Craig leads Slemish Bowl qualifers at Raceview

The first 18-hole competition of the new season at Ballymena was the Slemish Bowl qualifying, where the leading 32 competitors progress to a matchplay draw.
Ballymena Golf Club.Ballymena Golf Club.
Ballymena Golf Club.

The course being somewhat soft underfoot and the competition was held under winter rules and the scoring reflected that.

The leading score was a nett 59 returned by Stephen Craig, who had a handicap allowance of 20 shots.

Stephen dropped eight shots over the opening five holes but after that, he played superbly, ending the front nine with four pars.

The second nine was a complete transformation as he scored seven fours, plus a par three on the 10th and he completed his round with a bogey five on the final hole which meant he had played the last 13 holes in three over gross.

Runner-up was Ivan McMaster (16) who returned a nett score of 60 having been three over on the front nine.

Jim Hanna (15) was third nett with a 61 and he had a better second nine from Clifford Andrews (25).

Brian McDermott (24) claimed the fifth nett prize with a 62 and on a better last six holes from James Allan (13).

The best gross card was returned by one-handicapper Gary Black who played the 18 holes in one under gross 67. Gary’s card included 13 pars, three birdies and two bogeys.