Owen takes the top prize

With the Irish Open on the normal numbers expected to sign in was reduced by 25 per cent with the rest heading for Portrush.

However 130 did record scores in this stroke competition with Owen Callaghan coming out on top with a nett 65, playing off a 14 handicap.

Owen had 39 strokes on the front nine. He started with bogey, par, bogey, par and then had two bogeys in a row

before he settled down with three pars.

The back nine was a mixed bag as Owen started off with a double bogey at the 10th and a par at 11. The shot of the round was at the par three 12th were Owen recorded a birdie two, putting from 10 feet. He then went on to make par, bogey

and birdie before he recorded a par and two bogeys to finish with 40 strokes on the back nine and the score was good enough to get Owen first place.

Second place was taken by David Cunningham with a nett 67, playing off a 17 handicap.

David had 39 strokes on the front nine with five pars and four bogeys. The back nine was recorded in 45 strokes with pars and bogeys in equal measure.

Third place was won by Paul Breen who returned a nett, 68 playing off 19.

Paul had 42 strokes on the front nine and 45 on the back nine. It was good to see Paul in the prizes again as he has been missing out by the the odd stroke every week.

The gross prize was won by Thomas Smyth, off six, who returned a 77 for a nett 71.

Thomas had a level 35 on the front and 42 on the back nine. This is the first gross for Thomas this season and maybe not the last.

Fourth spo went to Eamon Magill, who plays off 14, with a nett 69. Eamon had 42 strokes on the front and 41 on the back nine.

Fifth place was taken by Mark Jordan. Playing off 11 Mark had 39 on the front nine and 41 on the back for a

nett 69. This is the best round Mark has played for a while. His putting has been off for a while but he says he has worked out what was wrong and is back to his winning ways again.

The seniors’ winner was the popular Jack Lagan, playing off 14. Jack had 40 strokes on the front nine and 46 on the back nine for a nett 72.

Section winners were: 0-12, Philip McConville; 14-18, Jim Doran; 19-28, Alan Johnston.