Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

01/06/2022

Michael McLaughlin was the model of consistency as he landed the prestigious Mourne Trophy on a day of good scoring at Newcastle.

The single handicap golfer was round in 74 on the Championship Links at Royal County Down to record a winning score of 40 points. His round included a rare birdie at the difficult par four third. Several bogeys followed but the winner’s card was made up primarily of pars.

He won by one point from Nicky Clarke in second (39) and John McGuirk (37) in third. A chasing trio of Brian O’Neill, Stephen Brennan and Gerry Vaughan all tied on 36 points.

Last Thursday’s 18-hole stableford competition was won by Darryl Northrop, who signed for 38 points. Northrop won comfortably as his nearest challenger was plus-one golfer Stephen Barker in second on 34 points. Barker overcame the testing conditions to card an impressive one-over 72 in a round containing six birdies, with three of them on the closing holes.

Barker denied Stephen McCormick and Alan Shiels on a countback, while Kenny McGaw, Matthew Davey and John McDonald all had 33 points.

The Juvenile Castlewellan Cup also took place in recent days and was won by Eoin White with 35 points. He finished one ahead of Aaron O’Boyle in second.

On the team front there were wins for Barry McCrickard’s Belfast & District (B&D) team and John Murphy’s Junior Cup side, while Emlyn Williamson’s Fred Perry side lost 3-2 to Clandeboye.

The B&D side were narrow 4-3 winners over Belfast side Knock. With a strong line up at home, there were wins for Noel Crawford, James Maginn and Stephen Barker while Mark Feenan lost his match. It meant the away players needed one win from three matches. Seasoned campaigners Frank O’Donoghue and Hugh Smyth Snr lost but Connor Toner was the hero of the hour as he defied his young years to record the all-important win on the final hole. Mourne now play Massereene in the third round.

The Junior Cup were convincing 4-1 winners over St Patrick’s (Downpatrick GC) with wins for Connor Pimm, Peter Murphy, Paul Boden and Greg Smyth while Jack Keenan also played his part. Murphy’s side now take on Helen’s Bay in the next round.

-ENDS