Quigg claims Travellers’ Trophy in Majorca

The local florist finally claimied the Travellers’ Trophy in Majorca, after a 32 years wait.

And the 18 handicapper had to call on his experience and, indeed, hold his nerve when he finished level on points with two other players when entering a three-way play-off, another first for the long standing annual City of Derry tour.

Having recorded a total of 142 points for the 72 holes tournament, Maurice was joined on the podium by fellow Prehen members Eamon McCourt (11) and Sean McKane (21) who also returned 142 points.

In the opening tie-hole both Quigg and McCourt recorded regulation pars while McKane carded a bogey 5 and, therefore, dropped out of contention.

At the second tie hole, a par five, McCourt put his second shot into the trees to the left of the fairway, thus strugging to find the green in three passing a clear-cut advantage to Quigg and Maurice was quick to react.

In fact, he played three perfect safe shots to find the green and facing an easy two putts for his par, he subsequently secured victory, a remarkable feat for one of the Prehen club’s stalwarts who has been playing in the Michael Doherty tour for the past 32 years.

In the team competition F McCarroll, E McCourt, D Jones and K Barrett with 337 points claimed the top prize after they finished with 337 points, second was B McClure, M McCullough, P Swaine and D McCloskey who scored 336 points and on 334 points in third spot were C McGeady, B Coyle, P C Duffy and S McKane.

The top five individuals were - 1 Maurice Quigg (18), City of Derry, 142 points; 2, Eamon McCourt (11), City of Derry, 142; 3, Sean McKane (21), City of Derry, 142; 4, Brian McClure (9), Ballynahinch, 135; 5, Stephen Wray (12), Portadown, 135.

Meanwhile at Prehen, Tony Murray (23) was the clear winner of Sunday’s competition with a convincing four shot winning margin and 44 points. Terence Campbell (14) had 40 points for second place despite dropping three shots over the last two holes and Stephen McKeegan (5) took home another third place prize with his 39 points that was also the best gross of the day. The City of Derry Building Society Order of Merit award for the month of May was claimed by Stephen McKeegan and he also leads the overall Order of Merit after 10 rounds. The best 15 cards from a possible 42 will decide the eventual Golfer of the year so there is still plenty of opportunities for everyone.

John O’Doherty (14) finally put a long awaited good round together in emphatic fashion with a masterful display of precision golf to take first place in the Lee Hogg Bowl at Prehen on Saturday. His 65 nett playing off the back sticks was two shots better than the runner up George Jackson (13) and Stephen McKeegan (5) who lost out to George on the count back. Best of the low men was Damian McKenna (scr) he finished with nett 68.