Thompson secures Gardner Cup triumph at Raceview

The victor was Steven Thompson who, with an allowance of 20 shots, posted a total of 43 points.

Steven’s opening nine holes of six bogeys, a double bogey, a par and a birdie produced 21 points, to which he added a further 22 points from from four pars, four bogeys and a double bogey.

Second-placed William Tuff managed 42 points, of which 23 came on the first nine holes, which he played in level par after seven pars, a bogey at the second and a birdie at the seventh.

Tuff dropped five shots on the first five holes of the second nine but parred the last four holes for an additional 19 points, which was ample to pip his playing partner John A Jamieson by one point.

Five-handicapper Jamieson went through the front nine in level par after seven pars, a dropped shot on the par five third which was retrieved with a birdie at the eighth, giving him 20 points for the nine holes.

The back nine was a similar story with seven pars, a birdie on the 11th and a dropped shot on the final hole for a further 21 points which was a better second nine total than John E Quigley (21).

Fourth nett Quigley notched 21 points from the outward nine, where he scored four pars, three bogeys and two double bogeys.

The inward nine featured five bogeys and two double bogeys but he parred the final two holes which really helped his card and gave him 20 points on the way home.

Fifth prize was won by Peter Smith (16) with 40 points and on a better last six hole total of 15 points from Martin McClintock (16).

Gary Black has enjoyed a superb month in the best gross category, which he again won with a level par round of 68 shots.

HOLT SHIELD

The club’s Holt Shield team have left themselves a mountain to climb in the second leg of their final at Carrickfergus Golf Club.

In the home leg, Paul Stevnson lost by 2/1 but Craig McCartney sqaured matters with a comprehensive win by 5/4.

Adam Barr was defeated by a 2/1 margin, as was Mark Surgenor, a late substitute for the unavailable Nigel Getty.

Jake Carson played the course in three over par gross yet still had to settle for a halved match.

Four wins in the away leg will be a big ask for Ballymena against the holders but they have won away games earlier in the competition by that score at Mahee Island and Rockmount.

LADIES

Margaret Heaney and Yvonne Fullerton were the most recent winners in the ladies section at Ballymena Golf Club.

Margaret took the honours in last week’s Andy Workman Cup, while Yvonne came out on top in the Charity Stableford event seven days earlier.

Margaret’s round of 70 saw her finish two clear of Paddy Fox and Evelyn Allen, with the former grabbing the runners-up spot thanks to a better back nine.

Yvonne accumulated 39 points to seal her victory finishing three clear of her nearest challengers.

The sectional winners were: A - Heather McGarry 36; B - Tracey Hughes 35; C - Eileen Timoney 35.