‘DMac’ tops at Rathmore

Derek McAleese eagled the fourth hole in three and birdied the next par five to have 19 points under his belt at the halfway stage of the G Ramage Cup at Rathmore on Sunday.

In poor weather conditions the big lad kept his momentum going to get through the back nine in three over par for another 18, easing Philip McIntyre into second spot. Philip had a roller coaster ride on the opening nine holes, a birdie two at the third, double bogey six at the seventh, and a blank at the eighth.

All this gave him 21 points for the nine holes. Philip hit another blank at fifteen and this, together with a few double bogeys, meant 16 points back which did him no favours in the countback procedure. Jonnie Birch and Stephen Crockett scored 36 points each for third and fourth placings. Jonnie had scored two birdies early on with a three at the first and a four at the fourth before drawing a blank at six.

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Eighteen points out was the result of all that and the birdies came back on the back nine with his threes at fourteen and sixteen helping Jonnie to 18 points and 36 overall. Stephen, without any birdies equalled Jonnie’s front nine tally of eighteen albeit with a blank from the eighth. He slipped in a three at fourteen but failed to register any points at eighteen to lose out in the tie breaking.

Rory Houston produced the best Gross again with his round of 71. His front nine was not as steady as normal, a bogey to open, an eagle three at the fourth, double bogey six at seven. As a result of this the front nine score was 38. All change coming back! Birdie four, birdie two, birdie three was the opening three scores on the back nine and another bird was nabbed with a three at fourteen. While a shot slipped away at eighteen Rory was back in two under par 33 to gain the Gross plaudits.