Cool Daniel club champ

Cool Daniel club champ

11 September 2019

THE Ardglass Club Championship, played over 36 holes last week, saw Daniel Vaughan declared club champion for the fifth time. It was also his first win since 2014. 

Of all his victories, this was surely his most convincing, as he took the title by nine clear shots from his nearest rivals.

Competing in a field of 20 of the club’s best players, the eventual winner had set the pace in the morning round with a three-over par 73.

Sharing the lead with him at this stage was the excellent Adam Cryer, whose two birdies in the closing four holes kept him well in the hunt. 

Three shots further back on the leaderboard were Paul Fitzsimons on 76, Richie Fryer and Gareth Donnelly on 77 and Jonny Feenan on 78, the only other players to break 80 in the tough morning conditions.

However, half way through the afternoon it was obvious where the title was heading. While the sweet-swinging Vaughan was clocking up three birdies on the front nine, his challengers were fading fast. 

Cryer ped six shots in the opening six holes, and although Fitzsimons managed a couple of birdies, by the 9th hole, the experienced Vaughan held a six shot advantage on the rest of the field. 

Indeed, the leader went on to stretch his advantage, playing the back nine calmly and finishing with a closing birdie at the 18th for a round of 69, the only sub-par round of the day. 

His aggregate total of 142 brought the Killough man a convincing and deserved victory, well ahead of Cryer and Fitzsimons, who tied on 151, with Marty Rourke and Gareth Donnelly sharing fourth place on 154. 

Apart from the champion’s round of 69, Rourke’s steady 73 was the lowest of the afternoon session, while not far behind was son Gordon, the best of the younger generation with 76.

The next big event in the Ardglass calendar is next Saturday’s AJC Group Gala Open, with its usual array of fabulous prizes, the highlight being a £5,000 cash prize for a hole in one at the 12th.