Tom weathers sunshine and showers for Open win
AFTER a sunshine start and a level par front nine, Tom Calvert refused to allow heavy downpours deter him from winnng the Open Stroke competition at County Armagh.
A Past Captain, he knew exactly what was required if he was to claim the top prize in the Alexanders of Markethill sponsored event. And off his nine handicap he produced the winning nett 64 score to clinch it by a single shot.
A triple bogey seven at the 17th hole however, made it a very uncomfortable wait until the results were eventually announced. But his nett 64 proved one better than all the rest on the day.
Back-to-back birdies at the 6th and 7th holes compensated for dropped shots at the next two holes, and a further birdie two at the 11th made up for for Tom's only other dropped shot at the 16th before that triple bogey at the 17th.
Runner up James Johnston, with a nett 65, could so easily have nicked it from Tom had he not three-putted the final hole, or indeed the 17th.
Six-handicapper James was one under par after nine holes and never dropped another shot until 17, and then 18, for his one-over par finish.
John Lowe was a further shot adrift on nett 66. Two over par after nine holes, double bogeys at the 15th and 18th holes, undoubtedly cost him dearly.
Ian Ritchie, with an early start, missed the afternoon showers and claimed fourth place with a nett 68. Playing partner Neil Linton shared the same score - nett 68 - to take prize number five, and Paul Doyle, part of James Johnston's fourball on the day, gratefully accepted sixth with a similar 68 - a score infact which Ben Jennett also carded on the day to claim the final prize.
Anthony has designs on Open win
ANTHONY McElmeel built himself an outstanding winning score to clinch the top prize in the Holmes & Doran Surveyors Ltd sponsored Open Stableford competition at County Armagh.
His 45 points in the first of the Open Week contests, was three points more than the rest of the field.
With 21 points secured over the front nine holes - including a birdie three at the 6th hole - Anthony had a solid foundation on which to build. And when he launched the back nine with a birdie, par, birdie he was always going to be hard to catch. In the end he added 24 points to his front-nine tally for that superb winning score of 45 points.
In contrast, second placed Leo McCann was on a roll from the off and by the turn had chalked up 24 points. A few nervous holes to finish somewhat spoiled his round but with a further 18 points accumulated, his 42 points tally was much deserving of the runners up prize.
Paul McCreesh rattled up a massive 25 points on the back nine on top of 16 points from the front nine, to claim third prize. John Sheehan's 41 points obviously bowed to Paul, but he will rue the no score at the 8th hole.
Kenny Spence and Philip Kelly also produced 41 points each and picked up fifth and sixth prizes respectively. And Jarlath McReynolds claimed his second prize in a week with 40 points, five under par back nine and 23 points the highlight of yet another impressive round.
Declan roasts Sunday stableford
DECLAN McKee sat down to Sunday dinner last week-end with a winning smile after recording 44 points in the County Armagh club stableford earlier that morning.
A six-over par back-nine, which yeilded 24 points, on top of 20 points from his front nine, was the undoubted clincher in the competition.
The previous day's handicap cut for PJ Quinn was perhaps a deciding factor also. He returned 43 points with an equally impressive two over par and 24 points on his homeward trek off his new 15 handicap.
Benny McArdle claimed third prize with 42 points. A level par back nine yeilding 23 points for the 10-handicapper. And Shane O'Halleron was fourth with 41 points, just tipping it in front of Francis Curley, also on 41 points, and who will undoubtedly have been disappointed with a 'no score' at the 15th.
Neil Monaghan's 'no score' at the 6th cost him dearly also but he will still have been delighted to be among the prizes with 41 points returned on the day.
Andrew's a Crystal clear winner
ANDREW McTaggart set the standard for County Armagh Golf Club's Open Week with an outstanding winning score in the Crystal Clean Dry Cleaners sponsored competition.
The 12-handicapper's nett 62 was untouchable and deservedly claimed the first of the Open Week's prizes.
After a steady start, dropping shots at only the 2nd and 7th holes, Andrew recovered from a double bogey at the 8th with a birdie at the 9th for a three over par front nine. But he dropped only one further shot - at the par five 10th - for the remainder of his round to card that nett 62.
Nine-handicapper Thomas Murray was within a shot of him, recording a nett 63. Thomas opened with two birdies and added a third at the 5th hole before back-to-back bogeys at the 8th and 9th for a one under par front nine. That consistent form was continued through the back nine until he double bogeyed the 15th and dropped another shot at the final hole to record his nett 63.
Undoubtedly the form player in the club at present, Jarlath McReynolds, playing of a handicap of two, claimed third prize on the day with a nett 64. He was four under after nine on an outward trek which included four birdies, and a level par back nine deservedly earned him the plaudits.
Stewart Hall, with a nett 65, led home the remainder of the field - his fourth prize fund boosted by birdie twos at the 11th and 13th holes.
The ever-improving James Magwood produced a nett 65 to claim fifth prize, nicking it on the back nine from Johnny Palmer on the same nett 65 score. And a delighted PJ Quinn picked up the final prize on the day with yet another net 65.
OPEN STROKE RESULTS – Wednesday, 31st July, 2013
1st Tom Calvert nett 64
2nd James Johnston nett 65
3rd John Lowe nett 66
4th Ian Ritchie nett 68 (back 9)
5th Neil Linton nett 68 (back 9)
6th Paul Doyle nett 68 (back 9)
7th Benjamin Jennett nett 68
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES – SUNDAY, 4th AUGUST at 8.00 pm sharp
Competition Convenor
31 July 2013
OPEN STABLEFORD RESULTS – Tuesday, 30th July, 2013
1st Anthony McElmeel 45 pts
2nd Leo McCann 42 pts
3rd Paul McCreesh 41 pts (back 9)
4th John Sheehan 41 pts (back 9)
5th Kenny Spence 41 pts (back 9)
6th Philip Kelly 41 pts
7th Jarleth McReynolds 40 pts (back 9)
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES – SUNDAY, 4th AUGUST at 8.00 pm sharp
Competition Convenor
30 July 2013
OPEN MIXED GREENSOMES RESULTS
28 July, 2013
1st Barry and Vera Ellingham nett 64.5
2nd Denis and Shelia Hughes nett 65.0
3rd Fred and M Hanna nett 65.5
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES - SUNDAY, 4th AUGUST at 8.00 pm
Competition Convenor
28 July 2013
CLUB STABLEFORD RESULTS – 28th July, 2013
1st Declan McKee 44 pts
2nd P J Quinn 43 pts
3rd Benny McArdle 42 pts
4th Shane O’Halloran 41 pts (back 6)
5th Francis Curley 41 pts (back 9)
6th Neil Monaghan 41 pts
Prizes will be credited to your Pro Shop Account
Competition Convenor
28 July 2013