Reid edges thrilling victory in closely-fought contest

In Division 1, after an exciting nine holes, five golfers were level at the finish.

Through the Maple George Small (4) and Steven Penney (1) were vying for the lead a point ahead of Norman Reid (5), George Watt (4) and Neil Candlish (3).

In a very close and exciting finish Penney (two pars), Small (two pars), Reid (two pars), Candlish (two pars) and Watt (birdie, par) all finished together and with a better last four first place went to Reid.

Small with a better last six was second and third place went to Watt with a better last three. Penney won the Gross and his round included seven pars and two birdies.

The winner of Division 2 gave his competitors a generous start when he ‘dinged’ The Fort and did not really come into contention until where it mattered, up the last.

After four Neil Fitzsimmons (7) was one, two and three points ahead of Michael Nesbitt (6), Andrew Moore (8) and Michael Montgomery (8) respectively.

Nesbitt, with a birdie at the Lowlands, joined Fitzsimmons who bogeyed the hole with Moore (par) and Montgomery (par) closing to within one point of the leading pair. Fitzsimmons parred the last and was joined by M Montgomery (par) and with a better last six Montgomery took first place with Fitzsimmons second.

Nesbitt lost his chance of winning when he bogeyed the last where he was joined by Moore (bogey) who had a better last six to claim third.

After the first four holes in Division 3 Gareth Elliot (10) was one point ahead of Robert Topping (9) who was a point ahead of Ian Rainey (9) with Ian Stewart (9) a further two points behind.

With two holes to play Elliot was joined by Topping at the front with Rainey a point behind.

Elliot (finished with two bogeys) and Topping (two bogeys) were level at the finish and were joined by Rainey who came late with a bogey and a par and with a better last three Rainey took first place with Topping (better last six) second and Elliot in third.

Ronan Speers (11) held an early one point advantage over Alan Collie (10) through 13 in Division 4 with Trevor Galloway (11) and Colin Black (11) another point behind. Hugh Mussen (11) was a further point away.

Up the Grove a new leader emerged with Collie taking a one point lead over Speers.

Collie finished par, ‘ding’ and Speers with two bogeys were level at the finish and first place went to Collie with a better last six.

Third place went to Mussen with a two bogey finish – a point behind.

Twos were recorded by: M Alexander, A McCart, G Boyd, N Candlish, P Hughes, G McWilliams, D Kilpatrick, Rod Lennox, G Beckington, D Chappell, R Topping (x2).