Atkinson ‘powers’ his way to July Medal success at Galgorm Castle

At halfway George Watt (11) was two shots ahead of Darren Cruise (14). Adrian Atkinson (12) and Paul Houston (5) were another shot back with Alistair Andrews (13) and Jonathan McCart (13) a further four and five shots respectively further behind.

Through the Maple Watt was still ahead but only by one shot from Cruise who was joined by Houston. Atkinson was another shot away followed by McCart a further three shots down.

Over the next three holes an improving Atkinson (bogey, par, par) and Cruise (par, double bogey, bogey saw them move into a one shot lead from Watt (par, two double bogeys) and Houston (par, par, bogey). Still trying to reach the front runners McCart and Andrews were a further two shots behind.

In a very close finish over the closing two holes Atkinson (par, bogey), Houston (two pars) and Cruise (bogey, par) finished together and with a better back nine Atkinson was the Overall Winner. The Overall Runner-up was Paul Houston (better back nine) and Cruise won Division 2. Watt (bogey, par) finished second a shot behind with Jonathan McCart (par, par) and Andrews (par, par) closing to within one shot behind Watt. Third place went to McCart with a better back nine.

In Division 1 at the turn three shots separated seven players – Norman Nicholl (10), Steven Penney (2), Jonathan McNeill (2), Michael Alexander (6), Willie Park (9), Trevor Alexander (10) and Stephen Logan (7).

Up the Grove and with two to play only one shot separated the seven players with Nicholl still in the lead. M.Alexander and Logan were making progress from the rear. In a very close and exciting finish Nicholl (bogey, par) and McNeill (bogey, eagle) finished together. Nicholl took the Division with McNeill winning the Gross. The remaining five players finished together. Trevor Alexander with a better back nine finished second and Logan with a better back nine took third place.

At halfway in Division 3 David McIlroy (17) and Colin Orr (18) were two shots ahead of Trevor Todd (16) followed by Ronan Speers (22) a further six shots down. Through the Maple Orr was ahead by one shot from McIlroy with Todd falling back three shots further behind. Speers was another four shots away. Approaching the seventeenth tee Orr was still holding a one shot advantage from McIlroy and an improving Todd making a late effort. Speers was also improving and was only another shot back.

Over the closing two holes McIlroy came home bogey, par to win by two shots from Todd with Orr and Speers finishing together a further shot behind and with a better back nine third place went to Speers.

The Seniors was won by John McCarley (13), while Tony Dodds (24) won the subsidiary stableford event by six points.

Congratulations to Robert Graham who holed his tee shot at the par three fourteenth.