All the news and happenings from the local golf clubs

Gerry Norwood playing off a handicap of fourteen shot a super 44 points to take the Section One prize on Saturday.

Gerry had birdies at the 8th and 18th holes on his way to top honours.

In-form Mel Carlton (5) took the runners up spot with 43 points which included a storming finish of three birdies in his last five holes.

Phil Cullen (13) took third place with 43 points; Phil had a better back nine than both Steven Mc Garry and Robert O’Connell. James Shirley (18) took the Section Two spoils with a fantastic return of 44 points, James started his round off with a birdie and his fine play continued to bring home his Christmas turkey. Good pals Martin Morgan (15) and Barney Mc Cahery (20) both returned 43 points but it was Martin who pipped Father Barney to second place courtesy of his superior back nine holes.

On Sunday Mel Carlton went one place better and took the Section One turkey after another 69 gross, which gave Mel his second round of 43 points of the weekend.

Mel finished strong again with an eagle at his final hole to nudge Rory Gallagher (5) into second spot after Rory returned 43 points of his own.

Mark McPoland (9) beat a host of players to take third spot with 41 points, his back nine was stronger than Harry Sheehan’s (7), Ciaran Mort’s (6), Allan McCooke’s (14) and Brendan McCollam’s (7).

John Morgan (23) rolled backed the years to take Sunday’s turkey. John returned a super score of 44 points, Ryan Twaddle (18) took second place with 43 points and Michael McAfee taking the final podium spot with 42 points.

The Midweek open on Wednesday was won by Gery McGuckian (21) with 42 points. Gerry had 21 points on both nines to edge out Ivor Torrens (14) on count back. Marty Morgan (15) completed the places with 41 points to hold off Seamus Killough.

The next open competition is on at Ballycastle this Wednesday 4th December; with visitors green fees £10.

Evan on top at BROWN TROUT

Week seven of the nine week Star Fuels sponsored Winter League at the Brown Trout was completed at the weekend and apart from the winner scoring well was less than previous weeks.

Evan Wilson (18) ran out a comfortable winner by a clear six points with a fine score of 45 points.

Evan got off to a flying start with only one shot dropped in the first five holes before ending the first nine with 23 points. Despite failing to add to his score at the 14th. (which he birdied first time round ) added 22 for his 45 point total. Sam Reid (11) took runner-up prize with 19 points after nine and finished off in style with a birdie at the 18th. hole for a further 20 giving him a total of 39.

Two players ended up with 38 points each and after the tiebreak Mark Dempsey (18) edged out Tom Boyd (6) by virtue of a better back nine. Mark scoring 19 points each nine with the highlight a birdie four at the tenth. For his part Tom opened with 20 points and scored 18 back nine points with birdies at holes 3 and 13.

Twos were scored by J. Kelly R. Orr S. Reid and T. Boyd.

Team Anthracite with the best three cards in the competition were comfortable winners with 84 points giving them a timely boost with six league points.

Jimmy Kelley’s team Phurnacite and Tom Boyd’s team Doubles each scored 73 points with Phurnacite earning five points with a better third card.

Lyle Harris adding 36 to Jimmy’s 37. For Doubles Robert Orr added 35 to Toms 38. Team Burnglow got three league points after scoring 70 points with team captain Tommy McGowan best scoring 37.

Team captain R. Milliken of Paraffin earned two league points with 67 points Ronnie best with 36. Captains Coal could only muster 65 points earning only one point.

With only two weeks remaining Doubles will be hard to catch having built up a six point lead with 35 league points.

Team Anthracite have caught up with team Paraffin and both have 29 points. well back with 23 points Phurnacite, Burnglow 18 and Captains Coal 13.

GOOD SCORING AT RATHMORE

Adrian Proctor won top spot on a tie break from the in form Uel Loghrey on Sunday at Rathmore GC to claim the top turkey.

The twelve handicapper was three over for the front nine and had 21 points carded for that. He went one better on the return nine, dropping three shots but registering a birdy three on the fourteenth to add 22 for his 43 total.

