News & Results

County Armagh Golf Club's Ulster Cup squad have gained passage to the third round of the competition after a thrilling 7.5-6.5 defeat of Portstewart.

Having vanquished Greenisland to bring about this second-round meeting with the North Coast outfit, Marty Daly's charges were greeted on arrival at the Strand Course on Sunday 29 April by delightful sunshine but also a characteristically intimidating coastal breeze that would be sure to play its blowy part.

The County Armagh players were to turn in a sterling first-leg performance, however, as wins for Cormac O'Hare, Paul Corvan and captain Marty ensured that it was a particularly worthwhile seaside jaunt.

That 3-4 halfway scoreline provided the lads with a useful platform on which to complete the job back in the Orchard County a fortnight later, but only a fool would have been counting his Ulster Cup chickens already.

Indeed, in that second leg in Armagh on Sunday 13 May, the visitors got off to the sort of flying start that would have completely banished any complacency even if it had set in. Portstewart put two early points on the board and, given their superior holes advantage and the lead they held in two of the ongoing matches, the bleakness of the County Armagh prospects at this juncture was in stark contrast to the again bright and sunny playing conditions.

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 16 May 2018

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Given the arduous scoring conditions in the 2018 qualifying season thus far, any player who beats his handicap by a shot or two has usually had justifiable reason to expect to feature prominently on that tournament's list of prize winners. Although this continued to be true in the Bumblebee Cup on 5 May, there were two significant outliers among the 177 scorecards returned.

In the stroke event sponsored by Victoria Bar Armagh, champion Paul Donnelly and next-placed Paul Pender blitzed the field with exceptional final tallies that made a mockery of the awkward golfing circumstances created by strong winds, tricky pin placements, heavy rough and a course generally playing more than its full length given the lack of run.

Donnelly's nett 61 was as impressive as it was incongruous with the Saturday toils of most of those around him and fully merited the silverware that came along with it.

That said, such glory didn't look to be in the pipeline when Paul struggled to an eight at the opening hole. Indeed, he could also have lived without two more snowmen arriving at the 10th and 12th. However, elsewhere, Donnelly's performance was fantastic, as he left his 1st hole troubles behind him immediately with a level-par six-hole stretch that included birdies at the 3rd and 6th.

Paul Donnelly is presented with the Bumblebee Cup by Nicky Currie from competition sponsor, Victoria Bar Armagh. Also pictured are County Armagh Golf Club Captain, Colm Shannon, and other prizewinners (L-R) Stephen Miller, Dessie Cassidy, Eamon Connolly and Paul Pender.

Four pars would follow for Paul coming home, before a gutsy bogey at the 18th put the seal on a red-letter day that also means a satisfying four-shot handicap reduction.

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 15 May 2018

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Long standing and fondly remembered members, Billy and Eedie Parker, whose home bordered the 17 th hole, are honoured annually in the Parker Bowl competition, generously sponsored by their nephew, Arnold Courtney . Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney warmly welcomed Arnold and thanked him for his much appreciated long standing commitment to the Ladies Branch which began in 2007. Following the presentation of prizes including the specially commissioned Parker bowl Arnold explained he was delighted to be able to promote the competition in memory of his aunt and uncle.

Fifty-three ladies competed for the 18-hole competition with a further 10 playing for 9-hole prizes in warm sunshine on the course which has recovered magnificently from the ravages of a long hard winter. The warm dry conditions were reflected in the excellent scoring.

Donna Carolan secured third spot with 36 points, with Ellen Brady taking second place with 40 points. Top spot was secured by the inform Emma Garrigan with a magnificent score of 47 points. Emma joined the club last year via the Get into Golf initiative and has gone from strength to strength during the current season.

Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney, Arnold Courtney sponsor and winner of Parker Bowl Competition Emma Garrigan.

