Close calls in divisions in Challenge Tour stableford at Galgorm Castle

The Challenge Tour corporate stableford at Galgorm Castle provided some close divisional finishes.
James Smyth and Colin Steele, just finished their round at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT28-239ACJames Smyth and Colin Steele, just finished their round at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT28-239AC
James Smyth and Colin Steele, just finished their round at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT28-239AC

Vying for the lead in Division 1 at the halfway stage were Mark Hamilton (8) and Patrick Bamber (5) a point ahead of Stephen McAuley (5) and Barry Agnew (9).

A par at 14, an eagle two at Beechers followed by a bogey at the next left Hamilton four points ahead of McAuley with two to play.

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Hamilton came home with two pars to win by three points from McAuley (par, birdie). Another two points behind came Bamber (two pars) and Agnew (par, birdie) who finished together and with a better back nine Agnew took third place.

At the turn in Division 2 John Carleton (12) had a two point advantage over a trio of players – Alistair Murray (12), Richard Kernohan (11)and Stephen Black (12) – followed by Thomas McNeill (12) another two points down.

In a close finish Murray (par, bogey) and Kernohan (bogey, par) finished together but with a better back six Murray took first place with Kernohan second.

James McClintock playing off eighteen had a very satisfying opening front nine which saw him with a five point lead at the turn in Division 3. He was followed by Keith Dinsmore (19) and Martin Laverty (19) who

were two points ahead of Andy Young (19).

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A disastrous run of bogeys and a ‘ding’ soon saw McClintock’s lead rapidly evaporate and he was joined by Dinsmore through 13.

McClintock got back in front after 17 and he finished with a bogey and a double bogey and was joined by Dinsmore (two bogeys) and with a better back nine Dinsmore finished first.

Twenty two handicapper Paul McNeilly held a three point advantage over Tony Quinn (20) and Gary Carleton (22) entering the back nine in Division 4. Another point behind came Reginald Marks (23).

Approaching 14, Quinn and Carleton were now only one point behind McNeilly (‘ding’ at the Fort) followed by Marks (also ‘dinged’ ten) another four points behind.

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McNeilly finished double bogey, par to win by two points from Quinn (two bogeys) in second.

Carleton (two double bogeys) and Marks (par, double bogey) were a further point away and with a better back nine Marks claimed third place.

Michael Reid (-1) won the Gross and his card included 13 pars and three birdies. James Mairs (10) won the Seniors.

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