Brooke Trophy
There was a close finish to the August Medal/Brooke Trophy sponsored by McAuley Freight and played at Galgorm Castle Golf Club. A good turn-out of players had to contend with a strong wind making play more difficult
than usual.
At halfway Kurtis McCartney (3) had a fouyr shot advantage over Brendan Mulgrew (4) and Mark Dunlop (5). Close up another shot behind came Stuart Thompson (13) and Keith Clements (7). Through The Maple Mulgrew had closed to within two shots of McCartney. Clements was another two shots behind. Dunlop and Thompson were a further one and three shots respectively back. McCartney parred Devils Elbow, bogeyed Beechers and parred the Grove and increased his lead to three shots over Mulgrew (bogey, par at Beechers, bogey at the Grove). Clements ( two pars and a bogey up the Grove) and Dunlop (bogey and pars at Beechers and the Grove) were a further three shots behind. -Thompson (two pars and a double bogey) was another three shots down. McCartney finished with a birdie and a par for a 66 Nett to WIN the Division. Thompson completed his round witrh a birdie at Lowlands and a bogfey at Shirleys Cottage for a 65 Nrtt to WIN the Medal/Brooke Trophy. Clements (bogey, par finish) and Mulgrew (bogey, birdie) finished with a 69 Nett each with second place going to Clements with a better last six. Dunlop finished with two pars for a 70 Nett just outside the placings.
Josh Nicholl (-2) WON the Gross with 72 Gross and Patrick Coleman (13) WON the Seniors with a 72 Nett.
Subsidiary Stableford
Division A
At The Fort Keith McCullough (11) was leading by two points from David Bamford (11) and George Kernohan (12). Brian McMath (12) was another point behind. Approaching the Devils Elbow Bamford was the new leader by two points over Kernohan and McCullough followed by McMath. Up the Grove Bamford, after a par at the Devils Elbow, bogey over Beechers and a par at the Grove was two points clear of McMath (three pars). Kernohan (pars at Devils Elbow and Beechers and a double bogey at the Grove) and McCullough with a par at Devils Elbow and two bogeys) were another point behind. Bamford finished with with two bogeys to WIN OVERALL the Stableford competition. Two points behind came Kernohan (bogey, par at Shirleys Cottage), McCullough (par at Lowlands, bogey finish) and McMath (bogeys at Lowlands and Shirleys Cottage). F went to McCullough with a better back nine, second place to Kernohan with a better back nine and McMath finished in third place.
Division B
Approaching The Fort Norman McKernan (30) had a two point advantage over Jim Wilson (17) and Philip Coulter (18) ('ding' at The Treasury). David McCaughern (20) was another point behind with Malachy Graham (27) two further points back. At Beechers McCaughern was the new leader by a point over Wilson and Coulter. McKernan was another point behind with Graham a further three points down. Up the Grove McKernan (double bogey at Beechers, bogey at the Grove) and McCaughern (bogey at Beechers, double bogey at the Grove) were vying for the lead a point ahead of Coulter (bogey, triple bogey at the Grove) Wilson (two double bogeys) was another point behind and Graham (two double bogeys) a further two points down. McKernan finished with two double bogeys to WIN the Division by a point from McCaughern (double bogey at Lowlands, bogey). Another point behind, Wilson finished with two bogeys, Coulter (double bogey at Lowlands, bogey) and Graham (bogeys at Lowlands and Shirleys Cottage) finished together. Graham came third with a better back nine and Wilson WON the Seniors.