McCart tops winners’ list in high-scoring stableford event

At halfway in Division 1 11 handicapper Norman Nicholl had a commanding four point advantage over fellow 11 handicappers Adrian McCart and Paul Hughes and nine handicapper David Bamford.

Over the next four holes McCart and Bamford had closed to within one and two points respectively of Nicholl. Hughes was unable to make any impression on the leader and remained four points behind. Another three pars from the in-form McCart and he had taken a two point lead over Nicholl and Bamford with Hughes a further three points down. Two further pars from A.McCart and he came home to win by two points from Nicholl and Bamford and with a better back nine second place went to Bamford with Nicholl third.

Six points down at halfway in Division 2 Brian Heggarty (16) made a remarkable recovery over the back nine to win in a very close and exciting finish with only one point separating four players. Michael Montgomery (16) held a four point lead at halfway from Joe Barr (17) and Alan Knox (15) with Heggarty a further two points behind. Montgomery saw his lead disappear when disaster struck and he ‘dinged’ the next two holes and a new leader Barr emerged. Barr led through thirteen by one point from Knox who was another point ahead of Montgomery.

With two holes left to play Barr was joined by Montgomery a point ahead of Knox with Heggarty moving closer with the help of a birdie and two pars another point down. Barr finished double bogey, birdie and a par, birdie finish by Heggarty saw him draw level and with a better back nine Heggarty took first place with Barr second. M.Montgomery (two bogeys) and Knox (bogey, par) finished together a point behind and with a better back nine third place went to Knox.

In Division 3 at the turn Alan Jones (20) and Mervyn Lamont (24) were vying for the lead three points ahead of Andrew Young (20). Garth Wilson (19) was another two points back. Through thirteen Lamont held a slender one point advantage over Jones with Young two points further behind. Wilson was another five points away. Lamont lost his lead after two double bogeys to new leader Jones approaching the Grove. ‘Dings’ at the Grove by Jones and Lamont and the leadership changed again with Young takingt advantage to lead by one point from Jones. Lamont was two points behind Jones and the improving Wilson with three pars was another point behind. Young ‘dinged’ the Lowlands and parred 18 where he was joined by Jones who finished par, double bogey but with a better back nine Young held on to win with Jones in second place. Lamomt (par, double bogey) and Wilson (bogey, birdie) finished together a point behind and with a better back nine third place went to Wilson. Lamont won the Seniors prize. Jordan Hood (-1) won the Gross.