Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

26/07/2022

Brendan Crawford defied the windy conditions last Sunday to finish top of the leaderboard and secure the McManus Cup strokeplay event.

On a brisk day on the Championship Links at Royal County Down, Crawford managed to keep the high numbers off the card as he signed for an impressive nett 68. The 10-handicapper raced into a fast start with a birdie on the opening hole and enjoyed a second birdie at the par five 12th.

Crawford was closely followed by Anthony King Jnr in second, who won the gross with his 76 for a nett 69, one ahead of Tony Murray (70) in third. Jerome Keenan and Paul Boden were fourth and fifth respectively with their 72s.

Last Thursday’s Stableford competition was a close-run thing, but Eugene Jennings got the better of John Murphy Jnr on a countback. Jennings was in flying form – and obviously got the putter to behave – as he signed for a winning tally of 38 points. Jennings also picked up a birdie two at the difficult seventh.

Murphy made a birdie at the opening hole before adding another at the 12th, but the situation got the better of him as ‘Papa’ was left to rue an untimely double bogey seven at the 18th to open the door for Jennings.

There was a strong chasing pack on 37 points as PJ Johnston, Conor Keenan and Kenneth McGaw all returned fine scores. Gerard Milligan and Rory McNiff both had 36 points.

The recent July medal was won by Michael Nugent Jnr with an impressive nett 68. Nugent may have made a slow start but a run of six pars from the third got him into position by the turn. From there he picked up a birdie at the 12th and steered a steady course. He has closely followed by the in-form Paul Leneghan, who also returned a nett 68 and won the gross with his fine two-over 73. Danny Savage was third with a nett 69.

This week Murphy’s focus will be on captaining his Junior Cup side, who are into the semi-finals and will take on Clandeboye in the first leg on Sunday (July 31).

In yet another busy week for Mourne teams, Barry Hillen and Sean O’Higgins’ Jimmy Bruen side are also in semi-final action this week against Killymoon, with both the home and away fixtures at 5.30pm on Thursday (July 28).

Tommy Fitzpatrick’s Mourne SUSA team will also be in action this week against Edenmore.

Congratulations to Stephen Barker who travelled to Belfast for last Sunday’s Belvoir Park Scratch Cup where he finished fifth with an excellent level par 70. His round contained no less than six birdies, including a run of three from the 14th. The Railway Street owner was part of a strong Mourne contingent as his playing partners Noel Crawford and James Maginn returned one over 71s.

-ENDS