Fifth position in Peru to help Mehaffey launch 2016 season

The Tandragee Golf Club player finished two shots off top spot and took time to reflect on a missed opportunity.

“I was pretty surprised how well I got back into playing competitively again,” she said. “It was a weird week on the course.

“I struggled with my ball striking and putted well in the first three rounds then, in the last round, I hit everything at the pin.

“I was obviously disappointed not to get the win when I hit it so good in the final round and couldn’t get much to drop but that’s golf.

“At the start of the week, I would have taken the score and the position.

“It’s a nice start to build on.”

Her packed schedule includes a visit to the Portuguese International Ladies’ Amateur Championship this week as part of Ireland’s nine-strong panel.

On the club scene, 54 pairs entered the Ulster Carpets-sponsored Johnston Shield at Tandragee.

The fourball, betterball qualifying format is scheduled to run across six weeks - with club president Robert Megarity and his partner, John Weir, the leading players with 32 points over 12 holes on the first outing.

Adrian Maney and Mark Bannerman posted 31 points to share runners-up position alongside Alan Hewitt and Colin McMullen.

Four pairings - Colin McKillop and Philip Irwin, Simon Muldrew and Norman McGladdery, Jim Carson and Richard Hylands and Tony Graham and Michael Lyons - put up 30 points.

Stephen Burns and Joe Campbell were next in line with 29 points alongside Graham Harvey and Garvey Calvert, club captain Hammy Loney and John Hanna and Harry Thompson and Geoff Moorhead.

PORTADOWN

Portadown ladies’ annual dinner featured as the perfect opportunity to present Winter League winners with silverware.

The David Weir Trophy - presented by Gretta Weir - went to June Garvin and her team.

Serena Dale and her colleagues finished second.

Lady captain Anne Fox selected the Alzheimer’s Society as her charity of choice, with £1,200 generated overall.

The putting competition was won by Gretta Weir, with Eithne Little the runner-up over Valerie Courtney.

The ladies’ AGM is planned for Tuesday, February 23.

In the men’s 10-hole Stableford, David Porter claimed top spot on 26 points - followed by Tom Smyth with 25.

Don Black posted the same score as Smyth to complete the top-three placings ahead of Alan Whitten’s 24.5 and 24 by Lex Girvan.