Successful Captain's Day for Colin at Rathmore

Almost 200 were accommodated on the Valley Course and the top prizes were hotly contested.

Early starter, Stephen Murdock (15), came top of the heap with 42 points. Stephen was only three over par for nine holes and collected 23 points for this. A steady return was needed and all was going well till a nasty six turned up at the sixteenth.

Stephen was not disheartened by this and managed to add 19 to his 23 for his winning total of 42.

Every point was needed as Andrew McLaughlin was hot on his heels with his 41. Four bogie fives on the outward nine curtailed his tally to 17 points but Andrew saw light at the end of the tunnel with birdies at ten, thirteen, fifteen and sixteen to come back in 31 shots and 24 points, keeping him a shot clear of third placed Trevor Stewart (7).

Trevor had a steady 18 points out, including a birdie 2 at the third and a couple of 6s as well, but a birdie 4 at eleven and a finishing flourish of a two at 18 kept his third spot on countback from Jonathan Hutchinson (13).

The sixth and eighth seemed to be playing hard and Jonathan added four shots over par at them but his downfall on the day was a no score at the seventeenth.

Three 39s made up 5th, 6th and 7th places, William Clarke (6), David Cameron (5) and Simon Carruthers (3) filling these. In 8th and 9th places were Clive Shorter (13) and Bradley Hunter (5) both on 38 points.

Front and back nines were both won by 22 points from Paul Elliott and David Hewitt respectively. Wayne Telford took first best gross with a great 66 from Ian Kettyle’s 69. Third in this category came Gary McDowell with 70.

Nearest the pin at 18 was Trevor Stewart and the longest drive of the day at 17 was Ben Best’s.

Jim Gillan from Gracehill Golf Club scored 39 points for the best visitor’s score, he must have played well to beat Portstewart’s Michael Moss into runner-up spot by a point. A no score at the sixth was Michael’s downfall.

Best veteran’s prize went to Reggie Quigley for his 36 points.