Despite play having to be suspended for a period, the scoring was top rate, headed by Jim WIlson (11) who returned 42 stableford points during the worst of the conditions.

Jim had four birdies on the front nine - three of them on the opening three holes - for 22 points and he added another 20 points on the back nine, boosted by four pars.

Second nett, one point behind, was 10-handicapper George Small who posted 19 points on the outward nine to which he added a one over gross inward nine, which equated to a further 22 points.

That second nine was good enough to see off Victor McFadden (13) and Robert McComb (25) who also had 41 points. Both men had 21 points on the second nine but McComb lost out to McFadden by one point over the last six holes. The 25-handicapper will be happy, however, with five pars in his round.

Fifth prize was won by five-handicapper Christopher Magee with the best of the 40 point returns.

Magee played the first nine to his handicap for 18 points but he made his score on the second nine with the real bonus of an eagle two on the 17th, worth four points, as he played the nine holes in one under gross.

Moore Colgan (23) was sixth, also with 40 points and again on a second nine countback, he was one point better than Derek O’Kane (8).

The best gross card came from David I Kernohan (-3) who played the course in 63 shots - including an eagle two on the 360-metre 15th - for a nett total of 38 points.

SOCIETIES CUP

The Sunday competition was for societies who have a certain percentage of their members who are also full members of Ballymena Golf Club.

Each society could field a maximum of 12 players with the best eight card total counting and JTI Lisnafillan had a total of 283 points - 10 clear of runners-up Michelin, with the Kells-based Buffs Club third on 271.

Best nett prize went to 18-handicapper Adie O’Neill (Michelin) with 40 points. Runner-up was Neil Ramsbottom (JTI Lisnafillan) with 39 points and third nett was Alan Spears (Diamond) with the same total.

The best gross score came from John Rainey (Diamond) who had a 74 - one shot better than David McCullough (JTI).

The other society scores were: Diamond 266, Ladysmith 265, Blackstone 247 and Fountain 143.