Hewitt home first despite difficult Winter League weather conditions

Heavy rain and miserable conditions on Saturday morning reduced many rounds to a premature conclusion and curtailed the scores of many others.

By contrast, the afternoon was very pleasant and most of the winning scores were played then or during the previous few days.

Stephen Hewitt’s impressive play led to victory with 33 points off 12.

With three other players on a similar total, he required a special back nine to claim the top prize and a one-over-par homeward journey, helped by birdies at 10 and 11, proved decisive.

Winter League and club seniors specialist Hugh O’Reilly took the runners-up spot with 33 points off 15, missing out on his first outright victory in the league across the back nine.

The low section went to Mal McConville, who posted 32 points off four within a level-par round including birdies at nine, 10 and 12 alongside bogeys at five, eight and 18.

McConville tackled demanding conditions but his bogey at the last was the first dropped shot at that hole across his last 22 outings - and only his second over-par score at that spot this year.

Jim McKee took second place in the section with 31 points off five, a birdie at the last providing the perfect finish to a round of just two over par.

Paul Rippon took the middle section with 33 points off 12, followed by Ian Harrison’s tally of 32 off 11 during another consistent round.

Derek Woods sparked his round with a double bogey and birdie but reached 32 points for first in the high section.

Next in line was Stephen Lennon on 31 points off 13, with double bogey scores on the par-three eight and 11.

Kieran McCorry dropped short of the prizes, with success in the previous week’s section pushing Michael Fleville out of the running.

The ladies’ competition hit the halfway stage. The Fiona’s Foxtrot players have enjoyed some impressive individual scoring - with Elaine Bell leading the way last week - but struggled overall.

The teams of Roslyn’s Rumba and Julie’s Jive can reflect on positive form, with the former players clear by 0.5 points. Olwyn Forrester, Dee Farrell, Pat Hughes, Fiona Rowan and Pam Morrow have been impressive for Roslyn’s Rumba - with Katrina Bradford enjoying three rounds of 20 points to head Julie’s Jive.

Ursula Dummigan and Liz Denver have been the main players for Susan’s Samba. Kathy Matchett was out in front for Sheena McStay’s squad on 20 points, with Clare McGourty’s Cha Cha panel searching for form.