Good turnout for Rockmount contest

The competition doubled as the qualifier for the Ulster Branch, GUI Centenary four ball better ball competition; with the winners going to Royal Belfast to contest the final. Regular partners Gordon Goodfellow and James Robinson blew the field away with a very impressive 45 points. The pair scored 23 points over the front nine and a further 22 points on the back. Their nearest challengers, Enda Cunningham and Alan Bill, were some three points adrift scoring a very creditable 42 points. Two pairs scored 41 points, Francis Ward and Michael Duke finished third and Gareth Poole and Michael Patmore finished fourth. Michael Stewart and Warren Burnside scored 40 points to finish fifth.

The Ulster Cup team entertained neighbours Crossgar Golf Club for the return leg of this year’s first round match. They were buoyant from an impressive 4.1/2 to 2.1/2 and needing only three matches to win a place in the second round. Team Captain Ed McDonald didn’t tinker with his team to much. Martin Lawther led the way, out first with a good 5 & 4 win. Wins followed rapidly for Paul Mearns, Henry Moore, Gareth Poole, Gary McShane and Michael Carson only one match was still undecided when the Team Captains called a halt to proceedings Colin Childs was level after 15 holes. The final result was 6.1/2 to .1/2. Rockmount will now go into the second round to play either Castlehume Golf Club or Mahee Island Golf Club.

The Holt Shield team started this year’s campaign with a home match against Greenacres Golf Club. Harry Greer was out first and secured the first point for Rockmount; quickly followed by Colin Henderson. The other three matches were tight affairs with some outstanding golf being played. Rockmount won two matches and Greenacres won one to make the overall result 4–1 in favour of Rockmount. Ryan Wilson and Keith Cranston secured victories whilst Mark Wynne lost narrowly.