Galloway ‘sweeps’ to victory on good day for high handicappers at Galgorm

It proved to be a memorable day for the high handicappers in the recent Sweep Stableford held at Galgorm Castle Golf Club.
Andy McFarlane, Raymond Ardis, Leonard Craig and David Caves ready for the stableford event at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT 29-810HAndy McFarlane, Raymond Ardis, Leonard Craig and David Caves ready for the stableford event at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT 29-810H
Andy McFarlane, Raymond Ardis, Leonard Craig and David Caves ready for the stableford event at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. INBT 29-810H

Graham Murray (26) turned for the back nine with a one point advantage over Ivan Graham (23) with Trevor Galloway (24) in close attendance another point behind.

Malachy Graham (23) was a further two points behind. Another two points adrift came Malachy Sharpe (21) who in turn was one point ahead of John Fitzgerald (23).

Through the Maple Murray after a ‘ding’ at twelve was joined in the lead by I.Graham a point ahead of Galloway (‘ding’ at eleven). Two points further back came M.Graham (‘ding’ at the Fort) and Sharpe. Murray’s second ‘ding’ through Beechers proved costly as he lost the lead to Galloway. However a par up the Grove brought him to within one point of Galloway (bogey). Another one and two points respectively further back came I.Graham and M.Graham.

Over the closing two holes T.Galloway finished bogey, par to win Overall by two points from G.Murray (two bogeys) in the Overall Runner-up position. M.Graham (bogey, par) was another point back but won Division 4. I.Graham (bogey, ‘ding’) was two points behind and won the Seniors.

In Division 1 at the turn Brian McFall jnr (9) and David McAleese (8) were vying for the lead two points ahead of Gary Marks (7) and Ricki Simpson (9) who were a further point ahead of George Watt (10). Approaching the Devils Elbow Simpson with a run of three pars and a birdie moved into a two point lead from McFall jnr and Watt (four pars).

Simpson hit bogey trouble over the closing two holes and lost his position. McFall jnr (two pars) and Watt (two pars finished together and with a better back nine Watt took first place with McFall jnr. second.

At halfway in Division 2 Stephen Bashford (11) was a point ahead of Gary Hood (15) and Thomas McNeill (12) with Ian McCully (12) another point behind. John McCarley (12) and Neil Fitzsimmons (13) were a further two and four points respectively further behind. Through the Maple new leaders emerged – McNeill and McCully were a point ahead of Bashford followed by Hood, McCarley and Fitzsimmons another three points down. Up the Grove after a run of birdie, par, par an improved Hood took over at the front by a point from Bashford and McCarley with the help of two birdies. Hood came home bogey, double bogey and was joined by Bashford (bogey, par) and with a better back nine first place went to G.Hood with Bashford in second place.

After the front nine in Division 3 Drew Stewart (19) was two points ahead of Reginald Marks (20) followed by Adam Martin (18) another two points behind. Trevor Fletcher (17) was a further three points down.

Stewart finished double bogey, par to win by one point from Martin (bogey, par, Fletcher (two bogeys) and Marks (‘ding’, par) who finished together and with a better back nine Fletcher took second place. Colin Kinghan (3) won the Gross