Wallace and Kinnear win latest Raceview sweeps

THE Winter Sweeps continue to be the main focus of Saturday attention at Ballymena Golf Club.

Playing from preferred lies has certainly produced tremendous scoring, with 35 point totals winning the two most recent 13-hole events.

The first of those, on January 12, was won by Mervyn Wallace, who used his adjusted handicap of 17 to his advantage as he notched up 23 points after nine holes and added a further 12 points in the remaining holes, in a round which boasted eight three-point holes.

Second place was taken by Carl O’Neill (13) who returned 34 points, of which 25 came on the first nine, which included four-point hauls on the second and ninth.

Category one was won by Paddy Kearney (4) with 30 points, all of which came on the final four holes, including an eagle two on the final hole for four points.

John Brown (9) won category two with 33 points and he, too, had an eagle two on the last.

John played the 13 holes in two over gross after scoring eight pars in the first nine holes for 23 points.

Martin McClintock (12) won category three with 31 points, having scored 20 points from the first nine holes.

The fourth category was won by Sam Murray (14) with 31 points, which included four-pointers on the fourth and 13th.

Best gross was returned by John Robinson (scratch) with a round of one under par.

On January 26, the best score came from Cedric Kinnear (20) whose 35-point total was two better than the rest of the field – that despite a non-score on the opening hole.

However, he had three four-pointers on his card, along with three points at five separate holes.

Runner-up was Martin McClintock who scored 33 points, and he had the best last-four hole total of 11 points, thanks to a birdie on the last hole.

Sean McGarry (3) was the top scorer in category one with 31 points from nine pars, three birdies and a lone bogey.

Category two was won by David Small (7) with one of those 33 point totals, having played the course in level par, 50 shots.

Category three saw Geoffrey Adams (13) as top dog, also with 33 points, 23 of them on the first nine holes.

The final category resulted in Bob Bartley (14) having the best score, another 33 point total, helped by a birdie on the par five third.

Best gross score came from Adam Brady (3) with the three under par round in which he eagled both of the two par five holes.