Rain proves a pain as competitions washed out at Raceview

In sharp contrast to the abundance of play at Ballymena Golf Club the previous week, there was a distinct shortage of action at Raceview on Saturday, August 2.
Marion Bolan, Lady Captain of Ballymena Golf Club, is pictured receiving a sponsorship cheque from Ronnie Davies of McAllister Butchers, Broughshane. The cheque is for a forthcoming ladies open competition to be held on August 5. INBT30-216ACMarion Bolan, Lady Captain of Ballymena Golf Club, is pictured receiving a sponsorship cheque from Ronnie Davies of McAllister Butchers, Broughshane. The cheque is for a forthcoming ladies open competition to be held on August 5. INBT30-216AC
Marion Bolan, Lady Captain of Ballymena Golf Club, is pictured receiving a sponsorship cheque from Ronnie Davies of McAllister Butchers, Broughshane. The cheque is for a forthcoming ladies open competition to be held on August 5. INBT30-216AC

Dreadful weather conditions meant that only the earliest of starters got to complete their rounds.

But by 1pm, there was no other alternative but to abandon play for the day as the greens could not absorb any more water, leading to the closure of the course.

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With the second round of the Harry Harper, plus the Agnew Cup down for decision, the club council decided to bring all competitions forward, with the exception of President’s Day, which will take place as scheduled this Saturday, August 16.

GOLF SHOP OPEN

With the rain of the previous day having relented, the Sunday open stableford, sponsored by the Raceview Golf Shop, went ahead as planned.

The top score of the day was 37 points and the victor was former Ballymena United footballer Michael Smyth, but he had to depend on a sound back nine hole of 20 points, against 17 from Jake Carson who, incidentally, is currently on the books of the Showgrounds club.

Smyth, off a four handicap, had used that allowance by the time he had played just five holes and he had a mere six points on his card at that stage.

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However, the next four holes yielded 11 points after a run of three pars and a birdie to ensure that he reached the turn with 17 points.

Michael played the second nine in level par after seven pars, a birdie on the 11th and a dropped shot at the penultimate hole for 20 points.

Second placed Carson (7) opened his round with a birdie and added six pars, along with bogeys at the fourth and eighth as he chalked up 20 points.

His second nine of four pars and five bogeys saw him add a further 17 points.

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Third nett was Philip McPeake (17) who had equal nines of 18 points, despite non-scores on the sixth and 17th.

Having opened his round with two sixes inside the opening three holes, followed by two bogeys and a non-score, he steadied his round with three pars. His second nine contained six fours, another six on the 12th, that non-score on the penultimate hole and a bogey at the last.

Gerard Rafferty (7) won the best gross prize with a total of 79 shots.

LADIES

The in form trio of Zandra Douglas, Roisin Quigley and Yvonne Fullerton won last week’s McAllisters Butchers-sponsored Open Team competition at Ballymena Golf Club.

The winners finished with a brilliant haul of 91 points to finish ten clear of their closest rivals and runners-up Jennifer Eagleson, Danielle Kernohan and Arlene McCartney.