Beckington claims Brooke Trophy success at Galgorm Castle Golf Club

At the turn James Smyth (8) was three shots ahead of Gareth Beckington (12), Mervyn Foster (7) and Matthew Reid (7).

Daniel Reilly (3) and Mark Dunlop (5) were another shot behind followed by Brian McFall jnr (8) a further shot behind.

Through the Maple Smyth held onto his three shot advantage over Beckington, Foster and Reid.

After the Grove Beckington with a birdie at Beechers had taken over to lead by one shot from Smyth who hit bogey trouble and Foster, Reilly and Reid were another shot down followed by Dunlop and McFall jnr. another two and three shots respectively further behind. Beckington finished bogey, par to win Overall by one shot from J.Smyth (bogey, par), Foster (bogey, par) and Reilly (par, birdie) who finished together and Reilly with a better back nine took the Overall Runner-up place.

Foster with a better back nine won Division 1 with J.Smyth second. Dunlop (two pars) was another two shots away in third place a shot ahead of M.Reid (bogey, double bogey) and McFall jnr (two pars).

In Division 2 at halfway Joshua Hill (14) was one, two, three and four shots respectively ahead of Thomas McNeill (12), Gary Jackson (11), Alan Knox (14) and David Stirling (11). Through 13 Hill had increased his lead to two shots over McNeill who was joined by an improving Stirling. A further one and two shots behind came Jackson and Knox.

With two holes left to play Hill was joined by McNeill, Jackson and Knox a shot ahead of Stirling. Hill (double bogey, bogey) fell out of contention and was joined by Stirling (two bogeys) two shots behind the placed players.

Knox with a bogey, birdie finish won by one shot from McNeill and Jackson who finished together and with a better back nine second place went to Jackson with McNeill third.

After the front nine in Division 3 David Millar (17) held a slender one shot advantage from David McIlroy (16) who was a shot ahead of John Caulfield (22). Trevor Fletcher (17) was another shot back followed by Colin Thompson (19) five shots further back.

Approaching the fourteenth tee Caulfield had taken over at the front and led by one shot from Millar. McIlroy, Fletcher and Thompson were two, four and six further shots respectively further behind but still very much in contention. Up the Grove Caulfield still held a one shot advantage from new challenger McIlroy who in turn was two shots ahead of Millar.

McIlroy came home bogey, double bogey but held on to win by one shot from Caulfield who ran into bogey trouble and a fast finishing Fletcher (two pars) and with a better back nine second place went to Fletcher with Caulfield third. Another shot behind came D.Millar (bogey, par) and Thompson (birdie, bogey).

Jonathan McNeill (2) won the Gross prize and David Henry the Seniors prize.