Bright golfers chase glory

Bright golfers chase glory

4 June 2025

ALTHOUGH Bright Castle Golf Club’s Ulster Cup squad made their exit from this year’s competition when they fell to a very strong Bangor Golf Club side a few weekends ago, hopes were high that Donal Smith’s Ulster Senior Men 

Over 50s side could make it through to the last sixteen of that competition when they faced Mayobridge on Sunday past. 

Mayobridge had defeated Mourne Golf Club in round two, but what was expected to be a close, tight contest turned out to be much less taxing one, with Bright Castle reaching round four courtesy of a 3-1 score-line. 

A fantastic seven and five win from Brendan Savage and Mark Quinn in Mayobridge, coupled with a fine victory from Arnold Ennis and Kevin Dorrian at the Castle, left Bright needing just a half-point.

A battling performance from Ian Craig and Al Higgins at Mayobridge delivered just that and meant that Brian Smyth and Donal Smith could also settle for a half. 

A great, all-round performance from the Bright lads, setting up a tie with Edenmore Golf Club in the next round.

The Junior Cup tie between Bright and Scrabo Golf Club is currently scheduled to take place this Saturday afternoon and all those involved will receive confirmation in due course.

Although rumours that Mark Quinn has not won anything since he captained the Down minor team to All-Ireland football glory way back in 1987 are yet to be confirmed, I can confirm that he did win the May 17 Saturday Stableford competition at Bright Castle. 

He has been in superb form of late and showed why he is amongst the favourites to win this year’s Club Matchplay.

His 38 points were enough to see him to victory, one point clear of Shay Blaney in second, with Joe Kennedy taking third spot. 

Garrett Cullen, Gary Carberry and Mark Anderson secured the handicap division prizes, while shares of the twos pot went to Daniel Craig, Savage, Cullen, Anderson and club captain Chris Murray. 

Quinn’s Ulster Senior’s playing partner, Savage, has also been in great form recently and his fantastic 40 points haul was more than enough to see him top the leaderboard in the May 11 Sunday Sweepstake.

Declan Toman took second place, courtesy of a count-back, with Des Graham taking third and Darren Boyd posting the only two on the day to scoop the twos pot.

Declan Johnston, Darren Boyd, Maurice McManus and Paul Kelly have all recorded recent victories, with Paul’s on Saturday past being the most emphatic. 

His incredible 44 points total saw him ease to victory in Saturday’s Stableford competition, a full eight points clear of the remainder of the field. 

Sean Kearney got the nod for second, via a count-back, with Sean O’Hare having to settle for third. 

Boyd took the gross prize, while Toman, Paul Brown and Phil Bullock collected the respective handicap division awards. Smith, Kearney, Noel Fitzsimons and Owen Breen shared the twos pot. 

Boyd’s superb one under par gross round on Saturday, May 24, yielded him 39 points and gave him the win in that day’s Stableford event, two points clear of Colin Skillen in second, with Stephen Browne a further point adrift in third. 

Breen pocketed the twos pot following his solitary birdie two on the day, while Darren Nelson took the gross prize and the handicap division awards went to Damian Oakes, Ian Craig and Odhran Collins. 

Johnston and Neil McAleenan both finished on 37 points on Sunday, May 18, but Johnston’s superior back nine total gave him the win in that day’s Sunday Sweepstake. 

Colm McIlhome took third spot, with Boyd and Paul Hamill sharing the twos pot. 

The final Sunday competition of the month May was played on May 25, and Maurice McManus was by far the top performer on the day.

His 40 points earned him a clear, six-point margin of victory, ahead of Stephen Bentley in second and Hamill back in third, while Dylan Duffy and John P Kearney shared the twos pot.

Michael Farrand has not really been producing the goods at Bright Castle in recent times, but he did record an ‘away day’ victory in the Rossglass FC Golf Day, which was held at St Patrick’s Golf Club, Downpatrick, last Friday. 

He scooped the top individual award and was also part of the winning team on the day, along with playing partners Malcolm Hay, Paul Hanna and Donal Smith.

The third Order of Merit competition of the year, the Nora Ennis Memorial Trophy, is pencilled in for this weekend, with Philip Maskey leading the way after two events. 

Players are reminded that their best six scores from the eight Order of Merit events will determine the overall winner. 

It is hoped that a Three Club Challenge can be organised for a Friday evening in the near future, with details of this and all other Club updates being posted on the BRS app and in the Club WhatsApp group.