O’Connell claims Glenshesk Cup

Robert O’Connell, playing off 12, returned a winning score of 42 points to claim the Glenshesk Cup Open Senior Stableford competition at Ballycastle Golf Club on Saturday.

Twos at both the 10th and 13th holes helped Sean McLean compile 39 points to take second place overall with Harold Russell finishing in third, also with a score of 39 points.

Fourth place overall went to Michael Kearns with 38 points, just ahead of David Getty and Martin Brogan on count back. Brendan Black, playing off eight, won the senior gross prize on a better back nine from Donal McCormick after both golfers returned totals of 29 gross points. The over 50’s prize went to Patrick Dixon with 38 points, the over 60’s prize went to Ivor Torrens with 38 points and Trevor Thompson won the over 70’s prize with a total of 29 points.

An under 50’s competition was also held on Saturday with Paul Surgenor, playing off twelve, coming out on top with a score of 42 points. Second place went to Sean Dowds with 41 points, Emmet Hunter was third with 41 points and Colum Egan picked up the gross prize with a two over par round yielding him 34 points.

The weather was wet and windy for the Alphy McCaughan Cup on Sunday but two handicapper Patrick Dallat jnr made a mockery of the conditions, handing in a brilliant three under par score which gave him the title on count back from Declan McCarry, playing off seventeen, after both members had recorded nett 66’s. Third place was awarded to Jonathan McBride, playing off nineteen, with a nett 67, Francis McGinn was fourth after he went round in two under par for a nett 67 with Michael Dallat jnr winning the day’s gross prize thanks to a one under par 70. It is worth noting that between them, Patrick, Francis and Michael made a staggering fifteen birdies on Sunday and they, along with Mark McCormick, are Ballycastle’s representatives in next months North of Ireland Championships at Royal Portrush.

There were also birdies galore in the Midweek Open Stableford competition last week with City of Derry’s Lester Moore, playing off two, grabbing six of them in his four under par round which gave him first place with a total of 42 points. Second spot went to local member Colin Smyth, playing off eighteen, with 41 points and Raymond Browne, playing off twenty-one, was third ahead of John Morgan and Emmet Hunter on count back after all three recorded 38 points on Wednesday.

The annual gents shotgun foursomes competition is held at the club next Friday 1st July with the tee off at 6pm. A presentation of prizes will take place in the clubhouse afterwards.

Saturday 2nd July is Carroll Nicholl’s Lady Captains Day at Ballycastle. The timesheet has been made available to gentlemen up until 10.30am on Saturday morning and there will be a stableford competition for the Lady Captains Prize for Gents which will be presented at the Lady Captains function on Saturday evening. The July Monthly Medal competition takes place at the club on Sunday.