Mourne Golf Club News

11.06.2024

By Paul Gallagher

The Mourne Senior Cup team returned to Clandeboye last Sunday and put in a sterling performance to deny Belvoir Park and set up a semi-final encounter with Warrenpoint.

On a wet, gloomy day on the Ards Peninsula, there was plenty to cheer about from a Mourne perspective as Paul Gallagher’s team ran out convincing 4-1 winners against their Belfast rivals.

The evergreen Noel Crawford was top of the order, and despite not feeling 100 per cent, the Senior Irish International gave 110 per cent to secure some early momentum with his 3&2 win in the top match.

The match of the day was arguably between Stephen Barker and former professional Simon Ward, who in a previous life enjoyed Ireland team success alongside none other than Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. In a match of high quality, birdies and clutch putts were traded all afternoon.

While Barker and Ward were going the distance, Mark Feenan and James Maginn were busy doing the business in the middle order. Feenan romped home with a best of the day 6&5 victory over his opponent, which left Maginn with the opportunity to get Mourne over the line.

Maginn raced out of the blocks and never trailed. And by the time he reached the 15th he was dormie four up. A solid par at the par five was good enough for a 4&3 win to secure the overall win for Mourne.

Barker birdied the 16th to be one up with two to play against Ward before being called in and handed the win. Niall Doran was Mourne’s anchorman, who trailed in his match before also being called in.

Elsewhere Emlyn Williamson’s Sam Rutherford team worked hard to hold a four-hole lead after their first leg against Portadown. The entire team put in a great effort to come away with the narrow lead. John Murray, Stephen Burns, Ryan McCaughan, Sean O’Higgins, Darryl Northrop, Oliver Brogan and Jermone Keenan all played their part. Williamson’s charges will now look to seal the deal in the return leg on June 23.

John Murphy’s Junior Cup side lost 3.5-1.5 against Royal County Down in a rare, home-home fixture for both Newcastle clubs.

On the club front, it was James Morgan and Brian Gilleece who finished top of the pile to land the annual McVeigh Greensomes. On a day of hot scoring, the winning pair won with a nett 65 to win on a countback from Sean Murray and Mark Guinness (Senior).

A total of 10 pairs broke 70 on a championship course that has recently started to bare its teeth with the rough getting up and the greens running true and fast.

The Thursday Stableford competition was won by veteran Lenny Murray, who kept it on the short stuff to win with an impressive 38 points. He was closely followed by Philip Maguire, Michael Hazzard and Brendan Forde, who all returned 37 points.

-ENDS

Mourne GC Senior Cup Panel at Clandeboye Golf Club

Caption: L-R  Mourne GC Senior Cup captain Paul Gallagher, Connor Pimm, Noel Crawford, Jack Keenan, James Maginn, Patrick McNiff, Mark Feenan, Stephen Barker and Mourne Golf Club Captain Paddy Curran at Clandeboye Golf Club.