GOLF: Derry City FC Classic to take place at Prehen tomorrow

Also this week the highly anticipated Nexus Charity Open takes centre stage this Saturday. Enquires and booking can be made for these events by phoning Sam Smallwoods on 02871 311496.

While there was a large turnout to contest popular Captain Clive Brolly’s Captain’s Prize on Saturday at Prehen.

Played off the White Sticks and in blustery conditions the smart money was on low-handicappers dominating proceedings but the outcome proved much different.

Stephen Loughlin (19) played the game of his life to win with a fine 39 points. Mr Loughlin recovered from a brace of double bogies on the first two holes to post an outward nine of 19 points.

He topped that off with a nerve-jangling homeward nine of 20 points to post his winning total.

Second prize was claimed by Michael McShane (23) with balanced 19 points halves for his total of 38 points.

Terry Coyle (8) went one better than his President’s Day feat of “Best of the Veterans” by claiming third spot on Captain’s Day with a fine 36 points.

Indeed, there were a host of 36 pointers that had to be separated by BOT. Eight-handicapper Adrian Leckey’s 36 points eventually captured fourth prize.

Ernie Heywood (1) took the Best Gross with 33 points, John Love’s 36 points meant that he landed the Category 6-12 prize, John Woods found his 34 was the best in the Category 13-17 and Christopher Wilson took the accolades for the +18 Category.

William Acheson lifted the Veteran’s Prize on this occasion with 34 points, the Best of the Visitors was Chris Kelly, three-handicapper Peter Hasson’s 35 points stamped his name on the Young Adult Prize and Luke Hasson claimed the Non-Qualifer’s prize.

In the Captain’s Prize to the Ladies Louise Peoples was first, Pamela Rutherford was second and third spot went to Karen Jackson.

Four handicapper Cormac McKeown with 20 points won the front nine and Billy Henderson (12) with 21 points was best on the back nine.

In his Prize Presentation speech Captain Clive Brolly thanked the greens and bar staff for all their hard work that had contributed to the success of the day and praised the honorary Secretary, Shane Kelly, and other members of the Club Council who have assisted him throughout the year.

He concluded his remarks by thanking his wife and family for all their support.

The early starters had the best of the weather in the Sunday Stableford at Prehen and Tony McDermott (14) made the most of the benign conditions to post an unbeatable 40 points total.

An outward half of 21 points was the foundation of his score and he kept his head to add a further 19 points on the closing holes to claim a one shot lead over the second place finisher.

That prize went to Trilby Tour participant Christopher Ross (8) whose 39 points was a model of consistency.

Third spot went to the resurgent Gavin Morren on 38 points. Recently returned to pursue the honoured game Mr Morren is proving a force to be reckoned with and, but for ‘rusty’ mistakes at the relatively easy par 5 7th, “Dermot’s” and the deceptive Par 4 16th, ‘The Widow’s’ where he failed to record any score, he would surely have claimed the top spot.

The best Gross of the day was that of 4-handicapper Graham Hepburn who toured the course in a mere 73 shots.

Marie Clifford claimed the Ladies Prize on 34 points.