Open Week at Ballymena Golf Club

The majority of the prizewinners were early-morning players, with winner Quinton McKee having teed off at 7am, and by 10.30am he had set the target for the day at 44 points.

Playing off 24, Quinton scored two pars, six bogeys and a double bogey on the par five ninth for 22 points.

The second nine was a picture of consistency as he recorded eight single bogeys and crowned a superb round with a par on the final hole for another 22 points and that total of 44, which was two clear of George Horner (14) in second place.

George notched up four pars plus four bogeys and a double bogey on the fifth, which converted into 19 points.

The second nine was a totally different show, played in two over gross with three pars, four bogeys and the cream coming from birdies on the 14th and 17th which were worth four points each, contributing towards a second nine total of 23 points.

William Tuff (11) took the third nett prize with a total of 41 points, 21 of them on the outward nine. In total, William had eight pars, eight bogeys plus birdies on the sixth and 10th.

Fourth nett was Stephen Russell (6) with a total of 39 points, of which 21 came from the front nine, which he played in level par.

The second nine contained six pars with dropped shots at the 10th, 12th and 15th for 18 points.

Robert McLaughlin (19) took the fifth nett prize with a 38 point total but on a better second nine of 22 points against 20 from David Wilson, who was sixth.

David, off 22, had a non-event on the opening hole but went on to score 18 points for the nine holes and the second nine produced 20 points.

The best gross prize was won by four-handicapper Michael McGarry who completed the course in two over, 70 shots.

Michael’s front nine was made up of six pars plus a double dropped shot on the sixth but he retrieved both shots with a birdie on the two par five holes.

The second nine opened with dropped shots on the 10th and 11th but he then completed the card with seven straight pars for that total of two over gross.

SUNDAY STABLEFORD

The rest of the Open Week, which is being sponsored by McBurney Transport, got underway with an open stableford on Sunday, July 1.

This was won by David Small (9) with 38 points with a better second nine of 19 points, against 17 from second-placed John Brown.

Although David managed only two pars on the front nine, he also birdied the fourth and five, with those seven points helping him to an outward total of 19.

The back nine was a different case as far as the scores were concerned as he had six pars, bogeys at 15 and 17 and a double bogey on the 11th, but he still added another 19 points to his total.

John Brown (11) stood on the sixth tee two under, only to drop two shots there plus another apiece on the eighth and ninth for 21 points out. The second nine was a different story as he scored three pars, five bogeys and a double bogey on the 11th, which was costly as that second nine yielded only 17 points.

Third nett went to seven-handicapper Paddy Kearney with a total of 37 points, that despite bogeying the last two holes, yet he still managed 19 points for the nine holes. The front nine saw Paddy score six pars plus bogeys on the third, eighth and ninth for 18 points.

The gross prize saw Michael McGarry complete the ‘double’, having also won the gross prize the day before, although this time he had two shots more, four over.

A one over on the front nine was good considering he triple-bogeyed the fifth but he birdied the third and sixth.

The back nine did not start to his liking, with a double concession on the par three 10th, yet he parred the next five holes only to shed shots on the 16th and 17th but a birdie on the last was a good finale.

There was a ladies’ prize up for grabs and the best return on the day came from Jacqui Brown (15) with a total of 29 points after having a non-score on the first and sixth.

MONDAY STABLEFORD

Monday’s stableford resulted in a fine victory for James Drennan who, off a handicap of 13, posted a superb total of 43 points.

The first nine produced 21 points, from five pars, plus a birdie on the seventh and bogeys on the fourth and fifth, plus a double bogey on the sixth.

The second nine contained six pars with bogeys on the 11th, 12th and 15th for a total of 22 and a running total of 43, which was two points clear of Clifford Worthington (14) in second place.

Five bogeys plus four pars were worth 20 points on the way out and the return trip contained four pars, a birdie, three bogeys plus a damaging double bogey on the 17th, yet it gave Clifford 21 points home from an overall total of 41.

John Devlin (12) won the third nett prize with a total of 39 points, having had 10 pars, five bogeys, a birdie on the first which was very much spoiled by double bogeys on the fifth and sixth, yet he collected 19 on the front and 20 on the back nine.

The gross prize was won by Sean McGarry (4) with a total of 70 shots, of which he was three over on the first nine and one under on the second nine.

Six pars plus dropped shots on the second, fourth and fifth accounted for the front nine, while the back nine contained five threes, of which three were birdies and his only bogeys were on the 12th and 14th.

WEDNESDAY STABLEFORD

The Wednesday stableford provided Robert McLaughlin (18) with his second prize within five days and this time he made no mistake, winning with a grand total of 46 points.

A round of four pars, 11 bogeys plus birdies at the fourth, ninth and 16th yielded 23 points out with a similar total on the way in.

Second nett was Harry McGarry (14) who posted a total of 40 points with the front nine producing 17 points and that contained a ‘ding’ on the fourth hole.

The back nine was much more productive as Harry scored 23 points from eight pars plus a double bogey on the 12th.

Third nett was Patrick Hoey (17) from Belvoir Park with a total of 40 points, of which 18 came from the front nine. A birdie on the last was rewarding as he had a better second nine from Connor Beggs, another visitor, from Ballyclare Golf Club.

Fifth place went to Richard Campbell (7) with a total of 39 points after having been one over gross on the outward nine for 20 points.

The second nine was made up of five fours, a trio of threes plus a on-event on the par four 12th, yet he scored 19 points from the level par score for the eight holes.

The sixth best return came from Ken McGaughey (17) who registered a total of 38 points, 18 on the front nine and 20 on the way back, where he had a non-score on the 15th, but a birdie on the 18th.

Alex McCloy (scr) won the best gross prize with a round of level par 68 shots.

A front nine of two over was rectified on the back nine where he had seven pars plus birdies on the 13th and 18th, while the card contained seven threes, of which five were on the back nine.

LADIES

Tracey Hughes emerged victorious in the McBurney Open Stableford competition at Ballymena Golf Club.

She completed her 18 holes ar Raceview with a total of 42 points well clear of all her closest rivals.

Frances O’Rawe took the gross honours with 24 points while the Sectional winners were: A - Heather McGarry 35; B - Mary Kearney 35; C - Liz Small 33.