That back nine was one better than Uel’s. He had the better of the front nines with birdies at the par five fourth and the par four fifth and no dropped shots at all, getting 22 points logged.

Things were going well for Uel after the turn with another brace of birdies, the long tenth falling to a four and the par four twelfth to a three, before Uel dropped his one and only shot with a five at sixteen. 21 back, 43 scored but beaten on the back nine. David Wall took third with 42 points from his mark of nine. 23 points were taken from the front nine with seven pars, a birdy four at four and a bogey four at six.

Ten gave up a birdy four too but things slipped a bit from there with 19 points coming from the nine holes and 42 overall. One point back was Ian Kettyle, a scratch player, who birdied two and eight on the way out to score 20 points. The back nine opened with a birdie four which gave Ian the taste for more. Threes at twelve and thirteen helped and for good measure he added in a two on fifteen. Another 19 points and the last bird was taken.

BUSHFOOT WINTER LEAGUE

Division one of the Dunluce Golf Winter League at Bushfoot GC produced the day’s top score, 39 points from Kevin McGrath.

The eleven handicapper blanked the sixth but was able to birdie nine to have 17 points won at the halfway stage. His double bogey six at ten didn’t auger well but Kevin was not to be swayed and dropped just one more shot to the card. His three at seventeen for birdy pushed the points tally for the back nine to 22, 39 overall, and won the day for him.

Second in the First Division was Des Wallace, the hole in one man from last week, who scored 38 on Saturday. The fourteen handicapper got 19 points from the opening nine with a birdy three at the third helping.

A good two at eleven and another birdie, three at seventeen, matched the front nine and saw Des sign for 38 points.

In Division Two it was tie break time with David Mills winning out from Adrian Hutchinson on 38 points each. David blanked the opening hole and the seventh to see a mediocre 15 points scored by halfway. Ten was also non productive but then David hit top gear taking 23 points from the last eight holes to top his division.

Adrian for his part pulled 20 points from the opening nine including birdy threes at three and eight and a blank at five. Another blank was registered at eleven but Adrian played well to get 18 from the back nine and advanced his score to 38 points.

TURKEYS FOR JOHN & PETER

John Brankin already had a turkey won from last week so this week he helped out Peter Graham in the better ball competition.

The pair topped the charts with 36 points over the 16 hole winter layout. They hit a two on the sixth but dropped two shots on the next. Their birdiefour at nine helped though, getting to 24 points for the opening nine. An uncharacteristic blank slipped in on thirteen but a final birdie three at fifteen helped to add 12 points to get to 36 for the day.

Tony Martin, another winner from last week, paired up with Ken Greer to bat second place on 36 points. A birdie three on the eight helping to steer them to 23 out was the only one for the day but scoring was steady otherwise and 13 points came from the final seven for their 36 and countback pushed them into runners up spot.

Richard Gallagher and Kieran Crowley took third with 35 points. Hitting an eagle three at the second got them off to a flier and assisted greatly in them getting to the turn with 23 points bagged. Twelve more was all that could be mustered over the closing holes to push the pair on to 35 and third place.

FAIR WEATHER FOR ALLIANCE

The conditions for the recent NE Golfing Alliance meet at Castlerock were dry, mild and calm. Tommy Allen was certainly calm as he compiled the top score of the day, getting 38 points on his card, to take the honours for the home players.

This was made even more impressive as just sixteen holes were in play. Three 37s followed Tommy, from N Moore, Geoff Brown and Declan Kelly, and these were propped up by two 36 pointers from John Cameron and E Carson.

Raymond Eakin, Ken Newens and Mark Windebank all hit 35 points each for their prizes while John Jamieson, Billy Cameron and Brian McCafferty took the rest with 34, 33 and 32 respectively.

The next event will be the pre-Christmas ‘bash’ on Thursday 19th December at Portstewart.

After the golf there will be a bit of a get together for a bite to eat, presentation of prizes and maybe a few fizzy drinks.