Roy wins the Coburn Cup with 44 points

On Saturday July 10 a total of 177 golfers went out to play all with one aim in mind, to win the Coburn Cup.

The calculated standard scratch score was nett 67 or 38 stableford points. Nine players equalled the CSS and no less than 27 players bettered it.

Michael Robinson (12), Billy Clarke (17), Neil Madeley (5), Martin McAleenan (10), Gareth Magee (6), Dane Ward (14), Joe Whiteside (17), Robert Clydesdale (22) and Cecil Johnston (8) all finished with 38 points.

Fifteen players ended up with a score of 39 points and most of them played in the early part of the day before the heavy rains came.

Philip Strong (21) topped this group and he was followed by Gerry McBrien (22), Jim Ledlie (23), Kieran Magennis (4), Cathal McAnarney (20), Gareth McGregor (13), Rawdon Crozier (8), Robert Barnes (15), Jack Bickerstaff (20), Robin Moorhead (17), Colin Dodds (13), Merton McDowell (20), Eamon McAnarney (12) and Derek Hanna (14).

To score in the 40’s is always a major achievement. A dozen players managed to do so in the Coburn Cup.

Robert Patterson (24), Patrick Grimes (16), Gary McCartney (11), David McAnulty (14) and Stuart Hunter (5) all played remarkably well for their 40 points.

A special word of praise for Robert Patterson who must be the best player for his age in the county.

Damian Weir (5) was seventh with 41 points. Damian won the best gross prize with a level par 69. Incidentally, Damian is the 16th different winner of the gross prize this season. Now that says a lot for the depth of talent in Banbridge Golf Club.

Tommy Fee (11) was sixth, also with 41 points. Tommy won the senior prize. There have been 17 different winners of the senior prize this year so far. Tommy has won it three times which is pretty amazing.

Robert Canning was fifth with his 41 points. There was no prize for Robert except that his handicap was cut to 20. For some people, that would be reward enough.

Laurence Bramall (14) was fourth, also with 41 points. Laurence is a big strong player and he must take a top spot one of these days.

Cecil Wilson (21) was third with an excellent 42 points. Cecil is now very much a contender for a place on the Junior Cowdy team. Reports on his play and potential have been very impressive. If a vacancy arises, he will be in there.

The runner-up in the Coburn Cup was Noel McSherry (11). Here is one very tidy golfer. It’s not beyond Noel’s capabilities to get his handicap down to single figures. That would be his dream. You can do it, Noel!

And the winner was Roy Rankin, a 12 handicapper from Dromara. He plays in a very competitive fourball alongside Vaughan Lamont, Ivan Rushe and John Poots.

They have a very complicated betting system where every shot is crucial. That all helps with concentration and Roy certainly was fully focussed during the Coburn Cup.

It was a brilliant win for Roy and fully deserved. Well done!