Ethan presses the pedal to lift prize

Ethan presses the pedal to lift prize

8 June 2016

YOUNG Ethan Press eclipsed all of his previous golfing exploits as he was crowned the President’s Day champion with 40 points on Mrs Geraldine Gray’s big day at St. Patrick’s on Saturday.

Press, who collected an eye-catching victory in the Gerry Carson Memorial on Easter Monday, wasted no time in asserting his intentions as he recorded his first birdie at the second where a good drive was followed by an equally impressive wedge to 15 feet and the ice cool 14 year old calmly holed the putt.

That awesome start wasn’t maintained through the front nine where Press struggled at times to find his A game as errors at the third testified. When the young star fired his drive out of bounds at the fifth, all his good early work seemed to have been undone as he limped to a modest 16 points at the turn.

With the typical swagger of fearless youngster, Press was far from perturbed by what had gone before and he began to forge his way back into contention with a magnificent birdie four at the long 12th.

Following two impressive woods, the 14 year-old put a wedge to three feet for his second birdie of the day.

With his wedge game in top shape, Press then demonstrated his powers of recovery at the 14th where he went over the back in two before stitching his flop shot for a much-needed par. 

The 12 handicapper then rolled off consecutive pars before playing 17 to perfection with a well directed three wood and a 56 degree wedge for a tap in birdie.

An assured par down the last gave Press his inaugural major win ahead of Paul Smyth, who had the better score with 41 points but the RGU footballer had not played in a sufficient number of qualifying events, resulting in his demotion to the runners-up spot.

Dan Reynolds also had his share of bad luck. The 25 handicapper looked all over the winner with three holes to play only for successive bogeys to cost the senior contender his chance of victory.

Up to that point Reynolds had played with a guile and consistency that belies his lofty handicap. Nevertheless, his 40 points proved good enough for third spot.

Jonathan Hogg will also rue missed opportunities as he too had his chances on his way to 40 points for fourth place.

The impressive Conor Deegan won the gross prize with a spectacular 62 and John Passmore was the top senior with 39 points.

Ronnie McQuoid’s 35 points proved enough for the ex-presidents’ award, Ryan McCoubrey was the best of the juniors with 39 points and Lawrence Craig got the guests’ prize with 40 points.