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Category: Women - News & Results

Last Updated: 14 May 2018

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Lila's Fashions were again the loyal sponsors of the first Ladies Open Competition of the year. Eighty-two players including ladies from Aughnacloy, Rossmore, Loughall and two Dublin clubs competed for the much sought-after prize vouchers for use in Lila's. Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney welcomed Pamela Johnston, who represented Lila's Fashions, and reminded the packed club house that this marks the ninth year that the Ladies Branch have been fortunate enough to enjoy the support of the Hawthorne family business

Weather conditions were warm dry and sunny and the course, which has begun to recover from the ravages of prolonged spells of rain and snow in recent months, was in excellent condition. While placing was still in operation, the begginings of a little “run” on the ball and the true roll on the greens may have heralded the arrival of low scores but the punishing rough conditions kept scores in check. No one managed to break par on the day, but 3 players returned 36 points, requiring countback to separate them.

Pamela Johnston, of Lila's, presented the vast array of prizes to the grateful recipients whose details are set out below. The top 5 spaces were secured by Breda Teahon on 34 points in fifth, just behind Teresa McVeigh on the same score but with a better back nine. In third place Ethel Liggett's 36 points was again beaten on countback from Rita Mone who secured second spot . The winner on the day was Cait Hanna who returned 36 points, winning again on countback. The winner is also presented with a cup which was first presented in 1985 by the then Lady Captain Mrs Grace McGowan.

Rita Mone runner up, Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney & Pamela Johnston from Lila's Fashions with prize winners from Spring Open Competition.

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Category: Women - News & Results

Last Updated: 14 May 2018

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Club Stableford - Sunday 13th May

1st Gareth Frizzell 40pts (back six)

2nd Paul McCreesh 40pts (back three)

Category 1

1st Calum Connell 38pts (back six)

2nd Adam Cromwell 38pts

Category 2

1st Gary McDonald 40pts

2nd Patrick Darragh 38pts

Category 3

1st Tom Donnelly 32pts (back nine)

2nd Robert Fagan 32pts 

Prize vouchers will be left in the Pro Shop

Competition Convenor 2018

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 13 May 2018

PGA Tankard Results - Saturday 12th May 2018

Sponsored by Armagh Potato Co Ltd

1st Andrew Hayward 40pts (back six)

2nd Derick Hynes 40pts

Category 1

1st Mark Frazer 39pts (back nine)

2nd Michael McGuirk 39pts

Category 2

1st Paul Kelly 39pts (back nine)

2nd Mark Keogh 39pts

Category 3

1st Mark Hughes 34pts (back nine)

2nd Eamon Connolly 34pts (back nine)

Best Gross - Shea Smyth 36pts

Prize Giving will be on Saturday 19th May @6:00pm.  All prize winners are expected to attend

Competition Convenor 2018

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 13 May 2018

Away from the relative glamour and spotlight of tournaments like the Lonsdale Cup, the Captain's Prize and the Gerry Lenagh Open, or any of those with a sponsor's name attached, lies the unheralded competition type that provides the backbone of the County Armagh Golf Club fixture list: the Club Stableford.

Two such bread-and-butter events were held on consecutive Sundays either side of the April-May border yielding victories for Brian McGrady and Dean Chambers, neither of whom will care one jot about the comparatively low-key nature of their triumph. A win's a win.

On 29 April, McGrady prevailed with a splendid 38-point performance that included both birdies at the 2nd and 11th and a spirited back-nine recovery, which was necessitated by a spell of three double bogeys in four holes immediately before the turn that threatened to derail his challenge.

As it was, this pleasing result for Brian brought with it a definite sense of déjà vu given that he last secured a qualifying top spot in another Sunday bout on 23 April 2017. Seemingly, the big 13-handicapper peaks at exactly this time of year.

County Armagh Golf Club's 2nd hole: looking resplendent in sunnier times.

Returning to the present, Stephen Moloney matched the 38-point winning total but finished in the silver-medal placing after losing out on a break of tie, as was always likely due to McGrady's aforementioned homeward heroics.

