Ruairi takes plaudits in O'Neill competition

There was a spate of good scoring in the competition and at least 34 golfers had returns of 37 points or better on the day in spite of the noise from the car rally in the nearby park.

There were five returns of 41 points but it was Ruairi Lavery who took the plaudits with his version of the score. This eleven handicapper began with a pair of double bogeys and had only a modest 17 points on the card through nine holes. Pars at the third, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth holes contributed greatly in terms of points. He played superbly on the inward nine and racked up a marvellous total of 24 points. He landed bogeys on the eleventh and eighteenth holes. Still on the other seven holes he managed two birdies and five pars. Holes thirteen and fifteen yielded the vital birdies. This potent back nine gave him the trophy.

Runner-up in the competition was David Lennon with a similar tally of 41 points. This other eleven handicapper registered 19 and 22 points on the nines. After an indifferent start he managed seven consecutive pars. He continued the battle on the second nine. He birdied the seventh but slipped up with bogeys on holes twelve, fifteen and eighteen. Pars on the remaining five holes helped him to a strong total of 22 points on the nine.

Niall Hoy was back in the groove with another effort of 41 points. This nine handicapper was third with this return. At the halfway mark he had accumulated 20 points thanks to seven pars and bogeys on holes four and nine. A birdie at the tenth and pars on the next four holes gave him a vibrant start to the inward nine. Alas he encountered some problems with bogeys on the next trio of holes. A par on the last enabled him to obtain 21 points on the nine and finish in the big net prizes.

One handicapper Gary Clarke nabbed the weekly gross award. Gary took the honours with a well-fashioned gross 68. On the opening nine he birdied holes one and four but took bogeys at holes two and seven. Pars were secured on the other five holes. More splendid golf was evident on the homeward nine. It comprised seven pars to go alongside birdies on holes ten and thirteen. With 38 gross points he found himself a point in front of James Horan.

Past-captain Peter Devin won the low section with a score of 40 points. This seven handicapper needed 19 and 21 points over the nines to stash away the prize.

In the middle section Warren McCleary prevailed with an encouraging return of 41 points. Remarkably he required a better back six tally to settle matters. Playing off a fourteen handicap Warren had a steady 21 and 20 points for the respective nines.

Finally in the high section Richard Dawson emerged as the victor. This twenty-three handicapper took the spoils with his effort of 40 points. He had 17 points for the front nine but an enterprising 23 points on the back nine did the business. On the day a birdie at the twelfth and pars at holes eight, ten and thirteen were the highlights of his winning round.