Rodney’s ‘round to remember’

There was a ‘round to remember’ for Rodney Osborne at Lisburn last weekend as he remains top of Division 1, having played the front nine in two under par 34.
Robin McCoosh, David Gardiner and Lisburn captain, John Boyd with Powers Irish Whiskey publicity girl Deirdre O'Connor.Robin McCoosh, David Gardiner and Lisburn captain, John Boyd with Powers Irish Whiskey publicity girl Deirdre O'Connor.
Robin McCoosh, David Gardiner and Lisburn captain, John Boyd with Powers Irish Whiskey publicity girl Deirdre O'Connor.

Milder weather attracted over one hundred competitors to last week’s Winter League competition at Lisburn.

With the course drying out in a strong breeze good scores were expected.

Fourteen players got over 20 points. The early starters received a sample Powers Irish Whiskey which helped some to settle their nerves on the first tee. Powers sponsored a Hot Shot competition over three holes.

Eric Wilkinson, Philip Stewart, Bill Hawthorne and Rodney Osborne tied with nine points but Eric’s name was drawn out of the hat.

He will be entered in a draw to win an overnight stay plus a round of golf for four at the Lough Erne Golf Resort in County Fermanagh.

Rodney Osborne (12) had a ‘round to remember’ when he played the front nine in two under par 34.

With no bogeys and birdies at the second and ninth he amassed 26 points to finish five points ahead of Ian Sayers (10) at the top of Division 1.

The highlight of Ian’s round was a birdie three at the seventh for four points. With a level par round of 36 Michael Leathem (4) finished with 20 points.

Philip Stewart (19) started his round with five pars. He recovered well to get a bogey four at the sixth after a quick hook off the tee.

He dropped strokes at the seventh and eighth but 24 points made him a clear winner of Division 2.

Stephen Wilkinson (18) was second on 22 despite running up a double bogey seven at the eighth. Six players finished with 21 points:

Mervyn Mawhinney, Des Kerr, Ivor Walker, Cecil Crawford, Norman Lambe and Alan Walker.

Billy Hawthorne (28) started and finished his round with pars to win Division 3 with 25 points. A birdie two at the fourth helped Mervyn Hewitt (20) into second place with 23 points. After five pars David Johnston (22) finished with two sevens but still managed 22 points.

Once again the number of twos recorded was rather low with six at each of the short holes. This may have been due to the recently sanded greens.

With one week remaining Rodney Osborne’s 26 points makes him the clear leader of Division 1. He is closely followed by Darren Welsh, Ken Haslem, Stephen Stewart and Andrew Parr.

Mervyn Mawhinney and Stephen Wilkinson lead Division 2 ahead of Michael Rooney, Jim Cunningham and Martin McDonald.

Bill Hawhorne’s 25 points has leapfrogged him to the top of Division 3 just ahead of Mervyn Hewitt, Eric Wilkinson, David Galway, Colin Todd and David Johnston.

Nearly sixty competitors took part in the Wednesday Stableford competition which was played to temporary greens on the front nine.

Roy Welsh took the honours with 28 points one ahead of George Heatherington with Tom Beattie third on 26. Robin McCoosh and David Armstrong were the only players to score two of the eleven twos recorded.