Gareth edges to Agnew Cup victory at Raceview

The Agnew Cup was up for decision at Ballymena Golf Club - a trophy presented by the family of Sam Agnew, a former Council member and greens convenor of the club.
Kieran Martin, Eugene O'Dornan, Eugene Reid and Gerard Rafferty about to tee of at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT34-243ACKieran Martin, Eugene O'Dornan, Eugene Reid and Gerard Rafferty about to tee of at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT34-243AC
Kieran Martin, Eugene O'Dornan, Eugene Reid and Gerard Rafferty about to tee of at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT34-243AC

The winner was Gareth McCullough (15) with a score of nett 62 and, as has been the deciding factor in quite a few competitions this year, Gareth had to depend upon a better nine total.

His first nine was made up of six bogeys, pars on the fourth and ninth plus a chip-in birdie on the seventh,

Into the second nine with a trio of bogeys, Gareth then played the last six holes with five pars plus a dropped shot on the par three 16th.

That second nine of four over gross was one shot less in nett terms than second-placed Kevin McGarry (10) who also returned a nett 62. He completed his round with five pars from the final six holes for an inward nine of two over gross.

Derek O’Kane (10) took third prize with a nett 63 and here again, the second nine score was the deciding factor.

Also on nett 63 was Andrew Adams (18) who, thanks to a superb front nine of three over gross, took fourth nett prize.

Fifth place nett went to Tom Ballentine (18) who returned a nett 64 after equal nines of 41 shots, while the final nett prize went to Felix McQuillan (11) who recovered from a slow start by completing the back nine in one over par for a round three under par, 65 shots.

The best gross card came from two-handicapper John Robinson who played the course in level par 68 shots.

SENIORS COMPETITION

The seniors competition on August 15 was won by 10-handicapper Fergie McKelvey with 36 stableford points.

A front nine of five pars, two bogeys, a double bogey and a birdie on the seventh yielded 20 points, to which he added 16 more from a back nine which contained everything from a three to a six.

Second place was won by Michael Scroggie (8) with a total of 35 points and on a better last six hole total from Leslie Frew.

SUNDAY OPEN

The open stableford on Sunday, August 18, was won by six-handicapper David Smith with a total of 40 points, each nine producing 20 points.

Second place was won by Cameron Horner (9) with 39 points, 20 of which came on the front nine, while he finished his round with five straight pars.

Adrian Gough (6) was third nett with 37 points, while John Robinson (2) had the best gross card with a four over 72.

EAST ANTRIM CUP

Ballymena won the East Antrim Senior Cup at Greenacres with a score of 10 over from the three-man team of Jonny Law (level), Chris Magee (three over) and Jake Carson (seven over).

LADIES

Frances O’Rawe was in top form as she won the Bill Rainey Cup Stableford competition with a superb haul of 44 points to finish four clear of her nearest rival, and runner-up, Sandra Lennox.

A week later, Jill Black and Jacqui Brown teamed up to win the Aneen Beggs Greensomes event with a successful score of 69 and a half.