James an emphatic winner

On the day around 105 golfers paraded their skills. It was the usual 14 holes competition with holes four, seven, thirteen and sixteen being omitted. Scoring was phenomenal as just short of 50 competitors managed a return of 29 points or better.

With enormous return of 39 points James Hanratty Jnr was an emphatic winner. This 17 handicapper was four points clear of the pursuing field. On both halves of the course James played some excellent golf. A quartet of pars at holes one, two, five and six set a hectic early pace.

A birdie on the ninth complemented this scoring. He played the back seven in level par figures. He recorded a bogey on the twelfth but recouped matters with a birdie on the last. Pars were attained on the other five holes. This quality play brought him his due reward and it was shades of Portrush all over again.

There were four returns of 35 points and these individuals took the other four net prizes. In the end it was Billy Bateman’s effort of 35 points that obtained second place. Like James this 11 handicapper also had a double bogey on the eighth. Still pars at holes one, three and five kept his aspirations intact. He had a wonderfully rewarding back seven. It comprised three birdies and four pars. Holes twelve, fifteen and eighteen provided the vital birdies. Not surprisingly a potent back six return gave him the runners-up spot.

Third net on the day went to Chris Stevenson with a similar seven under par effort of 35 points. This 26 handicapper put himself well in contention with pars at holes nine, eleven and seventeen. A birdie on the twelfth was another influential return. Like a school report he could have done better as he construed to have four double bogeys on his winning card.

Denis McInerney was fourth with his tally of 35 points. Off his ten handicap Denis was in the thick of things through seven holes with par figures at holes one, three, five, six and nine. More fruitful golf was in evidence on the inward seven. In between birdies on holes ten and eighteen he managed four pars and a sole bogey on the fourteenth. A strong finish helped him gather fourth spot.

Finally the last net prize went to Martin King. The 24 handicapper did the business with his haul of 35 points. This Belfast man likes his regular game of golf. On Saturday a sextet of pars at holes one, three, five, eight, eleven and seventeen paved the way for this tidy haul of points.

The weekly gross prize went to the Magee household. On this occasion Shane took the honours with a score of 30 gross points. This four handicapper had a spectacular twelve pars and two birdies. Holes five and eleven were the crucial birdie holes.

The other useful scoring was achieved by the following:

34 pts: Gopal Santokhi, Noel Stewart, Ian Cousins, Derek Johnston, Terry Murphy , Gerard Henderson, Paul Lyness, Sean McEvoy.

33 pts: Gareth Smyth, Brian Bradford, Rodger McIlwaine, Seamus Cushley, Diarmuid Mitchell, John Menary.

32 pts: Peter Gordon, William Russell, Eugene McAtamney. Hugh McCloskey, John Hartnett, Philip Ward, Terry McCrory.

31 pts: Canice McGivern, Kevin McKavanagh, Ian Harrison, Greg Crawford.

30 pts: David Moore, Nigel McKerr, Winston Hutchison, Joe Dowey, Raymond McCann, Gerard Marner, Laurence Mitchell, Barrai McConville, Raymond McCrory, Ed Richardson, Michael Purdy.

29 pts: Gregory Hogan, Robert Lindsey, Henry McAreavey, Andy Wilson, William McMillan, Hamilton Baxter, Martin Fagan.