Irish Open visit inspires Matthew to lift top spot

The winner with an excellent round of gross 69 which equalled 44 points was Matthew Madden, who must have been inspired by the European players at the Irish Open this week at Royal County Down who he went to see.

Matthew had a front nine of four under par with a brilliant eagle at the par 4, 7th hole and three birdies at the 4th, 8th and 9th holes, one bogey at the 6th hole and four pars,.

His back nine had two further birdies at the 13th and 15th holes, five pars one bogey at the 10th and one double bogey at the 16th hole. It is his first ever round in the sixties in competition and a secures a day out at Dungannon Golf Club where the qualifier will take place.

In second place again with 44 points was Joseph Kelly who had a great front nine of 26 points which included one birdie at the 2nd hole, two bogeys at the 5th and 7th holes and six pars.

His back nine cooled down somewhat with only three pars at the 13th, 14th and 18th holes, three single bogeys at the 11th, 12th and 17th holes, two double bogeys and one costly triple bogey at the 16th hole for 18 points.

Third spot went to one of the junior players at the club Oisin Farquhar with 41 points.

Oisin had 19 points on his front nine with one birdie at the 2nd hole, three pars at the 6th, 7th and 9th holes and five bogeys. His back nine of 22 points had only two bogeys at the 13th and 15th holes and seven pars.

The gross prize was won by another young player Patrick Jordan with an excellent round of 69 gross. Patrick had a front nine of one under 34, with three birdies at the 4th, 5th and 9th holes, two bogeys at the 2nd and 6th holes and four pars.

On the back nine he carded three birdies at the 10th, 11th and 18th holes, only one bogey at the 16th hole and five pars for a great round.

In fourth place was another young player who is playing some great golf this year Ethan Headley with 41 points. He had four birdies on his card at the 1st, 7th, 13th and 18th holes, four bogeys at the 4th, 14th 16th and 17th holes and 10 pars for a level par round of golf.

Fifth place went to Eamon Doherty with 41 points, he had one birdie at the 4th hole, 10 pars, six bogeys and one no-score.

The senior prize went to Finbar Headley with 41 points. The junior winners were 1st Desmond Madden 39 pts, 2nd Nathan Thompson 37 pts.

Section winners: 0-12 Chris Moran 39 pts; 13-18 Kevin O’Loan 39 pts; 19-18 Damien McCready 41 pts.

The Junior Cup team of Michael Devlin, Ethan Headley, Matthew Madden, Shane O’Neill and Darren McCabe have qualified for the next stage of the Junior Cup and will play Lisburn at Edenmore in the next round of the competition. The team is captained by Brendan Gorman.