Gary leads the way

LURGAN golfers played in another of the club sweep competitions last Saturday.

These hardy golfers endured a variety of playing conditions over the twelve holes of play.

Judging by the scores they coped pretty well with the difficult playing conditions. Some eighty odd golfers trod the fairways on the mouth of Christmas.

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In the treacherous conditions the top score of 26 points was achieved by two candidates. As usual a stronger better back nine resolved the issue.

Consequently Gary Kidd took the main net prize with his total of 26 points.

This twelve handicapper played solidly over the twelve holes to make this score. Birdies at the fourth and seventh holes were his pivotal scores on the outward nine. A run of pars on holes two, three, six and eight were further examples of his strong play. On the closing three holes he mustered a double bogey, par and double bogey. This sufficed to see him safely home.

With a similar tally of 26 points Bobby Creaney was runner-up on the day.

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Playing off his sixteen handicap Bobby was also well-placed after nine holes with pars at holes one, three, six and nine. He rounded off his successful day with two bogeys and a par at the eighteenth.

Third net in the competition came the way of Andrew Best. Also playing off a sixteen handicap Andrew took the honours with a fighting effort of 25 points.

A quartet of pars at holes six, seven, eight and nine put him in a viable position after nine holes. On the run in he made bogeys on holes ten and eleven and closed his round off with a solid five on the eighteenth. He too required a back nine score to claim third place.

The fourth and last net prize went to Vice-Captain Wilson Collins with the final tally of 25 points.

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This fifteen handicapper was best served through the opening nine holes by a birdie at the fourth and par figures at holes three and eight. On the closing three holes of play he had a variety of scores. A no-return on the tenth was followed by a bogey on the eleventh. He replied splendidly with a birdie four at the finishing hole. This secured him the last net prize on offer.

A score of 18 gross points enabled Francie Tallon claim another gross award. This one handicapper fared badly by dropping four strokes over the opening three holes. He was back in business with a birdie on the fourth and pars at holes five, seven and eight. On the back side of the course he continued the recovery with a trio of pars on holes ten, eleven and eighteen. On the day this was sufficient for the gross award.

Other golfers just shy of the winners were:

24 points: Gary McMahon, Keith Percy and Richard Budd.

23 points: Seamus Cushley, Gerard Marner,Henry Jordan.

For the keen golfers there will be a sweep on the eve of Christmas.