Nevan proves master of courseand the weather

Nevan Lavery once more displayed his ability to compete in all the winter can throw at him when he took top prize at Lurgan Golf Club on Saturday with 38 points off 12.
Nevin LowryNevin Lowry
Nevin Lowry

Four birdies set him up well for a great score and only an NR at 9 prevented him from becoming the first player of the winter season to score 40 points over just 14 holes.

If 2015 continues in the way it has started for Brian Doley then he may start writing some victory speeches and keep them convenient. Three competitions so far and podium finishes in each, with his 36 points, off 12, putting him into second place . A couple of birdies and no mistakes added up to yet another impressive round from this determined competitor.

There must be some interesting conversations over dinner in the Cummins household these days as father and son fight a weekly duel for golfing supremacy.

Things came to a head this week when Timmy and Peter each shot 3 under par rounds for 31 gross points to battle it out for the gross prize.

Each had four birdies and one bogey to leave them neck and neck, leaving the league committee scratching their heads to sort out a winner. While Timmy had his only bogey of the day at the penultimate hole, son Peter kept his to the last to miss out as the tie was eventually decided on that hole.

Although Timmy will enjoy the plaudits this week, Peter can still find some consolation in his references to his ‘high handicap’ father. (One is 2, the other 5).

Section 1 presented Paul Dickson with his first prize in a while when he topped the leader board with 34 points off 7.

With three holes to play he seemed to have little chance of reward but birdies at 15 and 18 were to change his fortunes dramatically.

Six players returned 33 points to provide another ever so close finish for a prize on the day. Dwaine Hanna, 6, was to claim that prize that prize. This left the disappointed quintet of Francie Tallon 3, Roy Hanna Jnr, 5, Martin Corey, 7, Paul Lyness, 5, and Peter Cummins, 2, to reflect on the ones that got away.

Iain Mulholland began the week with 36 points over 18 holes and finished it with 36 over just 14 to take Section 2.

His improvement and subsequent victory came about thanks to birdies at 4, 10, 15 and 18, and will have left him with very positive hopes for the year.

Stephen Hewitt edged out two very competitive veterans to take second place with 35 points off 12. After an unremarkable outward half, his one over homeward journey was just enough to lift his prize.

Martin McKinstry is in tip-top form at the moment but has missed out in very unfortunate circumstances. A few weeks ago he was well under handicap only to mistakenly play off the ladies’ tee at the 9th and eventually miss out by a point.

Martin Rea joined his namesake in similarly missing out. He has an unusual chipping club which he uses to frequent devastating effect from all sorts of lies.

Eddie Girvan, Zach Best and Tony Gallery returned 34 points to once more come very close.

Section 3 was also closely contested by players of experience and class with Walter Simpson claiming victory on the back 9 with 34 points, off 18. No fewer than four double bogeys popped up on his outward journey, but he was more than pleased to come home in just two over par.

In second place came the very competitive Andrew Best, off 12, and he must still be scratching his head, or thoughtfully stroking his beard, wondering how a solitary and ugly double bogey appeared at the 17th.

Terry McCrory will be disappointed with a pair of double bogeys over the last four holes but no doubt pleased that his sizzling form shows no sign of cooling.

A point further back came Kieran McCorry, 14, Stephen Cordner, 12, Colin Darling, 17, and Gopal Santokhi, 19.

The bridge results are as follows:

N/S-1, T Rae and S Pollock; 2, G Turkington and E O’Neill; 3, K Hill and N McAuley.