Outstanding effort from John brings reward

The ever improving conditions helped the golfers along the way. There was a bevy of good scores on the day but for some their weekly count was lessened due to a previous success.

With an outstanding score of 37 points for the fourteen holes John Menary was the overall winner of week eight. This 23 handicapper used his handicap to great effect and just swept aside the opposition. He had at least net pars on every hole except the third where he incurred a double bogey. A birdie at the eighth and pars at holes two, ten, eleven and twelve were his marquee scores. He coped admirably with the conditions and just kept his points tally mounting.

In the Low section 13 golfers managed an under par score in the competition. Young Jason McCann topped the leader board with a round of 33 points. This eight handicapper birdied the first and last holes. In between it was all pars except for a bogey on the fourteenth. This resourceful play earned him the principal prize. Kevin Leathem nabbed second place with a tally of 32 points. This six handicapper was one

over par for fourteen holes. He made birdies on holes two and eighteen. Somewhere in between bogeys took their toll on holes three, five and ten. Another six handicapper John Horan claimed third place with 31 points. John had a mix of scores ranging from birdies on holes eight, ten and eighteen to double bogeys at holes one and five. Pars featured on the rest of the holes except the ninth.

A level par round of 28 gross points resulted in Gareth Moore getting the gross award.

This two handicapper had a ropey start with a bogey on the second, a no-return on the third and another bogey on the sixth. After that hiatus everything fell into place. A spate of birdies on holes ten, eleven, fifteen and eighteen rejuvenated his card. With pars on the rest of the holes he duly took the gross award.

The other good scores came from the following: 32 pts: Conal Patterson, John Hartnett, Kevin McKavanagh; 31: George Harkness, Canice McGivern; 30: Gary McNally, John O’Neill, Andrew Gates, Nathan McCann.

The Middle division was ultra competitive with forty one golfers firing under par returns. Terence Eagers shot thirty seven points on the day but his reduced total of 35 points still captured the major prize in the section. This sixteen handicapper covered the front seven with four pars and three bogeys. He played the inward seven in level par. Bogeys on holes eleven and fourteen were negated by an immaculate birdie, par birdie finish. This was another good score from an in-form golfer. David Johnston also shot 35 points and duly earned the runners-up spot. This eleven handicapper was obviously determined not to let his brother Derek claim all the golfing spotlight. He had seven pars on his winning card. However a birdie on the ninth and an eagle three at the closing hole were his eye catching returns. The steady and reliable Ian Harrison registered 34 points to land the third net award. A sequence of five pars starting at the eighth was the highlight of this fifteen handicapper’s exploits. A run of par, birdie, par on the final three holes was a fitting climax to his noble effort.

The other exemplary scoring was achieved by the following: 36 pts: Aidan Thornbury; 35: Tom Creaney; 34: Michael Lavery; 33: Winston Hutchison, Henry McAreavey, Gerard Henderson, Denis McInerney, Billy Bateman, Anthony Gallery, Dwaine Hanna, Keith Percy, Lawrence Mitchell; 32: Brendan Courtney, Sean Scullion; 31: Daire Hogan, Barrai McConville, Tony McCallion, Noel Stewart, Brian Clarke; Willie Grogan, David Herron, Colm Nash, John Forrester; 30: Chris Donald, Bryan Turkington, Andrew Bann, Gregory Hogan, James Toland, Coner McConville, Des Gregg, James Doran; 29: Paul Lavery, Martin Corey, Iain Mulholland, Keith Davenport, Alan Woods, George Kidd, Marty Rea.

Finally in the High section, twenty handicapper Eric Allen took the honours with a well executed effort of 35 points. After a stuttering start of a double bogey on the first and a triple bogey on the sixth Eric then found the elixir of life. From the hole number eight a sextet of pars followed. A par on the eighteenth confirmed his winning status.

Another total of 35 points secured Stephen Corner a share in the prizes. This nineteen handicapper had a stable seven net pars on the outward seven. He upped the tempo on the back seven by starting with pars at holes ten and fifteen. Back to back birdies on the closing two holes ensured Stephen second place. A further effort of 35 points gained Barry Creaney the last remaining net prize. This seventeen handicapper had a competent card comprising ten pars and four bogeys. Holes one, six, eight and fourteen were the obstinate holes.

The other exciting scores were obtained by the following: 37 pts: Hugh O’Reilly; 36: Nigel Girvan, Martin King; 35: John McComb, Derek Johnston, David O’Neill, Andy Cunningham, Richard Dawson; 34: Brian Matthews; 33: Michael McHugh, Francie McKenna, Bill Leslie, Paul Magee, Neal Carson; 32: Walter Simpson, Gerard Marner, Pat McCorry, Gareth Smyth; 31: Stephen Lennon, Chris Godfrey, John McCallion, Terry McCrory, Gopal Santokhi; 30: Terry King, Andrew Best, Brian Curran, Trevor Field; 29: Eugene McAtamney, Roy Bratchie, Tom Lamb, James Hanratty Jnr.