David hits back after poor start

For Saturday’s qualifying event the course conditions were very good despite yet another week of heavy showers and persistent rain. The main challenge were the blustery conditions which came and went with the heavy short showers.

The overall winner on the day was David Belshaw with an excellent 40 points.

David didn’t have the best start to his competition. In fact very few could recover and win from his start when he was eight over gross after five and then having a ding on the sixth. Something obviously happened and David and his game because he simply just finished his round in one over par from the seventh parring every hole except the sixteenth. He did however birdie the 12th which helped make up for it.

The gross prize went to Phillip Sheldon with a gross 69 playing off one. Phil had a very tidy round including no less than five birdies.

In section one (0-13) James Curran scored 40 points to win and was only beaten on countback when his 21 points on the back nine was beaten by completion winner David’s amazing 25 points on the way home. Adam McGreevy took second with 38 points and David Allen was third on 35 points.

Section two (14-18) was won by Brian Anderson with 39 points, beating Alex Davis, also on 39 points, on countback. Nathan Lamont took third, also on 39 points, in what was the tightest fought section of the competition.

The section three (19-22) win went to Michael Currie, 38 points, who just beat Phillip Mulholland into second place on 37 points. Kenny Hylands took third, also on 37 points, just losing out on countback.

In section four (23-28) Damien Mullan was two points clear to win on 38 points from John Stanage on 36 points. Jack Brown took third with his 35 points.

Monday’s 50 plus open stableford was won by visitor Nigel Woods on 35 points, Tom Crooks was just beaten on countback with his 35 points. Denis Brown, another visitor, took third spot on 34 points.

Wednesday’s medal competition was won by Michael Downey, scoring a nett 64 playing off his 12 handicap. Nathan Lamont was just two shots off the mark with his nett 66. Third place went to Lee McClintock scoring a nett 67 just one ahead of Kenny Gracey and Shane O’Hanlon, both on nett 68

The best gross on the day went to Brian Mercer shooting a two over par 73.

Last week Edenmore’s H D Gregg Memorial Trophy team reached the final of this competition with a superb win against strong Lurgan opposition in the semi-final.  Edenmore achieved a four matches win at Lurgan and won the return leg

at home by the same margin.

This is the first time Edenmore has reached the final of this seniors competition which had been previously been the Veterans Trophy.

Edenmore meet Greenore in the final which will be played home and away in August.

The Rossmore Cup team travelled to South Armagh for the away leg at Cloverhill Golf Club. Having drawn the first leg at Edenmore 2-2 and being three holes down, team captain Mervyn Nicholson knew that the team had an uphill battle.

But he was confident that his squad were more than capable of upsetting the odds and getting the victory to see his side into the semi-finals for the second year in a row.

However on the day the sides drew 2-2 with Cloverhill one hole to the good making the overall score 4-4 and Cloverhill four holes up. Mervyn praised his entire squad for their professionalism and sportsmanship throughout the campaign representing Edenmore Golf Club.

In the ladies section Tuesday’s PGA Tankard winner was Debbie McMaster who qualifies to play in Downpatrick in September.

Saturday’s winner was Vivienne Wigton with Margaret Robinson in second place, beaten only on countback with 34 points.

On Friday the Junior Foursomes team under the captaincy of Debbie McMaster played their quarter-final at Ballyclare.

The team consisted of Gillian Murphy, Caroline Watson, Sally Cushnahan, Louise Gaw, Stephanie Watson and Cherry Logan. Unfortunately they were beaten by a strong Lurgan team who now progress on to the semi-finals of the Ulster District.