McCrea wins first 18 hole competition of season

The Slemish Bowl qualifying for matchplay took place in anything but pleasant weather conditions and although winter rules still applied, the scoring was very good.

The leading card came from George B McCrea who, playing off a handicap of 15, posted a nett score of 60.

This was made up of a front nine of seven over but George really got his game together on the second nine holes.

A birdie on the 10th was followed by dropped shots at 11, 12 and 14 but he managed to retrieve two of those dropped shots by finishing with a trio of threes, of which two were birdies, for a level par second nine and a nett eight under 60.

Second nett was taken by Gordon Bell (11) who produced a nett score of 61. A front nine of four over was added to by a back nine of level par 33 and Gordon’s card included four birdies.

William Owens took third place, also with a nett 61, but his back nine wasn’t as good as Bell’s.

Twenty handicapper Owens had a cracking front nine having been three over only to be 10 over on the second nine.

Fourth nett was Clifford Worthington (13) with a nett score of 63 after he had shot equal nines of 38 shots.

Fifth nett was Clifford’s namesake Chris (24) who returned a nett total of 66, having scored equal nines of 45 shots.

The final nett prize went to club vice-captain Henry Eagleson (9) who also posted a nett 66, having been through the front nine in one over.

Ferguson McKelvey won the gross with a round of 71.