Staff’s hard work get play under way

One month’s rain fell in the preceding 48 hours of Thursday and Friday. The course was flooded, where fairways became lakes and the bunkers were like deep paddling pools.

Although the Lady Captain’s Day and Men’s Captain’s Day had to be postponed until August, the course was made ready to play in the space of twelve hours for the Saturday competition.

No one was more thankful for their hard work than Patrick Agnew. Playing off a six handicap he had a magnificent one over par round of 72 to win the overall prize of the day with 41pts.

Paddy had three bogeys and birdies on the eleventh and fifteenth holes during what was otherwise a textbook round.

One handicapper Philip Sheldon was another to relish the conditions. He won the gross prize with a one under par gross of 70 strokes. He opened his round with an eagle on the par five first hole. Spinning in a sand wedge from 85 yards is always a nice feeling. Phil finished his front nine with a birdie to come off the front nine two under gross. His only dropped shot on the back was on the tenth which left him just one over for the back and one under for his second good round of the week.

The section winners were as follows:

In section one (0-13) the result was a tie with the first three players all recording 38pts.

The winner on countback was Ian Megarry from Chris Stewart who in turn beat William Moffett.

Ian didn’t get off to the best start with a bogey, double bogey then triple bogey on the first three holes. Many other players would have given up but not Ian. He was quickly back in focus parring four of the remaining holes on the front nine. On his back nine he had eight pars contributing to his 22pts and a win on countback.

The section two (14-18) winner was Lee McClintock with 39pts from Kenny Gracey who beat Brian Anderson on countback, with both players returning 38pts. Lee Had a strong front nine with 22 points coming from his five pars using his 17 handicap to his best advantage.

Section three (19-22) had an outright winner in Simon McKinstry. Simon finished on 39pts from Paul Cassin on 38pts from Alwyn McKee on 37pts. Simon, playing off 22, had three pars on the front and three on the back nine during his round and lost a shot of his handicap.

Section four (23-28) handicappers found the conditions really difficult. This was reflected in the winning section score by David Waterworth of 34pts. David beat Damien Mullan on countback with Graham Steel finishing third on 32pts.

David, playing off 24, kept adding points on almost every hole with only the thirteenth getting the better of him however he quickly made amends with a nice par on the fourteenth.