Gerry edges win in Ardglass sun

Gerry edges win in Ardglass sun

30 September 2015

POPULAR Ardglass PGA professional Paul Vaughan held his annual prize day at the seaside club last Saturday when an impressive entry of 196 players competed for his generous range of prizes.

Competitors were blessed with some beautiful weather and a course which was in tip-top condition.

At the close of play four players were tied on 40 points and the countback process had to come into operation.

Adjudged fourth was John Hynds, with an outward half of 22 points and an inward nine of 18.

Hynds is certainly one of the form players of the moment, a situation which the club handicapping software has taken a note of.

Third place went to six handicapper Rob Shearer, with a superb round which included 15 pars. Shearer’s round of 72 was actually the lowest score of the day and would have been good enough to take the gross prize.

Just edging him out for second place was eight handicapper Barry Gilliland, the former cricketing star playing the last 16 holes in only one over par for a deserved second place.

However the major prize went to Gerry Boyle, whose back nine haul of 23 points off a 12 handicap brought the Carryduff man a well-earned success.

Countback had to come into operation again to decide fifth place with no fewer than seven players coming in on 38 points. The decision finally went in favour of Marty Enright by virtue of a strong closing six holes.

There was some consolation for others on 38 points, with Donald Morgan, Kevin Carville and Frank Casey each winning a category prize, while Gordon Rourke took the top junior prize. Brian Kelly and D J Morgan were the two unlucky men to miss out.

The runner-up in the Junior section was Feargus Bannon with 36 points, while at the other end of the scale, the same score was good enough to give Harry Smyth the seniors prize.

The two gross prizes went to two former club champions, Gary Hamill and Ciaran Fitzsimons.

Both players recorded 73, both had a 36/37 split, but it was Hamill who edged it over the last six holes.

At a well-attended presentation night, prizes also went to nearest-the-pin winners Fintan O’Connor, Colm Murphy, Ashley Emerson, Billy Blackwood and Daniel Fitzsimons.

Conor McConvey had the longest drive and the hidden holes winner was Colm Magee.