Close finish at Galgorm

AT the halfway stage in the TOC Group sponsored Stableford played at Galgorm Castle Golf Club, John McCarry (10) held a one point advantage from Alan McClements (11) who had a one point lead over Wilson McVeigh (8) and Gary Kenna (9).

Hugh Moore (10) and Ivan Alexander (17) were another point down followed by Paul Houston (5) who was a further point away.

Through 14, only two points separated these leading seven golfers. McVeigh had moved up to take a one point lead from four players hot on his heels waiting for a slip with another two a further point behind.

A point behind McVeigh came McCarry, Kenna ('ding' at 14), McClements and Alexander with Houston and Moore close behind.

With two to play McCarry and McClements had moved up threateningly to join McVeigh at the head of affairs with Kenna one point down. Moore and Alexander were another point away with Houston another point behind.

Alexander finished with two pars but was unable to catch McCarry (bogey, birdie) and McVeigh (bogey, birdie) who finished together a point ahead, and with a better back nine McVeigh was the Overall Winner with McCarry Runner-up.

McClements (double bogey, par), Kenna (bogey, par), Moore (two pars) and Houston (par, birdie) finished together and with a better back nine P Houston took first place in Division 1 with Moore (better back nine) second and Kenna (better back nine) third.

In Division 2 at the turn Robert Topping (16) was a clear two points ahead of Ivan Alexander (17), Philip Galloway (15) and David Black (14) with Aiden McNeill (15) another point behind. William Lennox (17) was

another point behind with Philip Smyth (13) and Willard Simpson (17) a further point away.

Through 13 Alexander was leading by one point from Smyth, Black, Lennox ('ding' on 13) and Topping who

ran into bogey trouble. McNeill was a point away followed by Simpson and Galloway who faltered at 11 and 12 with bogeys.

After 16 and with two to play Alexander was still leading by one point from Smyth with McNeill and Black chasing a further point down. They were followed by Simpson and Topping another point away with Galloway

and Lennox behind by another point. Three 'dings' at 16 by Galloway, Black and Lennox was making it easier for the frontrunners.

Alexander came home birdie, par for first place two points ahead of McNeill (bogey, birdie) in second and Smyth (par, bogey) third. Simpson (bogey, par), Galloway (two pars), Black (bogey, par), Lennox (bogey, birdie) and Topping (bogey, par) all finished together a further point out of the placings.

After the front nine in Division 3 David Chappell (19) held a three point advantage over a quartet of golfers – Raymond Steele (20), Asa McGillian (19), Roy McDowell (18) and Owen Henry (20) with Alan Collie (19) close on their heels a point behind.

Through 14 Chappell was still leading but Steele and McGillian had closed the gap to one point with McDowell, Henry and Collie at one point intervals respectively behind.

‘Dings’ at 16 by Chappell and McGillian allowed Steele to draw level with Chappell in the lead with McGillian,

McDowell and Henry two points behind and Collie another point away.

Chappell (two bogeys) and Steele (two bogeys) finished together but with a better back nine Steele finished in first place with Chappell second. McGillian finished (par, bogey) to take third place with

McDowell (bogey, double bogey), Henry (double bogey, bogey) and Collie (double bogey, par) finishing together another point behind theplacings.

The gross prize was won by Ben Churchill (+2) 42 gross pts and William Lennox (17) 36 pts won the Seniors’ prize.

ULSTER FOURBALL

Trailing by one match after the away leg Galgorm Castle fared much better in the home leg against Kirkistown.

First pair out were George Simpson and Ivan McCappin who were one down after the fifth the home pair found themselves three down at the turn. Winning three of the next five holes brought the home pairing all square with four holes to play. They were now playing well and went on to win 2 and 1.

Ralph Clarke and Robin Deane were two up after five and after some very even play were one up after

fourteen. However they won the next three holes for a 3/2 win.

Gareth Wilson and Alan Knox were all square at the turn. The match continued to be very close and tense

before finally finishing all square.

Robert McCormick and David Henry were four up on their opponents after nine and went on to win 4 and 3. The final match saw Chris Warwick and Glen Millar one down after the fifth. However this scoreline was soon to change and the home pairing were one up at halfway going on to be three up with four to play, finally winning 4/3.

Galgorm Castle won by 4.5 to 0.5, leaving the overall result 6.5-3.5 in favour of Galgorm Castle.

LADIES’ MAY RESULTS

The Australian spoons was the first competition to be held in May for the Galgorm ladies, Carol Reid and Patricia Blaney were the club winners with 37points, Angela Graham and Julieanne kyle were runners up with 35points, they will represent the club in Newtownstewart on 27th july.

Wyse Byse sponsored the medal competition held on 14th May. The overall winner was Patricia Agnew with a 69 nett, Kerry Dunlop won section A with nett 70 and Caroline Speers won section B also with a nett 70.

The Mary Peters Trust competition held on 21st June was won by Ciara Murray with 40 points, Ciara will represent the club at Masserene on 17th August, Patricia Blaney was the runner up with 37 points.

The final medal competition in may was sponsored by Ultimate in Fashion , the overall winner was Linda McKay with nett 69, Norma Richardson won section A with a nett 77 and Wilma Bloomer won section b with a nett 73.

The first competition in june is a Stableford competition for the Captain’s Prize, this will be followed by Lady Captain’s day which will be held on Friday 11th June hopefully the good weather will continue.