Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

21/06/23

On a sun-baked Friday the links courses at Royal County Down were looking their very best as Gareth Malley and his family put on a wonderful show for his Captain’s Day at Mourne Golf Club.

Captain’s Day is one of the biggest days in the club’s golfing calendar and Malley’s day was a huge success as meals and presentations were followed dancing and celebrations in the clubhouse after a full day of golf on both links courses.

Much of the post round chat focused on how challenging the Championship Course was set up, with pins hanging off the side of greens and so treacherous they almost reduced grown men to tears. Others believe it was simply a reaction by Course Manager Eamonn Crawford upon learning that Mourne Golf Club Vice Captain Paddy Curran shot the lights out with 44 points the previous day, so set about making sure there would be no repeat of such fine scoring.

In a closely fought contest it was Rowland Byrne who came out on top a packed leaderboard to win the top prize and receive the Graham Perpetual Trophy. Byrne won with a great score of 38 points that included a birdie at the 16th.  Byrne pipped Stephen Burns on a countback, who had a steady round with a highlight birdie at the 12th.

Richard Herron was third with 37 points, the same mark as Alan Moore. (Stewart Cinnamond played in the Captain’s Day sweep and had 38 points).

There were more great scores in the gross competition with Stephen Barker and Philip Maguire both returning excellent level par 71s in difficult conditions. Barker picked up the Gross Prize with a better back nine.

There were several other prizes on the day with Eddie O’Hare winning the Past Captain’s Prize (35 points), while Gerry Hyland (30) won the Veteran’s Prize and John Rodgers (28) was second.

The Ladies’ first prize went to Diane Baxter with 32 points and rumour has it Diane completed a weekend double by winning the Royal County Down Ladies’ GC competition the following day. The Visitor’s Prize went to Royal County Down members Paddy Hutley (35).

Other on course prizes saw the Longest Drive go to Mark Feenan, Gerry Vaughan won Nearest the Pin and our very own Match & Handicapping guru Paul Mullan won the Putting Competition.

Captain Malley welcomed all the golfers on the first tee and was ably assisted by photographer Danny Hillen. After a long day, Malley presented the prizes and made a fitting speech and thanked everyone for making his day so special.

“Without the support from my wife Ciara and family, I would not be standing here in front of you as your Captain. I am humbled and privileged to be your Captain,” said Malley, before the celebrations went long into the night.

(Photos: Danny Hillen)

-ENDS

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