Ritchie proves the master in McQuillan memorial event

Golfers at Ballymena Golf Club were competing recently for the McQuillan Memorial Cup, presented to the club by the family of Shinney McQuillan, a past secretary at Raceview.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jun 2014, 10:00 BST
Derek McCully, Cecil McGinty and Mervyn Whiteside who took part in the Sunstart Bakery-sponsored competition at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT 21-802HDerek McCully, Cecil McGinty and Mervyn Whiteside who took part in the Sunstart Bakery-sponsored competition at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT 21-802H
Derek McCully, Cecil McGinty and Mervyn Whiteside who took part in the Sunstart Bakery-sponsored competition at Ballymena Golf Club. INBT 21-802H

On this occasion it was played as an open stroke competition, attracting a good turnout, including quite a few visitors.

In good conditions, the scoring was pretty low with the victor being Stephen Ritchie who, off a handicap of 14, posted a nett 63, with his back nine score carrying him through against William Owens.

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Ritchie’s front nine was not really trophy-winning material, playing the nine holes in one under his handicap to be out in six over par.

The second nine was much better, however, where he scored four pars plus a birdie two on the 16th to be three over par and in total, he was five under par overall.

Owens’ opening nine hole score was six over and his second nine was steady if unspectacular, as he used his handicap allowance to good effect.

Third nett was Millar Eagleson (16) with a nett 64, in which each nine was played in six over par.

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James McClintock (16) picked up fourth nett prize with the best of the nett 65 returns, pushing Roy Worthington (25) and Roy Warwick into fifth and sixth places respective;y.

Two-handicapper John Robinson returned the best gross card when he played the course in level par 68 shots.

ACE FIXINGS STABLEFORD

The Ace Fixings-sponsored open stableford took place in horrendous weather conditions and was won by visitor Joe Jenkins (12) with 31 points, while another visitor, Robert Beggs (14) two points further back.

SUNSTART OPEN

Competitors in the Sunstart open enjoyed much better conditions, as evidenced by Dylan Cole’s (15) winning score of 42 points.

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Second place went to Ballymena United footballer Mark Surgenor (11) with 40 points, two better than third-placed James Kirk (14).

LADIES

It’s been a busy period for the Raceview ladies with the Slemish and O2 trophies up for grabs.

Liz Small won the Slemish Trophy with a nett score of 69, one clear of closest rival Arlene McCartney.

The O2 Trophy was won by Janet Gaston. She accumulated 38 points in the stable ford event with runner-up Eileen Hudson second with 36