Lynn coasts to win in Gribben memorial at Raceview

JONATHAN Lynn won’t forget this year’s Jimmy Gribben memorial competition at Ballymena Golf Club in a hurry.

The seven-handicapper spread-eagled the field of 174 entrants with a score of 44 points - four ahead of his nearest challengers.

Johnny commenced his round with three pars and after nine holes he was two under gross, which converted into 23 stableford points.

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Although he dropped shots at 10 and 12, he scored six more pars and concluded his round with a birdie, en route to 21 more points.

Second place went to Stephen Hayes (12) who, having played the first nine to his handicap for 18 points, really got his game together on the way home. His first seven holes were equal to par and although he dropped a shot on each of the last two holes, his second nine total of 22 points was one better than John Lorimer (11).

Having dropped three shots after four holes, John’s next five holes yielded four pars and a bogey as he notched 19 points.

After the turn he scored five bogeys, two pars and birdies at 15 and 18 for 21 second nine points, one better than Ciaran Martin (19).

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Ciaran’s opening nine of 21 points was somewhat spoiled by double bogeys on the second and ninth, which were worth one point each.

The closing nine wasn’t without its problems either, with double bogeys at 12 and 17 and a triple bogey at 14, but he managed to amass a further 19 points.

Fifth nett was Nigel McCullough (18) with 39 points and on a better second nine from Colm Cunningham.

Nigel’s front nine consisted of five bogeys, three pars and a non-event on the eighth for 19 points but the back nine saw him use his handicap to the full as he scored seven bogeys plus pars at 10 and 17 for a further 20 points.

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Cunningham (16) scored four pars, four bogeys plus a double bogey on the eighth for 20 points, while the inward trip resulted in four pars, three bogeys and double bogeys at 15 and 17 for an additional 19 points.

John Robinson’s excellent form continued as he once again produced the best gross card, having played the course in three over par 71 shots.

Playing off one, John was three over after nine but the second nine was played in level par, with seven pars and a dropped shot at 11 which he recouped with a birdie at 13.

SUNDAY OPEN

The Sunday open stableford competition was won by Kenneth Hood, a visitor from Galgorm Castle Golf Club, on a better last six hole score from Adam Barr.

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Playing off 16, Kenneth amassed 16 points from his opening six holes but he was unable to maintain that rate, scoring just five more points before the turn.

The back nine resulted in five bogeys, three pars plus a non-event on the 12th for an additional 18 points and his last six hole total of 13 points edged Barr - who had 12 points over the same stretch - into second place.

Playing off nine, Adam notched up 21 points on the first nine from six pars, two bogeys and a birdie on the ninth. The inward nine produced six bogeys, two pars and a birdie on the 13th for a further 18 points.

Third nett was William McCartney (16) with 38 points, of which 20 came from the second nine.

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The opening nine saw William score six bogeys, two pars and a double bogey on the second for 18 points, to which he added five bogeys, a double bogey at 17, pars at 13 and 15 and a very rewarding birdie on the final hole which on its own was worth four of his 22 points on the second nine.

The gross prize again went to John Robinson (1) who scored 12 fours and six threes to be two under gross for the round.

In the same competition, John Lorimer had something to celebrate as he holed his tee shot at the second hole.

It was worth five of his overall total of 36 points.

OPEN STABLEFORD

Garath McCullough (19) won the Wednesday open stableford competition with a total of 37 points.

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His front nine produced 21 of those, with four pars, four bogeys and a double bogey on the fifth.

The second nine saw Garath score everything from a four to a seven inclusive as he added a further 16 points to leave him one clear of runner-up Colm McGlade (17), from Cushendall Golf Club.

Colm didn’t have the desired start to his round, double-bogeying the opening two holes and then repeated that feat at the sixth but he still managed 17 points from the nine and he added a further 19 from the second nine.

SOCIETIES CUP

The Societies Cup was played on September 23, with the eight best scores counting from the 12-player teams.

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This year’s winner was Blackstone Society with 276 points from their eight cards, followed by Michelin (275) and Pasadena (270).

GALGORM RETAIN BOOT

The annual match between the councils of Ballymena and Galgorm Castle Golf Clubs was held at Raceview on September 21.

The results was a 3-3 draw which means that Galgorm, by virtue of being the holders, retained the boot after an enjoyable event, played in summer-like weather.