Golf: Early bird claims Open at Prehen

And when the counting was all done they were in first and second place with 40 points and had to be separated by a tie break.

Tom McClintock (10) had the superior back nine of 22 points, birdies at Foyle and the Quarry helping him considerably to claim first place over Alan Simpson (8) who ruined his winning chance with a disastrous double bogey on Aintree.

Anthony Faulkner (18) finished in third place with 39 points, two blanks on the front nine a story of what might have been.

Paul McGuigan (2) from Foyle won the gross prize, a one over par 72 doing the job for him and Brian Northey (5) from Ballyliffin took home the visitor’s prize with 35 points. Thursday Open’s continue at Prehen until October.

Another wet and windy day again, greeted but players at the recent ladies competition but the weather didn’t deter Vivienne Houston at all. She posted a brilliant 37 points having birdied index 1 and 3 and played steady golf home.

Forgetting her battery and finishing in the dark didn’t stop the ever steady Jennie Flannagan (14) posting 36 points, Christine Mitchell (27) was 1 point behind on 35 points and playing steady golf beating Kathy Jackson on break of tie finish

Meanwhile the Redcastle Ladies club confined competition was played in near perfect conditions on Monday.

Rosie Agnew (21) with 37 points secured first place; second was Margaret Haughey (28) after she scored 32 points and Mary McArthur (18) with 30 points was third. Draw times for next week’s stroke competition will be 10am, 5pm and 5.30pm.

And after a valiant battle in the fourth round of the ‘Miele’ competition Redcastle team lost to Inniscrone at the weekend.

While the Faughan Valley Ladies stroke play was claimed by Evelyn Smith (29) 76 gross and Jackie McNulty was second.