Ardglass captain Tony Maynes’ Captain’s Day competition took place at the seaside club last Saturday.
With the course in magnificent condition and the greens fast and true, 230 players set out hopefully from 6am onwards.
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Tony Maynes, Ardglass Golf Club Captain, and his wife Margaret, congratulate winner Donal Maynes on his 41 point victory.[/caption]
The fast greens proved too challenging for some players, but not for one of the early starters, local Ardglass player Barry McEvoy. The 7-handicapper set an early target of 41 points with a round of 73, finishing strongly with seven straight fours, including a birdie at the 15th.
However, later in the day Barry was pipped at the post for the major prize by 15-handicapper Donal Mc Dade who moved to the club from Rockmount GC three years ago. After an unpromising start to his round, Donal McDade settled down and completed the first nine on 18 points.
A birdie at the par-4 13th boosted his score and he went on to play the back nine in just 3 over. His inward nine score of 23 points proved to be enough to take him past Barry McEvoy and to clinch first place and the 2014 Captain’s Prize.
Speaking after the presentation, Donal said: “I’m delighted I joined Ardglass Golf Club. There is a great atmosphere here and I have great craic playing in my regular forbad on a Saturday. The course was in brilliant shape today and it was playing fast and that was a challenge. I’ve just returned from two weeks’ holiday in Croatia and just felt great when I was playing.
“The first nine holes were tough against the wind, but I held my 18 points and it was all to play for in the back nine. I held together through the tenth, eleventh and birdied the twelfth holes and thirteenth. That gave me a boost and I played steady until down the eighteenth. I felt confident and in control of my game and didn’t let nerves cost me a vital shot.”
Check This Link For Photos of Ardglass Captain’s Day
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The winners on Ardglass Golf Club Captain Tony Maynes’ prize day. Included is tehcaptain’s wife Margaret and the winner, Donal McDade, front centre.[/caption]
Club Captain Tont Maynes thanked John Moore, greenkeeper, and his staff for their sterling work in getting the course into shape for the big day, and also he thanked all those who had helped including the club staff including the club pro, Paul Vaughan.
Vincent Perry put in a strong challenge with a great back nine to finish on 40 points and take third slot, while fourth place went to the evergreen Alan Burgess. Burgess overcame a calamity at the 17th to birdie the final hole and finish on 39 points, and just edge Terry O’Neill into fifth place on countback.
Daniel Vaughan took the Gross prize with a round of 72. After four consecutive bogeys at holes 4 to 7, Vaughan hit back with birdies at the next two. Two more bogeys followed in the back nine but an eagle at the par-5 15th compensated for this to bring the Killough man home in level-par and clinch yet another top prize.
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Ardglass Golf Club Captain Tony Maynes throws up the balls for Hubert Chambers, Harry Smyth, Club President, Hugh Lenaghan and Willie Shaw, Past President.[/caption]
The runner-up slot was a close fight between Gerard Copeland and Julien Swail. Both players birdied the last to finish on 73 but Strangford man Swail took the prize with a superior back nine.
Among the other prize-winners was the ever-competitive Jack McGreevy, who took the Team Captains’ Award with 36 points, and quiz maestro John McGrath, whose 33 points clinched the Past Captains’ Prize. Bill Brown beat off a feeble challenge from the rest of Council to take the Council Prize with a score of 32 points, while Charlie Magee won the Seniors with 35 points.
Top Visiting Guest was Jimmy Kelly from Spa with a creditable 36 points, while the home Guest Prizes were won by Gareth Donnelly on 37 points and Gerry Vaughan with 35.
Nearest the Pin winners were Seamus O’Hare (at the 2nd), Terry O’Neill (5th), Philip Fitzsimons (7th), Brian Gaffney (10th) and Bill Brown (12th), and Daniel Vaughan took the Longest Drive award.
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