Ardis claims victory in first of winter competitions at Galgorm Castle

The Winter Sweeps and Winter League have now commenced at Galgorm Castle Golf Club with all players playing off a reduced handicap.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club.Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Galgorm Castle Golf Club.

In Division 1 George Watt (6), Stephen Mailey (4), Rod Lennox (6), Gary Jackson (5) and Willie Park (4) were all vying for the lead after the Trout Hole.

One point behind came Philip Smyth (5) followed by Raymond Ardis (6) another point behind.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Through six Ardis with a birdie and two pars had moved up to join Mailey at the front to lead by one point from Watt, Smyth, Jackson and Park. Lennox was trailing by another point after a double bogey at the fourth.

Ardis came home with two pars and a birdie to win by one point from Watt who finished par, birdie, par.

Mailey took third place with a bogey, par, birdie finish.

Smyth (par, bogey, par), Rod Lennox (three pars), Jackson (three pars) and Park (three pars) all finished together , one point behind the placings.

Campbell McAnally (6) led Division 2 after four by one point from Joe Barr (8) with James McAuley (7) another point behind. Garry Robinson (7) recovered after a ‘ding’ at the second with two pars and along with Andrew Moore (8) was a further point away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They in turn were followed by Robert Topping (8) who was a further point adrift after a ‘ding’ on four.

With two to play McAnally lost ground with a bogey on the par three Treasury and was joined in the lead by Barr.

Two points behind came McAuley, Robinson and Moore with Topping a further three points adrift.

McAnally finished with two pars to win by two points from Barr (two bogeys) and J.McAuley (bogey, birdie) who finished together and with a better last three McAuley finished second with Barr third.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Robinson (bogey, par), Moore (par, bogey) and a much improved fast finishing Topping (two birdies) all finished together a point behind Barr.

In Division 3 John McClintock (9) made his intentions known with an opening birdie.

After the fourth he held a two point advantage over Jonathan Keys (9) and Richard Lennox (9). Another two points behind came Donald Nesbitt (9) who was a point ahead of David Caves (12).

After the par three Treasury and with two holes left to play McClintock was still leading by two points from Lennox with Keys, Nesbitt and Caves another two points behind.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lennox, who had been lying in second place, hit bogey trouble over the closing two holes and finished bogey, double bogey and was joined by Nesbitt (bogey, par) and Caves (two bogeys) and with a better last one Nesbitt finished third.

Second place went to Keys with a birdie, bogey finish and John McClintock with a double bogey, bogey finish held on to win by one point.

Steven Penney (1) won the gross prize with 19 points.

Twos were recorded by: T McNeill, L Craig, G Henry, J Rainey, H McCaughan, P Galloway, M McIlroy, F McKelvey, G Reid, B Frayne and A Featherstone.

BACK NINE SWEEP

Through 13, Neville Neill (4) had a one point advantage over Stephen Logan (4) with Aidan McNeill (7) and Alistair Murray (6) (‘ding’ at eleven) another point behind.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the next, Neill (bogey) was joined by Logan (par) and McNeill (par) with Murray (par) one point behind in an exciting encounter.

Up the Grove and the positions remained the same going to the 17th tee. Logan and McNeill parred 17 to take a one point advantage over Neill (bogey) and Murray who parred the hole.

McNeill lost his chance of winning when he ‘dinged’ the last and Logan seized the opportunity with a par to win

by one point from Neill (par). Another point behind came McNeill who was joined by Murray (bogey).