Successful Open Week reaches conclusion at Ballymena Golf Club

With scoring of a high standard, the winner was Harry McGarry who, playing off a handicap of 11, returned a splendid total of 44 points.

But it was not a clear victory as runner-up Kenny Morrison (21) also had a 44-point total, only to be pipped by one point by McGarry over the back nine.

Harry went through the first nine with seven pars plus two dropped shots for 21 points.

His second nine started with a double bogey at the 10th and a further concession on the 17th but the other seven holes yielded five pars along with birdies at the 15th and 18th, as he totalled 23 points on the second nine.

Second nett Morrison (21) had equal nines of 22 points and his front nine included a no-score on the par five third.

Sean McElroy continued his good form as he posted the best of the 43-point totals with a second nine total of 21 points, which included four bogeys to finish with.

Despite that conclusion, he still pushed James McBride (13) into fourth place, as he could only manage 20 points on the homeward trip.

That was enought to pip Noel Kidd (18) into fifth nett position and the final nett prize was won by Felix McQuillan (11) with 40 points, having scored 20 on each nine.

The best gross round came from Nigel Getty (5) who ended up two over gross, which included four birdies.

SENIORS OPEN

The McBurney Transport Seniors Open on the Thursday was won by Kevin McGarry (10) who returned a total of 40 points, having collected 21 on the outward nine, that despite a non-score on the ninth.

Kevin played the inward nine in four over to add 19 points to his tally.

Second nett went to Artie O’Hara (18) who scored 37 points having scored 20 on the first nine and 17 on the way back.

Geoffrey Adams (17) captured third prize with a total of 35 points, having scored 19 on the front nine.

BETTERBALL

The McBurney Transport Betterball on the Friday produced some hot scoring where the winners Neil Courtney (10) and partner CLifford Anderson (14) returned a nett score of 10 under having had equal nines of 29.

Second place, one shot in arrears, were Stephen Surgenor Senior and Junior who, off 14 and 16 respectively, scored 30 on the front nine and 29 on the back nine for a nett 59.

Third nett was won by Henry Eagleson (9) along with Jim Hanna and they posted a score of eight under, nett 60.

SUNDAY OPEN

Gary Black, playing off a two handicap, skated around Raceview in three under par to win the SUnday open stableford with a total of 46 points.

George Horner (13) was second nett with a total of 40 points, with the front nine producing 21 of them.

Best gross was won by Michael Smyth (4) who played the course in six over par 74 strokes, having been level par after the first nine holes.