All the news and happenings from the local golf clubs

CRAWFORD CUP AT BROWN TROUT

The weekend club competition was played in medal format for the Crawford Cup. Two handicapper Donal Mulholland hit top form with a winning score of net 65.

Opening with a flawless front nine with birdies at the first and ninth for gross two under 33 he added three more birdies at holes 11, 12 and 18. Despite dropping shots at the 14th. & 16th.

Donal completed his round in three under gross for net 65.

Pushing him all the way Evan Wilson (19) completed his round with nines of 43 and 42 gross 85 netted down to 66.

Evan can look back to the 11th. with regret as he ran up an ugly 7.

A further point adrift and winning the third prize on countback from Ronnie Milliken and Tom Boyd Tommy McGowan (8) with the help of birdies at holes 5 & 9 opened with 37 blows before adding a three over gross back nine 38 for a net 67.

Ronnie Milliken (6) won the gross prize with a three over par 73. There was a very low dividend return with an abundance of twos!! These were scored by Donal Mulholland (3) Jimmy Kelly (2) Billy Pyper (2) Lyle Harris and Tommy McGowan.

This coming Friday an Open Charity competition is organised at the Brown Trout by Ethna Tosh in support of Coleraine Samaritans group with lots of prizes to be won. Your support for this worthy charity will be welcomed.

TWADDLE FIRST AT BALLYCASTLE

After the torrential rain of Saturday morning caused the postponement of the September Monthly Medal, conditions improved considerably on Sunday and this was reflected in the scoring.

In first place Ryan Twaddle (18) had a storming front nine of 24 points on his way to a winning total of 43 points.

In 2nd place Peter Dowds (11) had 41 points to push fellow Dunloy man and recent cup winner Lawrence McQuillan (13) into 3rd place also on 41 points.

Wednesday’s Midweek Open saw three players top the leaderboard all on 40 points, but it was Stuart Nevin’s back nine of 21 points which saw him take 1st place.

In second place Donal Gillan (17) had eighteen on the back nine which pushed Leslie Ferguson (15) into the 3rd spot.

Next Saturday sees the final cup competition of the season with the Brass Putter on offer.

The September Medal will now be played on Saturday 21st September and cup winners are advised that the presentation of the trophies will take place at the AGM on Friday 27th September.

MAUREEN TAKES

HEATHERLOCH TROPHY

Bushfoot’s Heatherloch strokeplay Trophy was won by Maureen Pentland, playing off 17, with nett 65. Maureen started well and was just four over par at the turn.

Her back nine may have been a little more ragged than that but Maureen held on well to finish the day with her net 65 and a firm grasp of the Trophy.

Deborah Hillis was second on nett 67. Her triple bogey at six did her no favours but a nice birdy three at seventeen would have been satisfying. Third place was occupied by Beverly Watton with a nett 68.

The only two of the day came from Jill McIlroy at eleven.

THE FLEMINGS ARE

PORTSTEWART CENTENARY CHAMPIONS

The “Dream Team” of Jim and Heather Fleming won the Centenary Mixed Foursomes Trophy at Portstewart Golf Club with a score of 33 points.

Their inauspicious start of one point from the first two holes was not what they wanted but amends were made as they got to the turn with 14 points bagged.

The first two of the inward nine was also disappointing with just two points being won from them.

Again a comeback was needed and a two at twelve for four points was the answer. This led on to a series of three pointers to get 19 points added to the card even with another blank at eighteen.

The resulting 33 points was matched by Keith and Hazel Browne but the Fleming’s back nine won out in the countback stakes.

Keith and Hazel were two points in front after nine with birdies being grabbed with a four at the long seventh and a three at the ninth.

No further birdies were scored and they just couldn’t muster that elusive single point on the return nine that would have secured a victory.

RONNIE ROMPS HOME AT RIVERSIDE

Last week the Shuttlecock Golf Society held their final outing of the season at Potrstewart Golf Clubs Riverside Course. And what a finale it was !

In the Individual competition which is based on the best five cards out of the seven outings no less than five players finished on the exactly the same total of 175 points in the Low Section.

An unbelievable finish ; the outcome of which will be disclosed at the Annual Dinner at Bushfoot Golf Club on Saturday 12th October.

At the previous outing at Moyola Golf Club Ronnie McBride looked to have snatched victory on count back, only to be relegated to second place following a Stewards inquiry. However, this time despite the efforts of the match secretary, Ronnie, playing off an 11 handicap finished a clear winner of the Low Section with a handsome total of 41 points.

Eighteen points on the outward nine with just one hiccup at par four 7th hole set Ronnie up for lift off over the homeward stretch.

This he covered in one over par which provided an excellent return of 23 points. Ronnie birdied the par four 12th hole but more importantly also the par three 15th hole which gave him back to back outright wins in the “Twos” competition.

Finishing four points behind the winner in the Low Section was Paddy McLaughlin with 37 points.

Paddy scored well on the front nine for a 21 point total and despite a “ding” at the par three 13th hole a birdie at the par four 16th hole seemed to put him back on track.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got: a three putt at the par three 17th hole and an altercation with a bunker at the par four 18th hole denied Paddy the Podium on this occasion.

In the High Section Derek Browne, playing off a 20 handicap, took the honours with 39 points.

Nineteen out and twenty back helped by a decent run of four pars on the back nine proved just enough to edge out Sam Hempill.

Sam showed great form on the front nine, reaching the turn with 23 points. Alas, a couple of blips at the 10th and 18th holes denied him the top spot.

However, this was a great performance considering how few outings Sam has been able to play in this season.

Members will receive forms regarding the Annual Dinner at Bushfoot Golf Club at which the Outing and Individual awards, including the Bob McIlfatrick Memorial Trophy will be presented. This is always a most enjoyable evening for all members and guests and a fitting end to an incredible season.

PRESIDENT’S DAY WIN FOR ALAN

Alan Haslam won a closely fought contest to get his hands on Club President Eddie Mason’s Prize on Sunday at Rathmore Golf Club.

Although he had a birdie four at the long fourth he also carded a few double bogies as well to turn with an average enough 18 points logged. Alan then found another gear for the inward nine, dropping just two shots to par before signing off with a birdie two at the eighteenth to grab another 22

The eleven handicapper’s resulting 40 points was matched twice but that closing birdie was a clincher in the countback process.

Rory Houston and Clive Eagleson were the other forty pointers with Rory winning that particular countback battle.

He had a single bogey on the card and one birdie, a four at thirteen but more importantly he also hit an ace at the par three sixth.

As well as the four points I’m sure it made for a wee celebration later. Rory had 20 points for the inward nine compared to Clive’s 18 so third spot was Clive’s.

He birdied the opening hole and added another at the fifth to be out with 22 points scored.

His double bogey six at seventeen proved telling in the final shake up. Simon Carruthers and Tony McAuley took fourth and fifth places with their 39s.

Ben Best won the best Gross prize for his round of 68 shots. His three at five was the only birdie carded on the way out and he also hit a couple of bogies to get to 36 shots for the nine.

The long thirteenth gave up a birdie four to get Ben to level par and this was closely followed by a two at fifteen to get into red figures for the first time. Sixteen was birdied in three to consolidate this and Ben ran out the back nine with a three under par 32.

The best score of the visiting golfers came from Castlerock’s Jackie Graham. The fifteen handicapper scored 34 points.

President Eddie Mason enjoyed the support of almost 120 golfers and the weather helped them all to enjoy his day