Kieran claims his green Masters' jacket

This competition was very generously sponsored by J. R. McMahon Menswear, Lurgan. There was a fine range of prizes offered and the winner aptly received the now traditional green jacket.

Conditions were mild and varied from overcast to sunny. Indeed there was the odd speck of rain floating about. This was not enough to deter the serious golfer and in the end at least 21 players managed under par rounds. Encouragingly there was an overwhelming entry of 245 golfers on show.

The winner of the green jacket was Kieran Patterson. This fourteen handicapper has been quiet during the year but he fashioned an excellent net 64 to capture the main prize. Kieran had an indifferent opening nine with three double bogeys on his card. However pars at holes three, five, seven, eight and nine provided a ray of hope. On the final nine holes he played extremely well. A double bogey six at the last and a bogey at the sixteenth were his only wayward holes. He recorded two birdies and five pars on the remaining seven holes. Holes thirteen and seventeen yielded the crucial birdies. This competent play earned him the premium prize.

Runner-up in the competition was Eamonn McCarron with a well-executed effort of net 65. Also playing off a fourteen handicap Eamonn played steadily over both sectors of the course. A birdie at the eighth and pars at holes three, five and six provided the early impetus. His concluding nine comprised pars and bogeys. Holes thirteen, fifteen, sixteen and seventeen were his most noble par efforts.

With a four under par total of net 66 the third net award went to William McMillan. This eleven handicapper had put himself in the frame through nine holes with a gross 36. Six pars were accompanied by a birdie at the first and bogeys on the second and fourth. His back nine effort was less spectacular. Still birdies on holes ten and thirteen and pars at holes fourteen and sixteen kept his momentum upbeat. This was more than enough to lock up third place.

The gross award in the competition went to young James McConville. Playing off a six handicap James took the honours with a gross 72. James had a variety of scores ranging from birdies to a double bogey at the ninth. With birdies at holes three, seven, eight and pars at holes two and six he took only 37 shots for the opening nine. On the back nine he had birdies, pars and bogeys in equal amounts. Holes ten, twelve and thirteen gave up the birdies. He backed this up with vital pars at holes eleven, seventeen and eighteen. A level par 35 on the nine tilted the category prize in his favour.

The second gross prize went to Gary Clarke. This one handicapper also recorded a gross 72 on the day. He had concessions to par at holes two, three and seventeen. His solitary birdie came at the sixth hole. Pars were his lot on the other fourteen holes.

Fourth in this Masters competition was Eugene Greene with a net 67. This twenty-five handicapper competed well in spite of a pair of triple bogeys on holes three and six. On the day pars at holes one, five and eleven were the highlights of his winning return.

With another return of net 67 Pat Burke captured the fifth net prize. This six handicap player played steadily with gross scores of 37 and 36 for the respective nines. Birdies at holes three, four and thirteen were his marquee scores. However a string of pars at holes five, seven, eight, ten, eleven, fourteen and fifteen put him within striking distance. Pars on the closing two holes got him a spot among the winners.

The sixth and final net prize went to long time member Sidney Fairfield with the other return of net 67. This sixteen handicapper had a wonderful opening nine where he had seven pars on his card. On holes four and seven he incurred a double bogey and bogey respectively. There was not the same magic on the homeward nine but with pars on holes ten and eighteen he had done enough to salvage the last net prize on offer.

With a net 70 on the day the student prize went to John Horan playing off his six handicap. John raced to the turn thanks to eight pars and a birdie at the sixth. Putting woes were his downfall on the homeward journey. He could only make pars at holes eleven, fifteen and eighteen. Still his gross 76 on the day sufficed to secure him this award.

Congratulations goes to Warren McCleary for hitting the shot of the day. Warren had a hole-in-one at the par three thirteenth on his way to a net 68.