Miskelly sails to victory in Burke Shipping Group event at Galgorm

They were one point ahead of Vincent Miskelly (5). James Cameron (19) was another point behind with Colin Black (23) and Steve Henry (21) a further two and three points respectively behind.

Through 13, nine-handicapper Smyth was two points ahead of Miskelly. Through the Grove and Smyth’s lead over Miskelly was down to one point with Henry another two points behind.

Smyth, who had led for most of the round, faltered over the closing holes and finished with two bogeys and was caught by Miskelly with two pars to win Overall by one point. Smyth finished as Overall Runner-Up. Henry with two bogeys was a further two points behind but won Division 4 a point ahead of Campbell (two bogeys) and Black (bogey, par) and with a better back nine Black took second place. Third place went to Thompson with Campbell taking the Seniors prize.

There was an exciting finish to Division 1 and at the turn Malachy Bellew (6) had Ryan Addley (8), Matthew Reid (8) and David Stirling jnr (4) in close attendance a point behind.

Bellew continued to lead by one point from new challenger Reid approaching the seventeenth tee with Stirling jnr and Addley – who was moving closer – another pointbehind. In an exciting finish Bellew hit bogey trouble and ended with two bogeys, Reid (bogey, par), Stirling jnr (birdie, par) and Addley (bogey, birdie) all had the same score and with a better back six first place went to Addley. Reid finished in second place (better back nine) and Bellew in third place. Stirling jnr. Won the Gross prize.

At the halfway stage in Division 2 Michael Nesbitt (13) was leading by one point from Gary Boyd (11) who in turn was one point ahead of David Chappell (15). Another point away came Jonathan McCart (12) and Jamie Surgeoner (13) three points in front of Hugh Moore (13).

Up the Grove a new leader emerged. Boyd held a one point advantage over Nesbitt and Chappell who were being pressed by Surgeoner and a still improving Moore. McCart was a further point back. A par in the Lowlands by Chappell saw him move into a one point lead which he held to the finish with a bogey at the last. Boyd (double bogey, par) finished in second place with Moore (bogey, par) taking third.

Entering the back nine in Division 3, Seamus Laverty (19), Brian Heggarty (16), Ian Rainey (19) and George Kernohan (18) – were vying for the lead. Laverty with pars at twelve and thirteen moved into a two point lead from Rainey and Kernohan and through the Grove Laverty gained another point on Rainey who was joined by an improving Heggarty.

Laverty maintained his lead and came home bogey, double bogey to win by three points from Rainey (bogey, double bogey), Heggarty (bogey, double bogey) and Kernohan (bogey, par) who finished together and with a better back nine Heggarty took second place. Rainey came third.