Steady Eddie tops

But, in the event, it took a break of tie on 40 points to determine who was the winner. That tie fell in favour of the steady play of Eddie Mitchell (13) whose better back nine of 19 points just edged him ahead of low-handicapper Graham Hepburn (6). Graham will regret the failure to score at The Quarry, the tricky Par 5 15th, on which many a good card has floundered over the years. Graham’s abundance of birdies were negated by a single blank. Third place on the day went to Terry Phillips (16) with 39 points.

The Sunday Society secretary cemented his Golfer of the Year fourth spot with this steady play.

Honorary Secretary Tony McCann (14) has been having a quiet time recently as he tries to embed some swing changes but everything clicked into place on Sunday and the result was a fourth place finish with a fine 38 points.

Golfer of the Year leader Clive Brolly (17) ensured that he is almost but uncatchable in that race with a fine 38 points to take fifth place on the day. Clive will rue his failure to score at the eighteen where even a single point would have hoisted him up the table.

The best front nine on Sunday was had by Jeremy Thatcher (17) with a superb 24 points. But, as Jeremy is all too aware, there is many a slip to befall the unwary and his game came crashing down at the last two holes where he carded zero points to finish on a 38 point total for sixth spot.

The Saturday Stableford was a little delayed due to overnight frost but once the competition got under way one player scorched his way round the eighteen holes. John Currie (22) amassed 24 points on the opening holes and piled on a title clinching 21 points on the back nine to finish on 45 points and outstrip the opposition. Given the conditions George Jackson (13) might well have expected that his 41 points, 18 points on the front and 23 points on the back, would have lifted the prize but he hadn’t taken into account the scorching hot Currie.

John Hamilton (8) scored 39 points to take third place but he will have the odd “what might have been” moment as he remembers his poor blank at Billy’s - the Par 3 12th.

But for that he might have occupied second spot on the day. Members are reminded that tee-times can be booked for all competitions at www.cityofderrygolfclub.com.

While twenty-six teams contested the now annual St Patrick’s Day Teams of Four competition on St Patrick’s Day.

Given that the course was playing long and the conditions were bright but a little chilly the scoring was impressive by all the teams.

The team of Maurice Quigg, Stephen Monaghan, Eamon McCourt and Paul Monaghan finished with a fabulous 94 points to claim first place. Second place went to Paul Coyle, Allen Heaney, Morris McCarter and Larry Coyle with 92 points.

The team of Sean Morrison, Jayson McIntrye, AaronTaylor and Raymond Phelan lifted third prize with 91 points