Edmund Gilchrist, President of Ardglass Golf Club, was delighted that 205 golfers had tee-ed up on the day despite the strong south-westerly breeze which picked up by lunchtime. Scoring was never going to be easy, particularly on the outward nine, and 39 points proved to be the winning score.
In the event four players finished on this total, with Michael Rooney being the eventual winner on countback. The 15-handicapper had an unexceptional outward nine of 16 points, and a no score at the 11th which seemed to have scuppered his chances.
However, the Belfast man then played the last seven holes in a superb one-under, including two birdies in the last four holes. Michael Rooney’s inward nine earned him 23 points, which was more than enough to see off the other three challengers.
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Speaking just after the presentation, Michael said: “It was quite tough in the wind conditions as the breeze picked up. I only had 16 points in the front nine which was into the teeth of the wind. I didn’t score on the third hole and thought at that moment that was the beginning of the end for me. But I managed to hold on and clawed my way back into the game.
“I didn’t score at the 11th hole but dis have two birdies. The course was in brilliant shape which was a credit to the green staff. I was hitting the fairways and basically managed to keep out of trouble. I got a new putter from the club pro Paul Vaughn and it was was working well for me on the day.
“I’ve been a member for over ten years and this is the first competition I have one. It was even more exciting as I was coming out from Belfast this evening and my fan belt in the car broke and I had to get another car sorted out. I got here in the end for the presentation though. Just like the match, it was a drama to the end. I’m delighted to have won this prize and again I thank our president Edmund Gilchrist and his wife Angela for the lovely prize.”
Jim Cunningham, who had earlier in the season finished runner-up on Captain’s Day, completed a remarkable double by finishing runner-up again in the second ‘major’ of the year. Playing late in the day, when conditions had worsened, he was out in 37 and back in 39 for a gross score of 76, one of the best rounds of the day. The Leitrim man is certainly the man of the moment, having also had a hole-in-one in the previous week’s Matthew Millar Trophy competition!
In third place was the consistent Danny Branniff. The 11-handicap Carryduff man was out in three-over, including a birdie at the third. His only blemish in the round was a double-bogey at the 16th, but he finished strongly with two pars to relegate club captain Terry Murphy into fourth place.
The 2015 Captain Terry Murphy laid aside his responsibilities for a few hours and compiled a very respectable round with no real disasters, but a run of bogeys from the 15th to the 17th holes put paid to his chance of top spot.
Fifth place was also hotly contested with four players finishing in a tie on 37 points, but when countback was complete, 15-handicapper American Jerry Lai got the nod. His five pars in the last seven holes helped give him the edge over Conor Blaney, William Stockdale and Fred McStay.
In the battle of the Past Presidents, Harry Smyth was a clear winner. He was out in three-over for 21 points and still well in contention for the overall prize after 12 holes, but a series of setbacks in the closing stages saw his hopes disappear. Nevertheless the MUSA stalwart will be well satisfied with 35 points.
Another MUSA man in the prizes was Kevin Carville who took the very competitive Seniors section with a solid 36 points, while Martin Smith outshone the rest of his Council colleagues to take the Council prize on 34 points.
In the Gross section, Daniel Vaughan came out on top with a round of 72. In the tougher conditions of the late afternoon, the plus-2 handicapper had three birdies in an outward nine of one-over. Despite a few mishaps round holes 9, 10 and 11 the Killough man resumed par golf on the inward run to give him a very respectable two-over total.
Second Gross prize went to Raymond Madine. Out in five-over, he played the homeward nine in level-par, including birdies at 16 and 18, finishing with a 75, just one ahead of Gary Hamill.
In the Guests section, winners were Trevor Long, Tony Maynes and Sylvia Lappin. Big hitter of the day was Michael Deegan, who took the Longest Drive prize, while the Nearest the Pin hotshots were Dan Marron, Kevin McShane, Andrew Curran, Ray Brown and Martin Addis.
Club captain Terry Murphy paid a vote of thanks to President Edmund Gilchrist and added he had made a huge contribution to the club in recent years and wished him well in the two terms of his presidency.
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