Ballygowan ladies scoop crown

Ballygowan ladies scoop crown

16 January 2013

THE Mid Down Ladies’ Triples final was contested between Edengrove’s Gladys Broom, Anna Kelly and Freda Wallace and Ballygowan’s Myra Burgess, Liz Caldwell and Elizabeth McKinley with the Ballygowan ladies coming out on top.

Elizabeth scored two shots on the opening end before Freda replied with two shots on the next end.

The Ballygowan triple took control of the game scoring four shots over the next three ends.

Freda pulled a shot back to trail 6-3 after six ends. Elizabeth then collected two singles to take an 8-3 lead going into the last end.

It was always going to be a tough task for Freda to get the required shots and it proved to be the case as Elizabeth scored two shots for a 10-3 victory.

Pearl Brownlee and Marilyn Kelly of Kilmore Presbyterians played Marie Geddis and Sandra Finlay of Killinchy in the Ladies’ Pairs final. It was the first Mid Down final for all four ladies.

It was Kilmore ladies who got the better of the opening exchanges and they quickly established a 7-0 advantage after three ends. Sandra opened her account with two shots on the fourth end. Marilyn then won the next two ends to extend her lead to 10-2 after six ends.

It was now an uphill struggle for the Killinchy pair, but they stuck to their task and won the last four ends. They scored five shots, but it was not enough as Pearl and Marilyn ran out 10-7 winners.

In the Ladies’ Singles final former holder, Geraldine Morgan of Teconnaught and Crossgar played Rose Marie Wylie of Spa Golf Club. Geraldine took an early 4-0 lead after two ends.

Rose Marie then upped her game to take the next three ends to lead 6-4 after five ends.

The second half of the game saw Geraldine draw level after eight ends. On the ninth end Rose Marie collected two shots, but in a dramatic last end Geraldine collected three shots to take the singles title by 10-9.

Downpatrick Golf Club’s Jimmy Fitzsimons and Dessie Curran and St. Mary’s, Killyleagh’s, Brian Jess and Alan Bleue contested the Over 55 Pairs final sponsored by Charles Rourke & Sons, Downpatrick.

Alan won the opening end, but Dessie then won the next two ends to take a 3-1 lead.

A single shot on the next end to Alan reduced the deficit to just one shot, but Jimmy and Dessie collected three shots on the next end to lead 6-2 after five ends.

The match was not over yet as Brian and Alan collected five shots over the next two ends to take a 7-6 lead after seven ends. In a dramatic turnaround, Jimmy and Dessie collected back to back fours to win 14-7 with an end to spare.

In the U-18 Singles final, Samuel Vance from Kilmore Presbyterians, played Emma McNamara of First Ballynahinch.

This was an intriguing match. Emma got the shot in the first end and two doubles were exchanged to leave Emma 3-2 ahead. Samuel then settled down and he scored four shots over the next three ends.

Emma fought back and scored two singles to reduce the deficit to just one shot after eight ends. Samuel then scored a decisive three shots on the ninth end to forge 9-5 ahead and he wrapped up the victory scoring two shots on the last end to win 11-5.

Emma teamed up with Jodie Stevens in the U-18 Pairs final to play Hannah and Conal McLaughlin of Downshire. The young pair from Ballynahinch struggled to get the weight of the mat and were 3-0 behind after two ends.

They opened their account in the third end scoring one shot. Hannah and Conal then won the next three ends scoring seven shots to open up a 10-1 lead.

Undeterred, Emma and Jodie scored two shots on the seventh and eighth end to trail 10-5, but Hannah and Conal claimed victory on the next end when they scored two shots to complete a 12-5 win

All winners will represent Mid Down Zone at Shaw’s Bridge in the Irish finals in March. There is strong representation from Mid Down in all competitions and it is hoped that with a bit of luck an Irish title could be brought back to the Zone.

A lovely supper was supplied and served by the committee and a collection was taken up for the charity Heartbeat NI. A sum of £145 was raised.