Greg a clear winner in the low section

With the standard preferred lies in force there was some prolific scoring over the week and it appears prizes will not be easily won. An indication of the good scoring was that at least close to 60 golfers managed 29 points or better for these fourteen holes.

In the low section, catering for golfers up to and including 12 handicappers, there were 20 players with scores under the par of 28 points.

Greg Crawford was the clear winner of the section with an outstanding return of 36 points. This six handicapper achieved a steady eighteen points over each section of seven holes. Over the round he scored birdies at holes one, three, six, fifteen and seventeen. His only bogeys came at the second and tenth holes. With pars on the rest of the holes it was not surprising that he accumulated this great tally of points.

Runner-up in the group was Martin Drain with an equally good score of 33 points. This five handicapper managed 16 and 17 points over each side of the course. He birdied the tenth and dropped his only shot of the day at the fourteenth. Pars on the other twelve holes were conclusive evidence of his solid round of golf.

Four handicap golfer Tom Douglas was third with a more than useful total of 32 points. Tom had concessions to par on holes one and twelve. However birdies at fifth, tenth and fifteenth holes took care of these minor lapses. Pars on the remaining holes helped him to register 15 and 17 points for the respective sides of the course.

Plus two handicapper David Sutton captured the weekly gross award with 31 gross points. On his way around David attained birdies on holes one, three, six, nine and seventeen. His only wayward hole was the eight where he incurred a double bogey. Pars were his lot on the rest of the holes. His breakdown of 16 and 15 gross points earned him the category award.

The middle section catered for handicaps from thirteen to nineteen inclusive. There were twenty one golfers in this grouping who recorded a tally of 29 points or better.

The winner of this division was Matt McAlinden. This sixteen handicap golfer scored 34 points to earn the top net prize. Matt was the essence of consistency with 17 points on each sector of the course. A birdie at the first and pars at holes six and eight formed the basis of his scoring on the front seven. A birdie at the tenth and pars at holes eleven, seventeen and eighteen were his feature holes on the inward seven.

Runner-up was seventeen handicapper Derek Johnston with his effort of 34 points. Derek reached the turn with an enterprising tally of 18 points. Pars at holes one, two, eight and nine provided this solid platform. On the way home he assembled 16 points. A birdie at the eleventh and pars at holes ten and seventeen were his noteworthy figures on this side.

The other net prize went to Raymond Farrell. This fourteen handicapper scored 33 points to get among the winners. He had a steady run of 16 and 17 points on each side of the course.

Finally in the high section the leading light was Terence Eagers. This twenty handicapper took the honours with a very tidy return of 35 points for the fourteen holes.

Incidentally this section caters for golfers with handicaps of twenty or above. Here some fifteen golfers shot scores better than the par of twenty eight points. Terry put himself into contention with 17 points on his card after seven holes. A trio of pars at holes one, two and three was his early inspiration. His homeward seven comprised three pars and four net pars. Holes ten, seventeen and eighteen realised the crucial par figures. A sturdy 18 points on this part of the course guided him to victory.

With a tally of 33 points Michael McHugh took the runners-up spot. This twenty four handicapper can thank a superb back seven total of 19 points that enabled him to get a winning result. Over the round Michael was best served by a quintet of pars on holes eight, eleven, fourteen, seventeen and eighteen.

The last net prize of the week went to Hugh O’Reilly. Playing off a twenty-one handicap Hugh triumphed with another score of 33 points. Hugh got off to a flying start with 20 points on his card through the opening seven holes. Unfortunately his back seven was less conspicuous as he only mustered a total of 13 points. His early run of pars at holes one, two, three, nine and ten sufficed to put him on the winning rostrum.

During the winter period local professional Peter Hanna is now running a Sunday Sweep (stableford) to keep members active. The first of these stableford sweeps began on Sunday 17th October. It provides competition for the various categories of the playing membership on a usually quiet day. It’s a nice innovation and worth support. The prize money will be credited to the winners’ accounts.

In the opening week the winners were as follows:

1st: Kieran Kearney 43 points. 2nd: Jim McCann Jnr 42 points. 3rd: Laurence Mitchell 41 points. 4th: Ronan McGivern 40 points. 5th: David Lennon 39 points (on the countback). Gross: Gareth Moore 38 gross points.

Incidentally in the ‘Twos’ competition the following were successful: Peter Cummins, John Harnett, Fergie Lennon, Gareth Moore, Damian McGreevey and Raymond McKeveney.

Results of the sweep on October 24 were: 1, Paul Mooney, 40 points; 2, Johnny McEvoy, 40; 3, Willy Russell 39; 4, Gareth Moore 39; 5, Paul McKernan 39; 6, Sean McGreevy Jnr; 39. Gross, David Sutton 38 gross points.