Duffin wins Connon Motors event at Galgorm

The Connon Motors sponsored Stableford was held at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club.Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

Play commenced with heavy overhead clouds threatening rain but turned out to be only a drizzle and by mid-morning the sun had broken through. However a changing strong breeze was making play awkward at times.

Through the front nine Kevin Duffin playing off twenty four held a commanding five point lead from Gary McWilliams (9) with Kori Gamble (16) and Stephen Mailey (9) another two points behind. Steven Penney (3) was a further point behind followed by Kurtis McCartney (7) and Neville Neill (8) at two and three points respectively further behind. After the Maple McWilliams and Mailey were three points behind Duffin. Gamble, Penney and McCartney were one, two and three points respectively further behind with Neill another two points adrift. Approaching the Lowlands McWilliams and Mailey had closed the gap on Duffin to one point with Gamble another point behind. Penney was four points drift ande two points ahead of McCartney and Neill. Duffin finished with a par and a double bogey to win Overall by two points from McWilliams (bogey, par) and Gamble (bogey, par) who finished together and with a better back nine Gamble took the Overall Runner-up place. McWilliams finished first in Division 1, two points ahead of a fast finishing Penney with two birdies and Mailey (double bogey, bogey) and with Penney taking the Gross Prize Mailey finished in second place. McCartney (two pars) took third place one point ahead of Neill (bogey, par).

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At halfway in Division 2 David Gault (14) and Stephen Black (12) were leading by four points from Neil McVeigh (12) who was two points ahead of Kevin McCavera (11). Through thirteen Gault (‘ding’ at twelve) and Black were still in the lead which had been reduced to two and four points by McVeigh and McCavera respectively. With two holes to play Black had taken a one point lead over Gault. McCavera was a further two points behind with McVeigh falling back by another point after a ‘ding’ on fourteen. Black spoiled his chance of winning after a ‘ding’ at the Lowlands. However a birdie at the last enabled him to finish second, one point behind Gault (two pars). A point behind Black, McCavera (bogey, birdie) took third place with McVeigh (two pars)another point away.

In Division 3 at the turn Timothy D’Arcy (18) held a two point advantage over Norman Nicholl (17). James Logan (19) was another point behind followed by Gary Moon (17) a further three points behind. Approaching the fourteenth tee Logan was leading by one point from D’Arcy (‘ding’ at the Fort) and Nicholl (‘ding’ at the Maple). Moon was another four points behind. After the Grove Logan was still a point ahead of D’Arcy (‘ding’ at sixteen) and Nicholl with Moon closing to within another point after a bogey and two pars. Logan finished bogey, par and was joined by Nicholl (two pars) and with a better back nine Logan held on to take first place. D’Arcy (par, bogey) was a point behind in third place a point ahead of Moon (bogey, par).

At the start of the back nine in Division 4 Ashley Doole (25) and Steve Henry (25) were three points ahead of Hugh Mussen (24) and Drew Stewart (27). After the Devils Elbow Doole was one point ahead of Henry and an improved Mussen with Stewart another two points behind. With two to play Doole was three points ahead of Mussen, Henry and Stewart. A bogey, double bogey finish saw Doole home for a two point win from Mussen (two bogeys) and Henry (two bogeys). Second place went to Mussen with a better back nine. Stewart (triple bogey, bogey) was another two points away.