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 12 May 2018

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Senior Open Stableford

1st Anthony Conlon 34 points (back 9)

2nd Art McCrory 34 points

3rd Ian Beaddie 33 points

Open Stableford

1st Paul Traynor 35 points (back 9)

2nd Lee Campbell 35 points (back 9)

3rd Calum Connell 35 points

Prize vouchers can be collected from the Pro Shop

Competitions Committee 2018

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 10 May 2018

A strong and bustling 170-man field competed gamely for County Armagh Golf Club's historic Hirsch Cup on 28 April but no one was a match for eventual champion, Patrick Brannigan.

A ragged spell of four dropped shots in as many holes immediately before the turn was Brannigan's only genuine wobble as, elsewhere in the event sponsored by Netstretch Internet Services, he gave his rivals little reason for hope.

A birdie at the 6th was the highlight of a winning round that also featured a streak of four consecutive pars on the way out and another six in a row on the back nine.

The heavy ground and penal rough continues to result in largely conservative scoring across the board, so this was a terrific performance from Patrick.

He would ultimately sign for a terrific nett 66 that, in addition to putting some silverware on the mantelpiece early in the season, returns the Ulster Cup stalwart to single-figure handicap status.

Hirsch Cup winner, Patrick Brannigan, is presented with the trophy by Cormac Knott from Netstretch Internet Services, competition sponsors. Also pictured are County Armagh Golf Club Captain, Colm Shannon, and other prizewinners Shea Smyth, Brian Hughes and Brian Cleland.

The overall runner-up position also had a popular occupant in the shape of Brian Hughes. The former planning officer plotted his way around the course to great effect and finished just one shot back from Brannigan.

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 09 May 2018

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Club Stableford Results

1st Dean Chambers 37pts (back nine)

2nd Paul Traynor 37pts (back six)

Category 1 

1st Caolan Doyle 37pts

2nd Philip Russell 36pts (back nine)

Category 2

1st Desmond Kinsella 35pts (back nine)

2nd Ed Hughes 35pts

Category 3

1st Kevin Smyth 36pts

2nd Paul Hughes 31pts

Best Gross John Maguire 33pts

Prize vouchers will be left in the Pro Shop

Competition Convenor 2018

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 08 May 2018

Bumblebee Cup - Results

Sponsored by: Victoria Bar

1st Paul Donnelly nett 61

2nd Paul Pender nett 65

Category 1

1st Jonathan McKnight nett 69

2nd Neil Linton nett 70 (back three)

Category 2

1st Jonathan Doherty nett 71 (back nine)

2nd Desmond Cassidy nett 71

Category 3

1st Eamon Connolly nett 70

2nd Stephen Miller nett 72

Best Gross Philip Kelly gross 70

Presentation of the Bumblebee Cup will take place on Saturday 12th May @6:00pm.  All prize winners are expected to attend

Competition Convenor 2018

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Category: Men - News & Results

Last Updated: 08 May 2018

Friday 4 th May 2018 2pm shot gun start.

To mark the 125 th anniversary of the founding of Co Armagh Golf Club the Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney in conjunction with the Ladies Committee and Captain Colm Shannon organised a “Vintage” 9-hole Ladies and Gents stableford competition (shotgun start) followed by afternoon tea. The event was kindly sponsored by the Vintage Bar and Lounge Armagh whose generous support covered the cost of the day's festivities.

Competitors were encouraged to dress in “vintage attire” and most Ladies and many Gentlemen went to great lengths to do so. While the vintage hickory shafted clubs donated to the club by Conlon Rice, were taken from their display cabinet, none of the competitors elected to use them. With a little imagination it might have been possible to recall the gentle thwack of persimmon against gutta perchas as the elegantly clad players graced the fairways in bright sunshine.

Lady Captain Elizabeth Mawhinney and Mr Captain Colm Shannon at Vintage 9 hole competition to mark 125th anniversary of CAGC.

Very soon, the wisdom of wearing tweeds, petticoats and elaborate bonnets was called into question as the afternoon warmed up. Enough of the men.

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Category: General News

Last Updated: 08 May 2018

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