Denis weathers the storm to claim victory in Raceview competition

With a shot on handicap at each hole, he posted a nett score of 61 which was three shots better than his nearest challenger.

A mixed morning of weather conditions saw Denis and his fourball eventually decide to brave the elements and it proved a good decision, with two of the group making it onto the prize list.

Stewart had a first nine return of six pars, only for the par four sixth hole to claim three shots of his handicap, while he also dropped a further shot apiece at the third and fourth.

His second nine opened and ended with a double bogey while the other seven holes produced five pars plus dropped shots at 14 and 15.

Second place was taken by Darren Hill, with the best of three nett 64 scores.

The 12-handicapper’s outward nine holes were played in five over gross, while his second nine hole score saw him edge out William McKean, who claimed the third prize.

The 19-handicapper scored four pars on the front nine only to drop three shots at the sixth but he was still out in eight over, to which he added a steady back nine.

The exception came at the 18th where a double bogey proved costly but he still managed to pip Paul Stevenson over those second nine holes.

Stevenson, playing off seven, played his first nine holes in level par gross, 35 shots, and he added six pars and thre bogeys for a nett score of 64.

Michael Scroggie (8) was the only prizewinner from among the early starters as he claimed fifth prize on a better second nine from Bobby Carson (16).

The best gross card came from Michael Smyth (4)who played the course in 70 shots, after equal nines of one over par.

EASTER MONDAY STABLEFORD

Gavin Mark (26) seems to like the holiday competitions as he followed up his recent St Patrick’s Day success by winning the Easter Monday open stableford with a grand total of 43 points.

Twenty-one of those points came from the front nine - which included a non-score at the ninth - while he added a further 22 points on the homeward stretch.

Bobby Carson (16) made the prize list for the second time in three days as he claimed second place with 42 points.

Third nett prize was won by Sean Mcgarry who returned 41 points from his handicap allowance of four shots.

Like Carson, Michael Smyth made it two prizes inside three days when he again landed the best gross prize with a score of one under par 67 shots.

LADIES

The first competition of the season for the lady members at Ballymena Golf Club was the Peggy Nelson Stableford, sponsored by Indicators Inter.

A place in the July finals at Dunmurry Golf Club was up for grabs by the three sectional winners.

The lucky trio were:- Section A - Jacqui Brown 31; B - Claire Stewart 37; C - Mary McFall 34.