Aberdelghy to host first GUI event

Fourteen Clubs will be competing in the Pierce Purcell competition with the the top four qualifying for the next round and will include some of the top local clubs such as Malone, Dunmurry, Balmoral and Belvoir.

This is just reward for the club and Lisburn City Council, who have been working together over the last couple of years to bring Aberdelghy up to this standard. Appreciation must be given to all those involved, including Robert Hamilton and his ground-keeping staff.

With the terrible weather recently, they have been working tirelessly against the odds to have the course in tip top condition.

Pressure is on the Lambeg Club team captain Brian Bates as the host club is expected to qualify. The course will be closed to the public from daylight on Sunday (11 May) until 3.30pm as the qualifying takes place.

Lambeg Results

Hoover/Candy Kitchen Appliances sponsored, this week’s stroke competition and the winner, by two clear shots, was Andrew Smyth (22) with a magnificent 57 net (nine under par).

Andrew, who only joined the club last year, has been threatening to come in with a good score over the last few weeks and has finally got his reward. His long drives can be a bit wayward and that usually effect his scoring, but not this week.

He played the front nine steady and to his handicap but the back nine was a different story.

Andrew played almost scratch golf, hitting no less than seven pars and two single bogeys. With 11 shots to come off for his handicap, he finished with an incredible nine under par nett score to win the competition quite easily.

Two shots behind and finishing runner-up was Peter Taylor (13) with 59. Peter will no doubt be regretting the triple bogey at the third hole but he did hit four pars and four single bogeys to complete the front nine also at level to his handicap.

The back nine was another exhibition of par golf with a very impressive eight pars and a birdie at the 16th. This was a better gross score than Andrew but the handicap difference came in to play, leaving Peter in second spot.

Third place was taken by Colin Higgins (20) with a net 60. Colin was actually in the lead, sitting at two under at the turn, but a triple bogey at the 10th and a double bogey at the 15th knocked him back.

Ivor Harron continued his great run of form, winning the best gross with a 70 to follow on from winning the Wednesday Hat with a very impressive 44 points.

This is a magnificent performance considering he plays off a six handicap.