Men take honours in Challenge

Sixty two members took part of all different ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. The ladies had a spring in their step this year again, not only because they were defending champions but they have hit a real purple patch in form this year and even had two Irish Internationals in their ranks on the night.

On the first tee box everyone set off with a smile on their faces and the atmosphere was great.

Around 8pm the fourballs started to arrive back at the clubhouse. Dessie Gregg and Morris Lyness put the men 1-0 against Lynne Hanna and Sian Mulholland. Next Bronagh McKavanagh and Orla O’Dowd and Gordon McKinnon and John Hartnett halved their match before Amanda Lyness and Elaine Bell ‘defeated Noel Stewart & Paul Lyness to make it 1-1. Amanda actually scored 14 points herself over three consecutive holes hitting birdies and eagles.

Captain Paddy Meehan and Kevin McKavanagh scraped a draw with up and coming starlets Cara Murphy and Annabel Wilson. The men then chalked up three wins in a row, Jim Farrell and Gareth Hanna beat Debbie McCollum and Katrina Bradford, Brian Bradford and Gary McCollum got the better of Zoe Allen and Anette Kilbinger and Chris Watt and Andrew Best were too strong for Pat Hughes and Dorothy Woods. This then put the men three up overall.

But the ladies fight back started. Ray Gregg and Marie Magee beat Billy Bateman and Mervyn Blackburn then Terry McCrory and Andy Wilson had simply no answer for the form of Susan McMorrow and Christine Hagan. In quick succession two holes had been pulled back and the strong line up of lady players still to come in.

Unfortunately for them that was it. The four remaining fourballs all finished with victories for the men.

Richard Budd and Martin Drain defeated Lady Captain and Lady Vice-Captain Dee Farrell and Anne Knox. Tom Woods and Peter Devlin beat the strong pairing of Heather Shaw and Fiona McGrady. Joe Dowey and Raymond Farrell had a lucky win over Fran McCann and Dianne Patterson before Garfield Bell and Wilson Collins rounded it all off win a win over new Irish Internationals Niamh Ward and Niamh McSherry.

Nine matches to four to the men it finished but everyone were winners. The matches were all played in a very competitive but friendly spirit highlighting the harmony there is within the club between the two branches.

Later in the lounge Lady Captain Dee Farrell presented the Horseshoe Trophy to Captain Paddy Meehan.