Colin is the May medal winner at Rockmount

Rockmount Golf Club Gents Captain Paul Banford, Ladies Captain Janet Douds, Gents Vice Captain Ed Donaldson and Lady Vice Captain Margaret Harrison with Rockmount Golf Club Open Week sponsors, Charles Hurst Cars, Skincare Organics and Calor Gas. Rockmount Golf Club proprietors Robert and Diane Patterson are also in attendance.

Third place went to Jon Trimble (19) with a net 71. The best gross sore was by Michael Stewart (04) who had a three over par score of 75.

The qualifying for this year’s Jimmy Carroll competition was held at Rockmount on Thursday May 8. Eight teams were competing with the top two going forward to the match-play competition. On a showery day, Rockmount had a slight advantage of early reasonable weather and needed to make good use of it.

First out being Ronnie Cole and Andy Mearns who with 22 on the front 9 were in good shape and despite two one pointer’s on the way home finished with a creditable 40 points.

Next out were Gavin Martin and Frank Marks (making his veterans debut). A steady 19 on the front followed by 20 points on the back set the team in good shape.

Then came Alan McCune and John McGrath, who blasted the front 9 in one under gross for 25 points but weakened somewhat to ‘only’ score 23 on the back, (level gross) to leave a confident glow on the faces at the 18th.

Paddy Lawlor and Clarke Crawford after a very promising start came home with a fine 36 points. A great performance by the team who finished top of the eight teams with 127 points, 7 points clear of Bangor Golf Club.

On Friday evening Gents Captain Paul Banford and Lady Captain Janet Douds welcomed this year’s Open Week sponsors to the annual press launch at Rockmount.

Open week this year runs from June 8 to 14. The sponsors including Alistair and Margaret Finnie from Charles Hurst, Stephen Laughlin and Donna Bellucci from Calor Gas and Zara Lavery and Emma Wilson from Skincare Organics were all thanked by the Captains for their continued and valuable support along with Bryan Somers Travel who were unable to send a representative on the night.

Saturday May 10 was the Abbey Insurance sponsored stroke competition; this competition also doubles up as the Club Championship qualifier. First place went to Richard Armstrong with an excellent net score of 62 or ten under par. On Saturday Richard played of a handicap of 26 the next time he plays he will be playing of a handicap of 21.

Second place went to Barry Dunlop (16) who had a net score of 66. The low section (0 – 11) was won by Bob Jellie (10) who’s net score was 70. The middle section (12 – 18) was won by Gareth Poole (12) with 68 and the high section (19 – 28) by Pete Rowntree (19); Pete also had a net score of 70.

The best gross score on the day went to five handicapper Mark Wynne who a level par round of 72. Sunday May 11 was the qualifying day for the Pierce Purcell with clubs trying to qualify at eight locations across Ulster. The Rockmount team travelled to Silverwood Golf Club. The team Captained by Frank Ward were in a buoyant mood just before play.

Edenmore Golf Club finished top of the qualifiers with a score of 349, the Rockmount team were second on a score of 353, Down Royal Golf Club were third with 354 and Silverwood fourth with a score of 355. Rockmount will play Down Royal in the first round of match-play matches.