Mervyn comes out on top in Captain’s Prize event at Kilrea

Adding to the excitement was the very close finish which resulted with both new member Mervyn Foster and the ‘man for the big occasion’ Denver Johnston both defying everything that was thrown at them to accumulate 41 points each.

However it was Ballymena based Mervyn who won through after he posted 21 back nine points.

Mervyn, who used to be a single figure , before injuring his shoulder, made full use of his new twenty four handicap mark as he opened with 20 front nine points prior to adding 21 on the back nine while Denver opened with a marvellous 23 on the front nine prior to adding 18 on the back nine.

However compensation awaited Denver after his round of 80 secured the gross prize while the runner up spoils then went to Clark Rees playing off fifteen who opened with 20 front nine points, the highlight being a birdie two on the seventh before adding another 17 on the back nine to finish with 37. He was then followed home in third place by Liam Shaw playing off twelve who scored 36 points, 16 out and 20 back despite failing to score on the fourth, sixth, and fifteenth holes.

The nine hole prizes went to Martin McAtamney the front nine and Dominic Kealey the back nine each with 19 points, while Billy Millar won the past captains prize with 32 points and the seniors prize to Gerry Dillon with 31 points. Joe Sloan from Gracehill won the visitors prize while Veronica Kelly won the ladies prize and Philip Bradley the juniors prize.

The longest drive prize went to Tom Boyd while John Moody amazingly knocked his tee shot on the second hole into just 17 inches to win the nearest the hole prize, further evidence of the strange pin positions!

More pictures next week.