McIlhagga memorial success for David at Raceview

Top score from a field of 167 competitors came from David Kernohan who posted a superb total of 43 points, although he still had to depend upon a better second nine total from Gerald McParland.

Kernohan, off a 22 handicap, had a cracking front nine which he played in five over par gross for 24 points.

The back nine didn’t quite reach the same high standards as he had four double bogeys but he still managed to be under his handicap, adding a further 19 points to his total.

Fellow 22-handicapper Mcparland trumped Kernohan over the opening nine holes with a total of 25 points from four pars, three bogeys, a double bogey on the second and a birdie on the fourth, which was worth four points on its own.

He bagn his second nine by using his allowance very well with five bogeys in a row but the next three holes were expensive with double bogeys at 15 and 17 with a quadruple bogey sandwiched in between.

However, he finished with a flourish with a birdie on the last hole which was worth four points on its own - one of four four-point hauls in his round - but he was still one shot shy of Kernohan’s second nine total.

Third nett was Gordon Bell (12) with 42 points, 22 of which came on the front nine from four pars, four bogeys and an eagle three on the par five ninth, which was worth five points on its own.

The second nine porduced four pars, three bogeys and a double bogey but a birdie on the 17th helped Gordon to a total of 20 points on the way home.

Cameron Horner (10) was fourth nett with 40 points and on a better second nine from Trevor Magee and Seamus O’Boyle.

Cameron played each nine in three over gross which converted into 20 points on each nine and in total he had six pars, nine bogeys and birdies on the third, fifth and 13th.

Magee (15) notched up 21 points on the first nine, which included a costly non-event at the eighth.

The second nine contained five fives, three fours and a lone three on the 14th, giving him 19 points, one better than Seamus O’Boyle, who also havd 40 points overall.

Seamus had a dream start with a birdie on the opening hole and and he then went par, bogey, par, giving him 12 points after four holes.

He completed the front nine with two pars, two bogeys and a double bogey on the ninth for a total of 23 points.

The bak nine didn’t really measure up with two pars, five bogeys and three double bogeys for a further 17 points.

The best gross card was returned by an early starter, Paul Darragh (5), with a four over par round of 72.

His front nine featured seven pars with dropped shots on the second and fifth, while the back nine contained five pars, three bogeys and a birdie three on the final hole.

SUNDAY OPEN

The SUnday open was won by 11-handicapper Nigel Thompson with a total of 39 points.

Playing to his handicap on the front nine, he scored 18 points but he bettered than on the homeward trip where he notched 21 points, one better on that second nine than Christopher Magee.

Magee, off five, had nine straight pars on the front nine for 20 points. He opened his second nine by dropping his first shot but he then added six pars and a birdie but, alas, a double bogey on the last saw him lose out.

Sean McGarry (5) won the gross prize with a three over round of 71.

COmmencing his round with a birdie, he then added six pars, plus dropped shots on the fourth and eighth. His second nine was made up of five pars, three bogeys plus a birdie on the 13th.

WEDNESDAY OPEN

The Wednesday open was won by John Robinson who, playing off one, scored 39 points - 19 on the front nine and 20 on the back nine.

A front nine of seven pars, a bogey on the second and an eagle on the ninth, was added to on the back nine with six pars, a dropped shot on the 10th and birdies on the 12th and 18th.

Runner-up was Raymond Vallely (20), also with 39 points, but with an inferior second nine.

Raymond’s card was made up of nine bogeys, four double bogeys and five pars and he had 21 points on the way out and 18 back.

INTER-CLUB SCENE

The inter-club competitions have kicked off with Ballymena recording an opening round with over Rathmore in the JB Carr All-Ireland Foursomes competition, for members aged 60 years plus.

Fred Dawson and Ken Herbison won 4/3; Eric Smyth and Stephen Surgenor won 2/1; Noel Totten and Leslie Frew won 7/6; David Mullholland and Billy Greer secured a halved match; and Jim Drennan and Albert Craig won one up.

THe team now travel to Dunmurry in the next round.

LADIES

Ballymena Golf Club duo Marbeth Scott and Barbara Totten are on their way to Massereene Golf Club later in the summer after last week’s competition at Raceview.

Marbeth finished one point ahead of runner-up Barbara with a finishing total of 36 to clinch the two qualifying spots. The standard scratch score on the day was 73.