CLOVERHILL
PAUL Kelly (6) found time out of his busy Ulster Cup Captains role (he had matches on Saturday and Sunday) to capture the weekend singles stableford competition. Paul had 40 points which was good enough to fend off all comers especially the trio directly behind him in the prizes which unusually all came from the one fourball. The pecking order saw David Rafferty (20) finish second on the countback from Eamon Devlin (20) after both returned 39 points. Kevin Haughey (23) finished fourth with his 20 points on the back 9 putting him ahead of Paddy Malone (7), Sean Campbell (8) and club treasurer Emmett Fearon (14) after they all had 38 points. Next weeken is the Murphy’s, Meigh Monthly Medal. A reminder that all matchplay money must be paid before play and that there are 5 singles and 7 pairs Preliminary rounds to be played by May 31.
The second BC Electrics Dundalk Friday Open saw Daniel Hughes (10) progress from third last week to first this week with his 38 points good enough for top spot. Daniel finished 2 points clear of Ollie Reel (17) with James Coburn (17) a furter three points beghind in third place could not believe his luck that his 31 pts got him a podium finish.
The early leader for the Monthly Bonus Prize of €100 from the competition sponsor for the best visitors score is still Kevin Commins (6) Ardee with 30 points as his tally was not passed this week. Entry Fee- Members £7/€8 Visitors £12/€14 (which includes entry to the 2’s). You can book on-line or through the clubhouse.
The seniors round of the Golfer of the Year produced a tight finish with only 2 points between the top 5 finishers. Brandon Hughes finished top of the pile a point ahead of Raymond Kelly. Joe Hazzard came out on top of a 3 way tie for third on the countback from Fr Cullen and octogenerian Noel Williams.
The Wednesday Cup was off the Front 9 Green and brought a first time winner onto the podium in Craig Pearce as the Welshman produced a winning total of 24 points. Benny Tierney, Gerard Loye, Raymond Kelly and Noel McParland were all Craig’s nearest challengers with 21 points. The Back 9 White is in play this week.
For the second week in a row club vice-captain Paddy Malone worked the oracle as a team captain as he guided his Pierce Purcell team to qualification at Silverwood. The Cloverhill team of Anthony O Hare & Shane Toale, Emmet Fearon & Seamus Keenan, David Hamill & Ray Kelly,Terry Taylor & James Coburn and Damien Reilly & Ray Flynn finished on 354 tied with Edenmore and Castleblaney and host club Silverwood were three shits further back to take the fourth qualifying spot. Cloverhill will now play Castleblaney back in Silverwood in the knock-out stages of the competition.
Seamus McGivern guided his All-Ireland Fourball team into the next round as they picked up the necessary away point at Loughgall on Sunday to set up a meeting with Portsalon or Down Royal in the next round.
Our Ulster Cup odyssey ended at the home of the 2017 Irish Open Portstewart where the home side triumphed 5-2 on Sunday to supplement their great result at Cloverhill the previous day where they clawed their way back to snatch a draw 3 & 1/2 each.