Mark tops Stableford

It was another qualifying event and on his particular occasion just six golfers submitted under par scores. Indeed it was pleasing to see members from Banbridge, Dungannon and Tandragee golf clubs featuring in the top sixteen best returns.

With a score of 40 points the top net prize went to one of the O’Neill twins. This time around the honour went to thirteen handicapper Mark O’Neill. Through nine holes Mark made 18 points and thus was playing to his handicap. It comprised six bogeys to go along with useful pars at holes three, six and eight. On the back nine there was a radical transformation in his approach. It was highlighted by six pars. His only concessions to par came at holes eleven, fourteen and seventeen. A quality effort of 22 points on this nine provided him with the top net prize on the day.

Runner-up in this competition was Paul Wylie from the Banbridge GC. This twelve handicapper was successful with his return of 39 points. Paul had 18 points on his card after nine holes. It began well with pars on the opening four holes. Alas a par at the eighth was his only other par of this nine. His back nine followed a similar pattern. A birdie and three pars came his way from holes ten to thirteen. His final par of the round was attained on the seventeenth hole. With 21 points on this nine he made his way into second spot.

The reliable Willy Russell was third with the best return of 37 points. Playing off an eleven handicap Willy managed 17 and 20 points for the respective nines. Par figures at holes two, eight and nine marked his early good play. Over the inward nine he was best served by a birdie three at the sixteenth and vital pars at holes ten, thirteen and seventeen.

Courtesy of a better back nine the gross prize went to Timmy Cummins. Off a three handicap Timmy won with a score of 33 gross points. Over the round Timmy had scores ranging from birdies to double bogeys. Holes three, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen yielded the crucial birdies. On the debit side he incurred double bogeys on holes four and eleven. Bogeys on holes five, sixteen and eighteen did further damage to his return. Pars on the rest of the holes enabled him to register 16 and 17 gross points on the nines. His gross 73 on the day secured him the category award.

The other quality scoring was achieved by the following:

37 points: Marcel Shanks (6), Jim Kennedy (16), Sean Toman (4).

36 points: Stephen McCann (13), Clarke Small (24, Dungannon), John O’Neill (6).

Incidentally the Ladies prize went to Fiona Cummins making it a double for the family. This fourteen handicapper took the honours with a total of 35 points. Par figures at holes one, six, ten, fifteen and seventeen were the prominent scores of her winning round.