Martin doubles up at Raceview

HAVING won the Bill Rainey Memorial, Martin McClintock did the double when he again came out on top in the Wilsons of Rathkenny sponsored Stableford on May 1.

Although he was reduced by two shots on handicap to 16, it did not deter him.

Martin did not have the desired start to his round as he dropped a shot on each of the opening three holes.

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However, he then played the next six holes in level par to give him 23 points in the outward nine.

The inward nine was much more like a 16 handicapper score as he had five simple bogeys, a double bogey on the 15th plus pars on the 13th, 14th and 17th for an additional 19 points which was adequate to push second placed Ryan Bell into second place by virtue of that second nine.

Compared to McClintock, Bell had a superb opening nine holes where the 12 handicapper was level par gross for 24 points only for the second nine holes to cost him double bogeys on the 11th and 13th.

A strong finish over the final five holes yielded 12 points having been one over gross but those double bogeys were very expensive.

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Eugene M Reid took the third nett prize with total of 41 points but he had three holes where he had no points.

The 19 handicapper had triple bogeys on the third, sixth and 12th but against these he had six pars, birdies on the eighth and 13th and a superb par on the 11 each producing four points.

The outward nine was worth 21 points and the inward nine saw him add 20 points.

The remaining three prizes were all won with totals of 40 points with the second nine deciding the placings.

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Fourth nett was Jim Warwick (21) who had equal nines of 20 points and there were only two holes namely the second and ninth where he did not score at least two points.

On the first nine, he scored 14 points on holes three to seven inclusive whereas on the second nine, he had three points on the 10th and 15th with the rest resulting in two points on each.

Jim's second nine total of 20 was two better than Maurice Harkin (18) and Mark Simpson (11).

Harkin had a double bogey on the fifth but a birdie on the seventh was helpful giving him 22 for the front nine.

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The back nine was a series of fours and fives with there being six fives plus three fours for an additional 18 points and a better back last six hole total from Mark Simpson (11).

He played the first nine in one over gross for a total of 22 points which came from six pars, bogeys on the fifth and eighth plus a birdie on the par five third.

Into the second nine with par he suddenly recorded a double bogey, bogey followed by two pars, another bogey, double bogey and two pars to finish.

The best gross card was returned by John Robinson (4) who went round in two over par.

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An outward nine of six pars, two bogeys and a birdie on the ninth was added to an inward nine with eight pars plus the only dropped shot being on the short par four 13th.

Meanwhile on the inter club scene Ballymena Golf Club fared rather well with the Senior Cup squad defeating Tandragee Golf Club in the first leg of the Belfast and District Cup at Raceview.

The home team was very much made up of players who had been on the Fred Daly Youth team and they performed really well in their new surroundings.

The East Antrim League team were hosts to Ballyclare in the first game of the 2010 season and the home team came out with a 3-2 win.

LADIES

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The team of Evelyn Allen, Elaine Mark and Eileen Millar won last week's Ladies Open Waltz at Ballymena Golf Club.

The trio accumulated 77 points to take the victory in the Wilsons sponsored event, three shots better off than runners-up Roberta McFarland, Karen Patton and Wilma Bloomer, who edged out Denise Harper, Patricia Cole and Ann Agnew courtesy of a better back nine.

This week's competition is for the Slemish Trophy.