Castlerock Stableford cracked by Hugh

Bear in mind this was played over the fifteen hole Winter Course, 8,9 and 10 are out of play at the moment, so Hugh’s 39 is even more impressive. Hugh birdied the long third for four points and an added another four at the index one seventh to help himself to 18 points for the opening seven holes. On the inward nine he kept the style going with another birdie at ten for four points. A nasty eight at fifteen pegged him back a little but Hugh recovered well to take eight points from the last three holes to help him to his table topping 39.

This 21 back was one better than nearest rival JR Stewart who carded 39 off his mark of eleven. JR, the oil business in Texas having closed, has taken up golf and came close to victory here. He nabbed a birdie three at the second hole and broke his sequence of seven pars in row in doing so. This gave JR 19 points for the seven played. Thirteen gave up another birdie, again sandwiched between several pars before his only dropped shot of the day arrived with a four at the short sixteenth.

Two pars to finish the round gave JR 21 back and 39 overall. Eleven handicap Nicky Thompson was two back on 37 and won the Low Section prize. Nicky was one under par for six of the opening seven holes, this was worth 19 points, but he failed to register at five and this would prove crucial. A three over par last nine gave up 18 points to secure the Low Section prize.

In the High Section it was William Atkinson, playing off nineteen, on top with another 39 points. Six pars for three points each and a one pointer at six gave William his 19 points out. Four points at fifteen and a good two at sixteen boosted William’s chances but just the one point was secured at the last to see him lose out on the big title and win the Section.

The best gross core of the day came from David Turner with 32 points. One over par for the opening seven gave him 14 of these and a nice birdie four at ten got him to level par again. A couple of shots slipped away early in the back nine but the par fives, fifteen and seventeen, were birdied and eagled to set David up for 18 points for the inward nine. Roy Deans took the Senior title this week for his return of 35 points playing off fifteen. His two double bogies to start did not auger well but a few pars and a good birdie three at seven got Roy back on track with 17 points bagged. No score at fourteen was the only blot on a good back nine which added 18 points to his card to secure the Senior section.