Russell tops on day of high-scoring at Raceview

Winner Brian Russell - with a score of nett 61 - was one of 53 competitors who equalled par or better.

Sixteen handicapper Russell did not look like a potential winner over the first nine holes where he had five bogeys, three pars plus a double bogey on the par five ninth to be seven over par.

The second nine was a total transformation as he scored seven pars plus dropped shots on the 12th and 14th, giving him a gross 77 less his 16 handicap, for a nett 61.

That second nine was good enough to push Adrian Gough (7) into second place.

Adrian’s opening nine was made up of five pars, three birdies and his lone dropped shot was on the eighth to be out in two under gross.

The second nine saw him open with a double bogey, par, bogey, followed by four threes and completed with a par, bogey on the last for a level par round of 68 shots, minus his handicap of seven, for a nett result of 61.

Third nett was 12-handicapper David Mulholland who had a nett score of 62 - one of five on the day.

A first nine holes of six pars plus bogeys on the second, fifth and sixth was a sound opening and David carried that on into the second nine with four pars, four bogeys plus a birdie on the last which was most rewarding as he had a better last six holes from Richard Armstrong (14).

A front nine of four bogeys plus five pars was good but his second nine was a picture of consistency as he had eight fours plus a lone five on the 15th for equal nines of four over and Armstrong’s back nine was one shot better than fifth-placed Adam Barr (12) who also had a nett 62.

Adam shed four shots on the front nine but managed to retrieve two of those having birdied the two par fives, leaving him two over going into the homeward nine.

It was made up of four pars, three bogeys, a birdie on the 17th plus a double bogey on the par four 12th and that dropped shot on the last hole was costly.

Despite that, Adam managed to pip Frank O’Boyle over the last three holes. Frank, off a handicap of 14, scored equal nines of 38 shots which saw him equal to Barr over 18, nine and six holes, only to lose out over the last three holes.

The best gross card was returned by Geoff Stewart (4) who came off the course having been level par, 68 shots.

Playing each nine to par, Geoff had a total of 10 pars, bogeys on the second, fifth, 11th and 12th which were wiped out by birdies on the third, ninth, 16th and 18th.

SUNDAY OPEN

The Sunday open stableford was won by Craig McMaster, who has been on a very good run of form recently.

The 11-handicapper commenced his round with a par followed by a dropped shot and he then had seven pars in a row to complete 22 points on the front nine.

The back nine was not of the same calibre as he had five pars, bogeys on the 11th and 12th and double bogeys on the 16th and 17th, yet me managed a further 18 points for an overall total of 40.

Second nett prize was won by Christopher Magee who, playing off a handicap of six, returned 39 points, and on a better second nine total of 20 against third-placed Cameron Horner.

Magee had a total of eight pars, five bogeys, a double bogey on the fourth for no points but against that he had four birdies, on the third, ninth, 13th and 15th.

Horner (9) had 10 pars but shed shots on the fourth, fifth, eighth, 11th, 12th 14th and 18th and his lone birdie was scored on the par five third.

This resulted in 20 points on the first nine and 19 on the second nine and had he managed a par on the last hole, he would have won the competition it was not to be.

THIS WEEKEND

The competition on August 4 is being kindly sponsored by Donnelly & Taggart, while the Sunday Open competition is being sponsored by the Pro Shop and the Wednesday Hat competition will take place each Wednesday during the month of August.