Top spot for Gareth and Tom as they make foursomes finals

The 2014 Cooper Rosebowl finalists at Lisburn Golf Club. (L-R): David Bolas, Alison McKnight and winners Julie Robinson and Glenn Walsh.

As many as 79 pairs contested in very pleasant playing conditions, the one drawback being the hollow-tined and sanded greens.

Two teams were tied at the top of the leader-board each with 45 points.

Just beaten into second place were David Bolas (6) and his partner Gavin Hawkins (13) whose usual partner Stephen Stewart was unavailable.

Ruth Walker, Hilary Bradley and Christine McCullough after their round of golf in the Autumn Open at Lisburn Golf Club.

They accumulated 23 points in the first nine holes despite either player failing to par the two short par three holes. Gavin birdied the third and fifth holes whilst David had an eagle three at the eighth. They parred all of the back nine except the last were they had to settle for a four.

Gary McCarter (9) teeing off in the afternoon with partner Tom Leathem (28) played the best round of the day. Gary was level par on his own ball after 16 holes only to drop three shots in the last two. However, Tom came to the rescue scoring five points in the last two holes to give the team 23 points in the back nine and a total of 45 to win the BTNI Cup on count-back.

This left Gavin thinking of what might have been had he managed to hole his putt for a three at the last. The winners Gary and Tom now qualify to represent Lisburn in the Irish Daily Mail Foursomes in 2015.

The competition this coming weekend will be the final stroke play competition of the year and will decide the winner of the Mooney Cup.

Wednesday CompetitioN

The mid-week competition on the previous Wednesday was played on a much shorter course with temporary green in use during the tining and sanding process.

The competition was non qualifying and as a result only 20 players entered. All except three scored 36 points or more. Alan Taylor (18) came out on top with 47 points, followed by Mervyn Bryson (28) on 46. Billy Gregg (17) took third place on countback ahead of Eric Wilkinson (24),

MATCHPLAY COMPETITIONS

The final of the Cooper Rosebowl Mixed Foursomes was played at the week-end when Glen Walsh & Julie Robinson came from two down at the turn to square the match on the 17th hole. They won the last hole to win the match one up.

Meanwhile, the remaining semi-finals in the club matchplay competitions have been played and the line ups for the respective finals are as follows.

Craig Cup (David Payne v Ivor Walker); McKee Cup (Chris Budd v Richard McDermott); Hilden Cup (David McCallister v Alan Gilmore) and Scratch Cup (Norman McNellis v Paul Grant).