SUPPORT for Rockmount’s open week was very good considering the indifferent weather of late.
With the course being open to anyone visitors had a chance to see if they could master the maturing parkland course. The competitions each day varied.
On Monday a ladies’ three-ball team event was run with the men’s seniors. In the ladies’ competition the team of Joyce Millar, Grace Downey and May Teggart scored 77 points and won on a better back nine from Diane Patterson, Joni Chan and S. Wilson, who also scored 77 points. In third place were P. Thornberry, Rosemary McCrea and Patricia McDonnell who scored 72 points.
The men’s senior competition, with just short of 100 entries, was won by Andrew Neagle (11) with 42 points. John McGrath (22) was second with 39 points, Andrew Johnston (16) third with 38 points and Leslie Anderson (12) fourth, also with 38 points. Downpatrick’s David Gibson (1) won the gross with a score of 75.
The men’s stableford on Tuesday really was visitors’ day with four out of five prizes going to visitors. First, second and third all scored 39 points with placings decided on count back.
Nicholas Evans (19) was first, Kevin Cushnan (21) second and Andrew Jenkins (11) third. Fourth with 38 points was Phillip Grattan (24) and the best gross, 77, was scored by Dean Crawford (4).
The men’s stableford on Wednesday saw the second biggest entry of the week. Colin Russell (13) top scored with 41 points, Francis Ward (8) was second with 40 points, the same score as Paul Fee (7) who was third, and Jim Hume (18) was fourth, also with 40 points. G. Marshall (5) won the gross with a level par round of 72.
Wednesday also saw the big challenge match when club captain Peter O’Hara and professional golfer Phil Collins played vice-captain Glenn Willis and Andrew Morris, of Andrew Morris Golf. The loser would buy the meal afterwards. The captain was, as always, gracious in defeat.
Conditions deteriorated on Thursday for the ladies’ stableford, which was won by J. Wilson (27) with 37 points. Rosemary McCrea (17) was second with 35 points and Jan Lindsay (14) third with 34 points.
In the men’s stableford first was Barry Douds (7) with 38 points. Second with 38 points was Craig McConnell (21), third with 37 points was Peter McCluskey (19) and fourth with 36 points was Kenny Craig (16). Colin McClenaghan (1) won the gross prize with 76.
The course finally succumbed to the heavy rain on Friday. The course did remain open, but the four-ball better ball competition was postponed to a later date.
The men’s open stroke on Saturday was won by James Hume (5) with a nett 67. James also scored the best gross on the day, a 72. Second also with a nett 67 was William Wilson (19). Ryan Wilson (7) was third and John Cahoon (17) fourth, both with nett 69. The best gross prize went to Chris Carroll (1) who had a 76.