President’s Day win for Penney at Galgorm Castle

Although cloudy overhead for the early starters the day gradually improved with periods of welcome sunshine.

At halfway George McAuley (17) was holding a one point lead over James Mairs (12). Steven Penney (3), Raymond Steele (20) and Trevor Dawson (13) were another point behind. Another two points away came Jonathan McCart (13), Sean McCambridge (12) and Peter Stewart (12).

McAuley faltered through the Maple where he was joined by Penney. Close on their heels a point behind came Steele who was a point ahead

of Dawson.

Mairs fell back after ‘dings’ at 12 and 13 and was joined by Stewart. McCambridge also ‘dinged’ 13 and was two points further adrift along with McCart (‘ding’ at 12).

Penney, with a run of two pars and a birdie, moved into a two point lead from Steele, McAuley (another ‘ding’ at 16) and Dawson with two holes to play.

Mairs was another point away followed by McCart and McCambridge another point down Steele finished with two pars in an effort to catch Penney who just held on by one point with a par, birdie for overall victory.

McCart’s game picked up over the closing holes and he finished with two birdies to join McAuley (bogey, par) and with a better back nine McCart won Division 2 with McAuley second.

Two points further behind McCambridge (bogey, par), Stewart (two pars) and Dawson (two bogeys) finished together and with a better back six, McCambridge took third place. Mairs with a bogey, birdie finish was a point ahead of this trio, but he won the Seniors.

In Division 1 at the turn, Paul Hughes (11) was one point ahead of Mark Dunlop (5) with Lyle Foster (7) and MJ Greer (8) at one point intervals further behind. Another two points further behind came Billy Cull (5) and Barry Agnew (8). Through 13, Hughes had increased his lead to two points from Foster who was one point ahead of Greer and Dunlop (‘ding’ on 13). Agnew was two more points behind followed by Cull another point adrift.

Greer and Foster closed to within one point of Hughes up the Grove with Dunlop, Agnew and Cull at two, three and four points further behind.

In a close finish, Hughes came home bogey, par and held on to win by one point from Greer (bogey, par) and Foster (bogey, par) who finished level and with a better back nine Greer pushed Foster into third place.

Dunlop (bogey, par), Agnew (two pars) and Cull (par, birdie) finished together alas, two points out of the placings.

At the halfway stage in Division 3 nineteen handicapper Noel McAlynn was leading Ian Manson (24) by a point. George Millar (20) was two points further behind but being hard pressed by Stephen O’Loughlin (22), David Boyd (26) and Hugh Mussen (25) a point behind.

Approaching 14, Millar whose game had picked up had joined Manson (‘ding’ at 13) in the lead by a point from O’Loughlin with Boyd, Mussen and McAlynn (‘dings’ at 10 and 13) chasing two more points behind.

Going into the Lowlands Millar was joined by O’Loughlin in the lead by a point over Manson. Another point away came Mussen and McAlynn two points ahead of Boyd. It turned out to be a bogey finish as Millar came home (bogey, bogey) to win by one point from O’Loughlin (double bogey, bogey) and Manson (bogey, double bogey) who finished level and with a better back nine O’Loughlin claimed second place with Manson third. Another point behind came Boyd (par, bogey), Mussen (double bogey, bogey) and McAlynn (double bogey, par).

Congratulations to the President, Mr Des Cousley, who saw off the golfers on the first tee, for a very successful and enjoyable day.

As well as the main event there was also nearest the pin at 12 - won by Barry Agnew - longest drive on 18 (Jonathan Rodgers) and refreshments at halfway. Colin Steele won the gross prize.

Twos were recorded by: W McVeigh, B Agnew, S Penney, S McCormick, C Steele, MJ Greer, R Ardis, H Moore, Richard Lennox, J McKendry, B Logan, R Graham, G Montgomery and I Stewart.

OPEN STABLEFORD

Results of the above competition held at Galgorm Castle were: overall winner – Martin Laverty (23) 39 pts; runner-up – Alan Goodrich (2) 37 pts; 3. Gary Crabbe (12) 31 pts; Gross – M Dallat (2) (Ballycastle).