McCart holds off challengers to win at Galgorm Castle

Through three in Division 1 Jonathan McCart (6) was one point ahead of Neil Candlish (3) and Daniel Reilly (3).

A par and two birdies over the next three holes enabled young Reilly to draw level with McCart (par, bogey, par) after Broadmeadows. Candlish who was playing par golf found himself two points behind at this stage.

McCart moved into a two point lead with a birdie from Reilly (bogey) and Candlish (birdie). Birdies from Reilly and Candlish at the last were not enough to catch McCart who although bogeying the hole held on to win by one point. Candlish with a better last three finished second.

In Division 2 Norman Nicholl (9) (‘ding’ at four), Gary Crabbe (6) and William Kennedy (8) were one point ahead of Fergus McKelvey (6) and Derek ‘Joe’ McAuley (7).

After seven Nicholl was one point ahead of the other four players, a lead which he held to the end after finishing with two pars. In a very close and exciting finish for second place McKelvey (two pars), Crabbe (bogey, birdie), McAuley (two pars) and Kennedy (two pars) finished together and with a better last six second place went to McKelvey.

Trevor Galloway (11) set a fast opening pace in Division 3 with par, birdie, birdie to lead by two points after the Trout Hole from Cecil McAleese (11) (double bogey, birdie, birdie) and Raymond Steele (9) (par, par, birdie).

Galloway hit a poor run which included two double bogeys and after six his lead had disappeared and he was one point behind McAleese and Steele.

Over the closing three holes McAleese with a par and two bogeys took first place. One point ahead of Steele (par, bogey, double bogey) and Galloway (bogey, par, bogey) and with a better last six Steele finished in second position.

Steven Penney won the Gross.

(9) 24 pts (BL6) – Gross – Steven Penney (1) 22 pts.

Twos were recorded by: C Steele, D Reilly, D Stirling jnr, M Alexander, A Atkinson, J Barr, A McKervill, R Graham and D Millar

BACK NINE

Through 13, Leonard Craig (6) held a one point advantage over Kevin Agnew (10) who was another point ahead of Raymond Ardis (5), John McFarland (10) and Reginald Marks (10) with Neville Neill (4) and Colin Orr (9) at one and two points respectively further behind.

With two holes to play, Craig was still holding on to his one point lead with Ardis the new challenger after three pars. Ardis was one point ahead of Agnew, Marks and a revived Orr after his ‘ding’ on 13.

Neill and McFarland were another point adrift. Ardis continued his good run to finish birdie, bogey for a one point win. In a pulsating finish for second place Craig (double, bogey, bogey(, Agnew (two bogeys), Marks (par, double bogey), Orr (two bogeys), McFarland (par, bogey) and Neill (two pars) all finished together and with a better last six Neill emerged to take second place.

Two’s were recorded by: L Craig, J Mairs, I Alexander and C Orr.