Instructor Pat drives to Hirsh Cup win
DRIVING instructor Pat McKenna hit the winning road to lift one of County Armagh Golf Club's oldest trophies - the Hirsh Cup.
The 16-handicapper returned the top score nett 66 in the netstretch ltd sponsored competition.
Despite a bumpy start, with a double bogey at the first hole, Pat found crusie control for a steady front nine over which he dropped only a further two shots. He dropped a further shot at the 10th and it looked as if the wheels had come off when he triple-bogeyed 15 and double bogeyed 16. However, after some urgent repairs he steered to an an eight over back nine and a winning score of nett 66.
Paul Corvan's card with a nett 67, somewhat mirrored Pat's - four over after nine but double bogeys at 15 and 17 signalled the 12-handicapper's downfall.
Six-handicapper Paul Doyle would surely have been taking a bow once again from the winners podium had he not double bogeyed the final hole in his round which included two bridie 2s at the 7th and 13th holes. But he'll have been more than happy to pick up first prize in the 0-12 handicap category with his nett 68. Nigel McMahon was just a further shot behind on nett 69 - steady golf throughout earning him second prize on countback.
Derek McKeever, despite a handicap cut the previous day in the April Medal competition, took first prize in the 13-18 handicap category with a nett 68 - two double bogeys at the final two holes ultimately costing him very dearly. Stephen Maloney's net 69 deservedly earned him second prize in the category.
And fire-fighter Michael Calvert blazed a trail to first prize in Category 3 with a nett 74 - his back nine just squeezing out Tom Donnelly who returned a similar nett 74.
Best gross score 73 delighted 4-handicapper Neill Cromwell no end, and especially after a triple bogey eight at the 10th hole. He masterminded a superb recovery however, with a birdie 2 at the 11th hole and an eagle 3 at the par five 12th hole the highlights of a one-over par back nine.