The Russell Stirling Joinery sponsored Winter Championship played at Galgorm Castle Golf Club was completed with the playing of Round 6. Divisions were reduced as a result of the heavy overnight rain and golfers had also heavy intermittent showers with which to contend during the round.
Wilkins takes Front 9
James Campbell playing off a handicap of ten opened with a 'ding' but followed up with a par and a birdie and was vying for the lead with Ian McCully (4) through the Trout Hole. Gary Wilkins (4) was close up a point behind.. Wilkins parred the next three holes to join McCully (par, bogey, par) in the lead by a point from Campbell (three bogeys). Campbell parred The Treasury to lead by one point from Wilkins (bogey) and McCully (bogey) with two holes to play. The scores remained the same after all three bogeyed the Sanctuary leaving a very close and exciting final hole. Campbell bogeyed Longlands and Wilkins drew level with a birdie and first place went to Wilkins with a better last six. McCully finished a point behind the placings after parring the final hole.
Back 9 – Division 1
There was a threeway tie for the lead through Arthurs Seat between Philip Smyth (4), Peter Daly (5) and Willie Park (5). Daly and Park parred The Maple and Devils Elbow to lead by one point from Smyth (bogey, par). Park led by a point up the Grove after two more pars. Daly parred Beechers and bogeyed the Grove where he was joined by Smyth with a birdie and a bogey. Smyth parred the last two holes to win by one point from Park (two bogeys) and Daly (bogey, par). Second place was taken by Daly in a very close finiah with a better last one.
Back 9 – Division 2
Through The Maple Brian Watt (10) was leading by two points from William Rice (8). Patrick Reid (8) and Rory Drysdale (9) were another two points behind with Seamus Laverty (7) a further point back. Rice parred fourteen and birdied Beechers to emerge as the new leader by three points from Watt ('ding', bogey) and Drysdale (two pars). A further point behind came Reid (par, bogey) and Laverty (bogey, birdie). Down the Lowlands Rice, after two bogeys, was still ahead but with a reduced lead. Watt with two pars was a point behind with Laverty (two pars), Reid (par, bogey) and Drysdale (bogey, double bogey) at one, two and three points respectively further behind. Rice finished with a par to win by four points. There was a very close finish for second place. Watt, unfortunately, recorded his second 'ding' and was joined by Drysdale (par), Laverty (bogey and Reid (bogey). Second place went to Reid with a better last one.
Stephen McAuley (Scr) won the Gross with 17 gr/pts.
Twos were recorded by – S.McAuley, S.Barker, M.Alexander, R.Stacey, A.Proctor, A.Robinson, R.Wiggins, J.Whann, R.Deane and A.Whann.
Winter Championship – Final – Division 1 - 1st. James Logan (6) – 2nd. Chris Cooke (6), Mervyn Foster (5), Peter Daly (5) and Paul Hughes (5) – 3rd. Philip Smyth (4) and Stephen McAuley (-1) – 4th. John Rock (3) – 5th. Gary Twigg (5) – Division 2 – 1st. Richard Lennox (9) – 2nd. Rory Drysdale (9) – 3rd. William Rice (8) – 4th. Patrick Reid (8) – 5th. Colin Thompson (8) and James Mairs (6) 6th. John Caulfield (10).