Donal delivers with late surge

Donal delivers with late surge

9 July 2014

TONY Maynes’ Ardglass Captain’s Day competition took place at the seaside club last Saturday.

With the course in magnificent condition and the greens fast and true, 230 players set out hopefully from 6am onwards.

The fast greens proved too challenging for some players, but not for one of the early starters, Barry McEvoy.

The seven handicapper set an early target of 41 points with a round of 73, finishing strongly with seven straight fours, including a birdie at the 15th.

However, later in the day the Ardglass man was pipped at the post for the major prize by 15 handicapper Donal McDade.

After an unpromising start to his round, McDade settled down and completed the first nine with 18 points. A birdie at the par four 13th boosted his score and he went on to play the back nine in just three over.

His inward nine score of 23 points proved to be enough to take him past McEvoy and to clinch first place and the 2014 Captain’s Prize.

Vincent Perry put in a strong challenge with a great back nine to finish on 40 points and take third slot, while fourth place went to the evergreen Alan Burgess.

Burgess overcame a calamity at the 17th to birdie the final hole and finish on 39 points, just edging Terry O’Neill into fifth place on countback.

Daniel Vaughan took the gross prize with a round of 72. After four consecutive bogeys from the fourth to the seventh, Vaughan hit back with birdies at the next two.

Two more bogeys followed in the back nine but an eagle at the par-5 15th compensated for this to bring the Killough man home in level-par and clinch yet another top prize.

The runner-up slot was a close fight between Gerard Copeland and Julian Swail. Both players birdied the last to finish on 73, but Strangford man Swail took the prize with a superior back nine.

Among the other prize-winners was the ever-competitive Jack McGreevy, who took the team captains’ award with 36 points, and quiz maestro John McGrath, whose 33 points clinched the past captains’ prize.

Bill Brown beat off a feeble challenge from the rest of council to take the council prize with a score of 32 points, while Charlie Magee won the seniors with 35 points.

Top visiting guest was Jimmy Kelly, from Spa, with a creditable 36 points, while the home guest prizes were won by Gareth Donnelly on 37 points and Gerry Vaughan with 35 points.

Nearest the pin winners were Seamus O’Hare (at the second), Terry O’Neill (fifth), Philip Fitzsimons (seventh), Brian Gaffney (10th) and Bill Brown (12th). Daniel Vaughan took the longest drive award.