Duo bag a hole in one at Prehen

By the end of the day it was Castlerock's Aaron Kearney (Scr) who topped the leader board with a level par 144. Aaron stormed ahead with a gross 68 in the morning round but tailed off a little in the afternoon with a 76 gross. His final total was just one better than Armagh's Connor McGurgan (Scr) who found the course tough going in the early round and could only manage a 75 gross but rallied in the afternoon to post a 71.

Foyle's Dee McKenna (Scr) with 75/71 took third place. City of Derry's Sean Quigg flew the flag for the home club but his 146 total was just edged into fourth place on break of tie.

The nett prizes went to Foyle's Paul McGuigan (4) with 140 nett, City of Derry's John Crumlish (5) with 141 nett and City of Derry's Cormac McKeone (5) with 151 nett.

A welcome return to the competition this year was Michael Wilson, now playing out of Scotland. Michael had the perfect tonic in his first round when he struck a superb 5 iron to the 12th hole for a hole in one.

Sadly Michael could not keep up this level of brilliance but has sworn on a stack of old haggis that he will return next year to repeat his feat!

Standard Scratch for both rounds was 71.

While with the greens like lightning and a stiff breeze blowing you would think that golfers might struggle to make a score - wouldn't you? But that is not the case if you have 50 years of golf experience and expertise like Barney McDaid who streaked to a massive victory with 42 points in the Bacos Open on Saturday.

Barney quietly put his performance down to his people watching ability and G&T training regeime honed to perfection on the annual City of Derry Spanish trip.

Returning to the winners' enclosure was Robert McClay (21) who was the best of the chasing pack with 39 points but he needed a break of tie over the closing holes to lock out Brain Durnin (15). Sean Quigg (2) lifted yet another gross prize with 35 points.

The best visitor was North West's Gareth Kelly (9) with a fine 36 points. Andy McFaul (10) took the front 9 with 22 points and the long-hitting Brian Mulgrew (19) took the back nine with a spectacular 24 points.

Members and visitors are reminded that next week sees the annual Captain's Charity Weekend with a 4Ball-Betterball Open on Saturday and an Open Stroke on Sunday.

All proceeds of the days go to our club charities so a big turn out is expected. Times can be booked as usual on line at www.cityofderrygolfclub.com or by contacting the proshop on 71311610.

Meanwhile Peter Deans (27) held his nerve over the closing holes of a closely contested Thursday Open at Prehen to emerge victorious, by virtue of a back nine break of tie, over a posse of people with 41 points.

Taking second place was the relaxed steady hitter John McClafferty (17) who, despite a fabulous 'Hole in One' at the par 3 8th and a birdie at the last, could only manage 20 points on the back nine and lost out to Peter's better back nine.

Peter Villa (10) built on his growing reputation for consistency and took third place with 41 points. Sean Morrison (Scr) saw his 39 point tally good enough to lift the Gross Prize on the day. Mr D Vail (9), Foyle Golf Club, took the visitor's prize with 39 points.

Members and visitors are reminded that tee times for the Thursday Opens can be booked at www.cityofderrygolfclub.com.