Anderson emerges on top after superb scoring in final round of Harry Harper

The third and final round of the Harry Harper championship at Ballymena Golf Club produced a some superb scoring, with the top six returning scores of seven under par down to five under.
Ballymena Golf Club Junior Captain's Day winner Andrew Adams is congratulated by Club Captain Jim Drennan watched by David Small. INBT 35-813HBallymena Golf Club Junior Captain's Day winner Andrew Adams is congratulated by Club Captain Jim Drennan watched by David Small. INBT 35-813H
Ballymena Golf Club Junior Captain's Day winner Andrew Adams is congratulated by Club Captain Jim Drennan watched by David Small. INBT 35-813H

The winner was Clifford Anderson who, off a 15-handicap, posted a nett score of 61 yet only won by virtue of having a better second nine nett score from Brian Crawford.

Anderson glided through the first nine holes in one over gross with eight pars and a dropped shot at the par three second.

The second nine didn’t quite reach the same heights with four pars, bogeys at the 14th, 17th and 18th and double bogeys at the 11th and 16th for a gross 40.

That was one shot better nett on the inward nine than Brian Crawford.

The 14-handicapper, like Anderson, made a flying start to his round with a level par front nine which included a birdie at the opening hole and a bogey at the sixth, with the remaining seven holes being pars.

But the shots began to go in the second nine and he finished his round with four bogeys and a double bogey in the final five holes.

That left Brian with a gross total of 40 shots for the nine holes and he will have been disappointed with how the round finished, particularly after such an excellent opening nine holes.

Third nett was Richard Armstrong (14) who finished his round with a nett 62 after equal nines of 38, less his handicap.

Adam Heron (12) claimed fourth nett prize, also with a nett 62, but lost out to Armstrong over the last six holes after he carded equal nines of 37 shots gross.

Fifth nett prize went to Martin Young (18) who had the best nett 63 return thanks to a strong finish which saw him play the final four holes in one under par, having birdied the last.

Donald Smyth claimed the sixth nett prize, also with a nett 63, having lost out over the second nine countback.

With a number of the club’s low handicappers involved in a Belfast & District tie against Dunmurry, the best gross prize was won by Cameron Horner (9) with a round of three over gross.

He was two over heading to the 10th tee and his second nine produced six pars, two bogeys and a birdie at the 17th.

SUNDAY STABLEFORD

The open stableford on Sunday saw 15-handicapper Colm Cunningham top the prize list wit ha score of 41 points.

A front nine of six pars plus bogeys on the second and eighth, along with a double bogey on the opening hole, which converted to 21 points.

The second nine was made up of six bogeys and three pars for a further 20 points.

Michael Scroggie (8) was second with a total of 40 points and he finished ahead of Chris McCrory by virtue of a better second nine total.

Michael was one under after five only to drop a shot at each of the next four holes for 19 points he played the second nine in one over for 21 points.

Third-placed McCrory (13) also had 40 points, with 23 of them coming from the first nine holes which he played in one over par.

SENIOR CUP

The seven-man Belfast & District Senior Cup team made their exit at the semi-final stage.

Having lost 4-3 at home to Dunmurry in the first leg, the Belfast side gained the required number of wins in the second leg to put the tie beyond Ballymena.

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