Mourne Golf Club News

22/08/23

By Paul Gallagher

John Gribben was a runaway winner of this year’s Mourne GC Juvenile’s Captain’s Day. His staggering score of 55 points was simply too good to be caught.

We’re still searching through the archive but have reason to believe Gribben’s winning score is the best points tally of any Juvenile Captain’s Day. It was a sensational effort to win Sean O’Neill’s Juvenile Captain’s Day. Congratulations must also go to O’Neill, who last week attained three As in his A-Levels – celebrations all round!

Behind Gribben, it was a close-run thing for second and third with Callum Flynn doing enough to secure second with 45 points. That was one better than James Rodgers who was third with 44 points.

Other notable efforts on the day included Longest Drive, which went to Rodgers, while Matthew Murphy won Closest to the Pin. Rodgers enjoyed a day to remember for he also won the Best Gross with his four-over score.

Club Captain Gareth Malley was on hand at the first tee on the Annesley Links to see the juvenile’s set off, while a BBQ and presentation took place at the clubhouse afterwards.

Elsewhere in the senior club scene, competitors in the August Medal were almost blown off course on the Championship Links. On a day of tough scoring, it was Sean O’Higgins who emerged victorious from a packed leaderboard.

No less than five players returned best of the day nett 74s, but it was seven handicapper O’Higgins who came out on top on a countback. He pipped Paul Doyle in second, while PJ Maguire continued his recent good form to take third. Michael McLaughlin and Eoghan Simons were fourth and fifth respectively.

If this scribbler has his maths correct, there was a three-way tie for the best gross with Simons, Niall Doran and veteran Frank O’Donoghue all returning best of the day five over 76s. However, it was Doran who took the spoils with his magnificent back nine in three-under 33 with birdies at 12, 15 and 16.

In team news, Andy Torrens’ Junior Cowdy side are the last club team standing and they take on Warrenpoint in the return leg this Saturday. Captain Condy and his charges welcome all support when they tee off from 3pm in Warrenpoint.

-ENDS

Juvenile Captain’s Day at Mourne Golf Club 2023
(Pics courtesy of Danny Hillen)