Norman's the happiest man at Bann after trophy win

Norman Doak and his clubs did their job superbly on Saturday and won the TB Wallace Cup.

He got himself a two shot cut into the bargain, going down from 18 to 16.

And it was more than deserved as he took a trophy that is practically as old as the club itself and is considered as one of the Banbridge Golf Club majors.

Norman didn’t get his round off to the best of starts.

Gary McCormick (left) is the runner-up in the TB Wallace Cup. He is pictured alongside his golfing friend Gordon Haire.

He was eight over par after seven holes (and over his handicap) but that wasn’t going to stop him.

He turned his gameface on and recovered brilliantly to play the remaining 11 holes in only three over par.

The turning point was a marvellous two at the eighth hole, where he sank a long putt from off the edge of the green. Everyone needs something like that to kick-start a round and Norman certainly got into gear.

At the 15th, Norman left his 10 footer for a birdie two only an inch from the hole. That would have been a double helping from the twos pot!

The par threes were kind to Norman and none moreso crucial than the 18th. He missed the green wide right but he chipped up to 12 feet and sank the putt like a true champion. It was Norman’s day, no doubt about it.

Gary McCormick (9 now 8) was runner-up with a nett 63. Gary’s round was, well, nigh on perfect. He was only one over par after 17 holes and he needed a bogey four at the last hole to win.

I don’t know how it happened (I was afraid to ask) but Gary contrived to take a double bogey five. That was oh so sad.

John J Lennon (10) won the low section with a nett 66. He beat Kieran Magennis (5 now 4) on countback. Kieran was well pleased with his round nonetheless and took the runner-up spot in the low section.

Shane Crossan (14 now 12) won the middle section with a nett 64. His card was a thing of beauty, devoid of any double bogeys.

The legendary John Poots (17 now 16) was second in the middle section with another nett 64. John would have won if he had managed bogeys at the 10th and 14th instead of double bogeys. It’s all ‘if only’.

Robert Canning (19 now 18) won the high section with a nett 67. Dominic McArdle (22 now 21) was second, also with a nett 67.

Dennis Watt (17 now 16) was the best senior player with a nett 64. Dennis was only six over after 14 holes and he looked ‘odds on’ to win the TB Wallace. But, like many players before him, he lost it over the infamous final four holes. Dennis dropped six shots there and his chance of victory disappeared.

The best gross prize went to the ever-young Ken Stevenson (3) who shot a one over par 70. What a player! Did you beat your age, Kenny?

The calculated standard scratch score was nett 68 and those who broke it deserve a mention.

Vaughan Lamont and Seamus McGrath both had nett 65s while Robin Bond had a nett 66.

Eugene Weir, Jonathan Burns, John Doran, Hugo Downey, John Russell and Philip Mallon all had nett 67s.

But the man of the moment is Norman Doak, the winner of the TB Wallace Cup. Congratulate him when you see him. You will recognise him, the man with the widest smile in the club.