Francis defends Championship at Ballycastle Golf Club

Francis McGinn successfully defended his Club Championship title at Ballycastle on Saturday with a superb four under par 36 hole total of 138.

It was a close run thing in the end as Patrick Dallat jnr also carded a two round total of 138 but Francis was declared the winner thanks to a 2nd round score of 68 compared to Patrick’s total of 70 shots.

Third place in the Shangarry Cup this year went to John Higgins jnr with rounds of 71 and 69, fourth spot went to Michael Dallat jnr after scores of 68 and 73 with Stephen McAfee in fifth with rounds of 74 and 69. Mark McCormick picked up the 1st 18 gross prize with a 73, Owen Kennedy collected the 2nd 18 gross prize, also with a 73 and Vincent Miskelly won the 2nd 18 nett prize with a 65.

Francis has now five Club Championship titles to his name and has moved up into joint second place in the all time list of winners alongside Donal McCormick and Frank Fleming snr with John Boyd still out in front on a total of six Shangarry Cup victories.

Sean Dowds, playing off nine, continued his stellar season by winning the Shangarry Plate competition on Saturday with a nett 64. Seamus McMullan, also off nine, was second with a nett 65 and Niall Shivers, Rab Baird and Gerry Norwood were third, fourth and fifth respectively after they all carded nett 66’s.

Sunday’s Atlantic Cup open stroke competition was won by Patrick Dallat snr, playing off twelve, with a nett 64 ahead of four handicapper Neil McMaster in second place with a nett 66. Vincent Gallagher, playing off nine, was four under par for the last eleven holes as he took third place with Sean McCormick finishing in fourth place ahead of Jonathan Blair, Stephen McAfee, Chris Kelly and Peter Dowds on count-back after all six golfers recorded nett 67’s on Sunday. Francis McGinn, playing off one, picked up from where he left off the previous day, shooting a three under par 68 to claim the best gross prize.

Wednesday’s Open Stableford competition was won by young Niall McGarry, playing off sixteen, with a total of 41 points ahead of the not so young Sean McCullough in second place on 40 points with David Getty in third, also on 40 points.

Mr Edgar Dornan’s Captain’s Day takes place at Ballycastle on Saturday 13th August.

There are plenty of excellent prizes up for grabs on the day with entertainment and a presentation taking place in the clubhouse on Saturday evening.