Nichlaus off to a flyer

Lambeg Golf Club were able to get the first competition of the season underway after a three week break because of the weather and what a start it was for Nichlaus Lavery.

Nichlaus, playing of 14, won the Brendan Connolly Cup by four clear shots with a magnificent 45 points.

The first nine holes were undramatic but very steady with five pars and four single bogies.

The back nine was a different story. He starting with a birdie at the difficult 10th and then lost the advantage with a double bogie at the next but with par, birdie, birdie at the next three he fairly accumalated the points.

With another birdie and three single bogies on the last four he finished on 45pts to take the first trophy of the season.

John Leydon (24) came second, finishing with 41 points. John had a very inconsistant round beginning with only 10 points over the first six holes but three pars on 7,8 and nine soon rectified that.

A double bogie at the 10th followed by a couple of single bogies and two pars kept him in touch but disaster struck at the index one with a nine and no points. John immediately hit back with a birdie and finished with two single bogies to give him 41 pts and second prize.

A further three points behind and third place went to Andrew Burrell (13) after a count-back. Andrew finished on 38 pts along with Gareth Moore (12) but but took the third prize with a better back nine.

No further matches were played in the Winter League and therefore the winner was announced as Aaron Smylie with a final total of 187 points. Second was Darren McShane 177 points and third Raymond Rogers, 176 points.

Next weeks stableford competition is sponsored by Lambeg Golf Shop.