are hosting The Ronnie Ross Trophy over Saturday and Sunday which is sponsored by Eakin Bros of Maydown.

And a reminder to all members that Faughan Valley’s Annual trip to the Brian Patton Day at Strabane on Sunday August 28th, with only six spaces left, if interested please contact Faughan Valley 02871860687.

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