Captain’s Day success for Hugh at Galgorm Castle

Captain’s Day at Galgorm Castle Golf Club commenced with dark threatening overhead clouds as the Captain Ivan McCappin saw off the early starters.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club captain Ivan McCappin with his guests David Murray, Wilson McVeigh, John Carruthers, Ian Rosborough, Alastair McKirvell, George Simpson, Malcolm McIlroy, Neil McVeigh and Willie Park. INBT 26-177CSGalgorm Castle Golf Club captain Ivan McCappin with his guests David Murray, Wilson McVeigh, John Carruthers, Ian Rosborough, Alastair McKirvell, George Simpson, Malcolm McIlroy, Neil McVeigh and Willie Park. INBT 26-177CS
Galgorm Castle Golf Club captain Ivan McCappin with his guests David Murray, Wilson McVeigh, John Carruthers, Ian Rosborough, Alastair McKirvell, George Simpson, Malcolm McIlroy, Neil McVeigh and Willie Park. INBT 26-177CS

The clouds soon turned to persistent rain, heavy at times, and eventually the round was reduced to 16 holes. However this did not dampen the spirit of the excellent number of golfers who turned out in an effort to win the Captain’s Prize.

Twelve handicapper Hugh Moore was handling the conditions better than most and at the turn held a two point lead. He was always to the fore and came home for a well deserved one point victory after two ‘dings’on the back seven. His round included an eagle three at the par five Trout Hole.

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Conor Nicholl (14) was two points behind followed by William Armstrong (19) and Alistair Murray (12) a further point behind. Chris Cooke (11) was another point away, a point ahead of Emil Wylie (14). Mark Surgenor (13) was another point adrift.

Through 13, Moore, after a ‘ding’ at Arthurs Seat, was ahead of Murray who had closed to within one point with Armstrong another point away. Nicholl and Surgenor were another one and two points respectively further adrift with Cooke, followed his playing partner Moore and also ‘dinged’ twelve, and Wylie another point behind.

Another ‘ding’ at fourteen cost Moore the lead as A Murray took advantage with a par to lead by one point which he held through Beechers and then a ‘ding’ at 16 cost him his chance of winning.

Moore finished with a bogey and a par for overall victory by one point from Armstrong (three bogeys) in the runner-up position. Cooke (three pars), Murray (par, bogey, ‘ding’) and Nicholl (par, double bogey, bogey) all finished together and with a better back seven Cooke won Division 2.

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Murray with a better back seven took second place with Nicholl third. Surgenor (bogey, par, double bogey) and Wylie (bogey, birdie, par) were a point behind.

In Division 1 at the turn there was a trio of players vying for the lead – Paul Houston (5), Mark Hamilton (8) and Alan Goodrich (2) – a point ahead of Mark Dunlop (5).

Goodrich, with a birdie at the Fort, moved into a one point advantage which he held through 12.

Pars at 13 enabled Houston and Hamilton to join Goodrich at the front, two points ahead of Dunlop.

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In a very close finish Hamilton ‘dinged’ the last and Goodrich had a ‘ding’ on 14. Houston (bogey, par, par) and Hamilton (par, birdie, -) finished together and with a better back one Houston took first place with Hamilton second. Goodrich (-, par, par) and Dunlop (three pars) finished together a point behind and with a better back seven Dunlop finished in third place.

James Logan (18) turned for home in Division 3 one point ahead of David Henry (19) and Gerald Lynn (17). A further point behind came Donald Nesbitt (18) and Samuel J.Graham (18) who were one point ahead of James McClintock (18).

Logan continued to lead and with two to play he held a slender one point lead from Lynn who was a point ahead of Graham and Henry. Following closely another point behind were McClintock and Nesbitt (‘ding’ on 12). Logan finished par, bogey to win by two points from Graham (par, bogey) in second.

There was a real scramble for third place between the remaining four players and they all finished together a further point down. However with a better back seven McClintock emerged to take third place.

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Chris Nicholl (21) was well ahead in Division 4 at the turn. Tony Quinn (20) was four points down with Gary Moon (27) and Robert Barkley (21) a further two points behind. Nicholl ‘dinged’ 12 and was overtaken by Moon who led by one point. Quinn was a point behind Nicholl and two points ahead of Barkley.

Nicholl regained the lead at the next hole when Moon ‘dinged’. His lead was two points with Quinn and Barkley another point behind. Nicholl was still two points ahead with two to play and he finished bogey, double bogey to win by one point from Moon (double bogey, bogey). Quinn took third place with a double bogey at the last to a ‘ding’ from Barkley.

Other prizewinners included: Gross – Philip Graham; Seniors – George Millar (BB3); Best Front Nine – Keith Dinsmore (BL6); Best Back Seven – Michael Adams; Committee Prize - Michael

Alexander; Past Captains – Trevor Todd (BB7); Captain’s Guests –Wilson McVeigh; Putting Competition – David Burns (BB9); Nearest Pin @ 12th – Colin Kinghan; Longest Drive @ 9th – Alan Proctor.