Warren wins President’s Day at Ballymena Golf Club

The winner was Warren Overton, with a total of 44 stableford points, but the 25-handicapper still had to depend on a better second nine total from second-placed William Russell.

After opening with a par, Warren dropped two shots on the second and worse followed on the third, where he failed to score any points.

The next six holes were much more rewarding with two points on the fourth, followed by five three-pointers, adding up to 21 points for the first nine.

The second nine saw Warren register six fours which were worth 18 points, while bogeys on the 10th and 14th, and double bogeys at 11, 16 and 18 helped his second nine total up to 23.

Second nett Russell (16) also scored 44 points, 22 on each nine, with the first nine made up of five pars plus dropped shots on the first, fourth, fifth and eighth. The second nine contained six pars, bogeys on the 15th and 18th plus a double concession on the par four 11th for an additional 22 points.

Gary Rodgers (14) finished one point adrift of Russell in third nett position.

Having scored 11 points on the first four holes, Gary went on to add another 11 on the next five holes with a birdie on the ninth worth four points alone.

He started the back nine with two pars but then had a triple bogey at the 12th but he came back strongly, parring five of the last six holes for a total of 21 points for the nine holes.

Fourth nett prize was won by Stephen Ritchie (15) with 41 points, 21 of them on the front nine.

Fifth nett was Noel Kidd (17) who scored 40 points but had to depend on a better second nine total from Bobby McLaughlin, with his second nine total of 22 points boosted by birdies at the 13th and 17th, which were worth eight points alone.

That second nine total was one more than McLaughlin could manage, with the 17-handicapper having to settle for sixth nett prize.

Best gross score came from Jonathan Law who, off a handicap of four, played the course in level par 68 shots.

He was two over at the turn but pulled those shots back over the homeward stretch.

In total, his round included eight threes and he will doubtless be very pleased with his performance.

AUGUST DATES

Saturday competition dates for the month of August are:

August 3 - Donnelly & Taggart; August 10 - Rainey & Gregg; August 24 - Harry Harper, round three; August 31 - Edwin May.

Sunday competitions for August are:

August 4 - Pro Shop open; August 11 - open stableford; August 18 - Cameron Cup, club championship; August 25 - open stableford.

There will also be 13-hole ‘hat’ competitions on each Wednesday during August.