Stephen impresses in the rain at Lambeg

In fact the last four to five four-balls retired early as the rain turned torrential around lunch time and the greens became unplayable.

The rain certainly didn’t affect the winner Stephen Thornhill (16) who scored an unbelievable 49 pts, seven points clear of his nearest opponent Raymond Rodgers (13). Stephen has been playing very good steady golf recently and on Saturday everything just went his way.

Amazingly he began his round with a double bogey but never faltered again hitting two birdies and six pars before the turn. A further six pars and no worse than a a bogie on the remainder gave him that magnificent total of 49pts. Raymond also hit two birdies and nine pars however the double bogey at the third and a triple bogey at the 15th spoiled a very impressive round but secured second place easily with 42 pts.

Michael Pollins finished two shots behind on 40 pts to take third place after a fairly consistant round of golf. He got off to a brilliant start with an unusual birdie at the first and with pars and single bogeys right up to the 15th he was still in the hunt, but a double bogey at the stroke index one set him back. Undeterred he hit straight back with a birdie and finished with two pars on 17 and 18. Best Gross was won by Alan Crockard (6). The Wednesday Hat was won by Ivor Harron (8) with 40 pts.

The Ulster-Ball team travelled to Dunmurry G.C. needing only one win out of five to go through to the third round after winning 4 1/2 to 1/2 at Aberdelghy but what a fight they got from the Dunmurry team. John Bennett and Tom McGlone for Dunmurry were leading two up after eleven and took the next three holes for a very impressive 5 and 4 win over Lambeg’s first pairing of Mark Neeson and Tom Craig.

In the second match Brian Bates and Brian McGonigle were two up after twelve for Lambeg but the Dunmurry pairing of Hugh Robinson and Harry Gregg fought back magnificently with Hugh scoring five pars in a row to take the match 3 and 1 for Dunmurry. The third match was Dunmurry’s from the start taking the first two holes. David Hilland Colin Higgins did bring it to all square at one stage before slipping again. Their opponents, Ken Stanfield and Stephen Donaghy really turned the pressure on winning four holes on the trot and taking the match 4 and 3. The pressure was really on the two remaining matches but it was Lambeg who were dominant. Mark Williamson and Aidan Daly played magnificently against strong opponents, Lawrence Patterson and Jack Scullion for Dunmurry and when they won the 14th to make it dormie four the match was all but over. Mark dropped a four foot put to take a half on the fifteenth and Lambeg got the one win they needed. Just behind and in case there was any doubt, the magnificent pairing of young Bobby Meehan and John McArdel were holding a 3up lead over Dunmurry Captain George Gillespie and Derek Rankin before being called in. Lambeg’s Captain Ritchie Gorman was delighted with his teams performance but congratulated Dunmurry for making it a most memorable, nerve wracking, competitive and sporting match.

Lambeg travelled to Dunfanaghy for the first leg, second round of the Ulster-Cup, and although beaten 4 to 3, it is a very impressive result and will give them a good opportunity to progress into the next round when they play the return match at Aberdelghy next Saturday. The three winners for Lambeg were Michael Pollins 6 and 5, Andy Burrell 3 and 2 and D.Mc Shane 3 and 2. Next week’s stableford competition is sponsored by Arthur A. Prentice, Plumbing and Heating.

Members are reminded that the draw for tee-off times for June /July is tonight (Friday, May 24) at 6pm.