Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

18/04/23

The golf season is now up and running and the Mourne Golf Club Ulster Cup side wasted little time hitting their stride as they came through a tight encounter to win their opening match against Lurgan.

John D Murray’s charges were the first interclub team into action, and they got the job done 4-3 against a strong Lurgan side. Murray led from the front in the home tie as he went out in the top match and quickly put a point on the board with this 3&2 win. He was followed by Aidan Small, who won by the same margin, while Michael Nugent Jnr almost went the distance before narrowly losing 2&1.

The main drama of the evening emerged at Lurgan where sudden-death was required to decide the outcome. In the top match JP Hardy put an early point on the board with his 2&1 win. Jerome Keenan narrowly lost 2&1, while Darryl Northrop also lost 3&2 to level the overall match 3-3.

It meant the outcome of the tie rested on Gerard Toner’s shoulders in the bottom match. Toner finished his match all-square to force extra holes. The experienced campaigner kept his composure to win on the first tie hole and secure Mourne’s passage into the next round where they will play Portadown.

On the club scene, singles competitions kicked-off with the Wallace Cup, the traditional season-opener played on the Annesley Links at Royal County Down. This year’s event was sponsored ADT Electrical and Kieran Poland won with golf’s most elusive number when he returned a magical nett 59.

Poland didn’t have much to spare for Michael McGrillen secured second with his nett 60, one ahead of John Cummins (61) in third, while Tony Murray, Kevin Quinn and Paul Harper formed the chasing pack with 62s. Mark Feenan won the gross with his four-under 63 in the strokeplay event.

The Spring Medal, sponsored by Smyths Centra, turned out to be a war of attrition on the Championship Links at Royal County Down due to the treacherous conditions.  Kevin Quinn was the player able to hang toughest of all as the 10-handicapper won with a nett 75. Quinn won by one from Stephen Burns and Keith Flanagan, who were second and third respectively after signing for two 76s. Paul Murray was fourth with 77 as only four players managed to break 80 nett.

Mourne Open Week is just around the corner from May 8-12 and most days booked out on the first day of going on release. There is still availability for the Ladies and Mixed competitions on Tuesday (May 9), Wednesday (May 10) and Friday (May 12). Please visit the Mourne Golf Club website for more details https://www.mournegolfclub.com/open-week/

Throughout Open Week Dennis Orr and his team will be serving food each day at the clubhouse. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat and refreshments after your game on the links.

(Pics courtesy Danny Hillen)

-ENDS

The Mourne GC Ulster Cup home leg at Newcastle: (L-R) John D Murray (Ulster Cup Captain), Michael Nugent Jnr, Gareth Malley (Mourne GC Captain), Martin Greene (Mourne GC President) and Aidan Small.

The Mourne Ulster Cup team competing at Lurgan GC: (L-R) Jerome Keenan, Gerard Toner, Paul Murray (Ulster Cup vice-captain), JP Hardy and Darryl Northrop