Cloverhill Golf Club - Noel Defies The Years

NOEL DEFIES THE YEARS
77-year old Noel Williams with calm assurance slotted home a 6 footer for par on the last green to give him and partner Raymond Kelly victory in the Seniors Matchplay final. Noel and Raymond were one down to Fr Kevin Cullen and Turlough O Brien playing 17 and the only time the winners were ahead in the match was when Noel bagged that par on the 526 yard eighteenth hole.

FR CULLEN IS SENIOR GOLFER OF THE YEAR
Less then 24 hours after the disappointment of losing the pairs final Fr Kevin Cullen displayed his renowned competitive edge as he captured the Senior Golfer of the Year accolade with a 42 point return in the final counting competition on Thursday morning. Fr Kevin was a clear winner with 101 points some seven ahead of second placed Noel with Seamus McCoy back in third place

JOHN JOE WINS MARATIME TROPHY
The Maratime Trophy was also on the line in Thursday's Senior competition. Defending champion Noel Magill was leading by a point from Charlie O Hare as they took to the first tee but a knee injury forced Charlie into retirement. Noel returned what everyone thought was good enough to win 39 points but joint top scorer on the day John Joe Hassard with 42 points deprived Noel of two in a row with an accumulated score of 151 as opposed to 150 to take his first maratime trophy in dramatic style. Play will continue this Thursday 10 am for the Seniors and there will be another new name on their third big trophy on offer annually with Raymond Kelly looking for the double as he takes on Heber McMahon in the matchplay singles final. Section One winners Fr Cullen and John Joe Hassard Section Two-Noel Magill, Oliver McDonald

THE MIGHTY QUINN

It was a case of "You ain't seen nothing like the mighty Quinn" when it came to the weekend 3 category singles stableford competition when John Quinn (28) visited the winners enclosure for the very first time. John blew away the opposition as he got it all together for the 18 holes for a whopping return of 48 points to emerge as the overall winner. Category One was won with 40 points by Shane Grant (12) from Colin McParland (12). Category Two went to Shane Collins (19) in a three way tie with Michael Crawley (16) and John Joe Hassard. (18) all with 39 points Category Three was won with 40 points by Andrew Brodigan (21) from Dermot Smyth (24) . The club Open fundraising 4 person team scramble takes place next weekend Sat & Sun Aug 20-21 with £1000 worth of fuel vouchers from DLK Quality Fuels to be won. For tee-times tel 30 889374 or 30 889580

The Crash Repair Centre, Newry Wednesday Cup off the back nine white markers provided further heartbreak for Mark Shevlin as he was relegated to the runner-up spot for the fifth time as Pearse Murphy with 24 points claimed his place in the 18 hole final by finishing a point clear of Mark and Raymond Flynn. The front and back nine Green markers over the next two weeks gives members the last opportunity to qualify for the 18 hole final on Sunday Sept 4.

The majority of our Juveniles were treated to their first experience of playing in a scramble and it proved very enjoyable for the seven teams who took part with an age range from 7 to 17. In the end there was only a fraction .2 in fact which separated the top two teams. Gareth Kilgallon led his team of Niall Owens, Callum O Neill and David Murdock to victory with a level par round of 69 which was matched by Jarlath Og Burns team of Conor Tierney, Charles Murdock and Senan Duffy but they lost out by the.2 handicap difference between the teams .Conor Reel, Cormac Smyth, John Reel and Peter McBride were third with Mark Rowland, David Garvey, David McKinley and Jamie Duffy back in fourth spot. Charlott Hillen was runner-up in the girls section at Banbridge on the juvenile team which represented the club in the Maheffey Cup. The next three Tuesdays before going back to school are very important for all juvenile members as the three biggest competitions of the year are to be played with the President Charlie O Hare, Captain John Byrne and Lady Captain Ann McGivern prizes to be won. All 3 competitions are included in the Juvenile Golfer of the Year competition in which just eight points separates the leading 6 contenders.

With the clubs getting their first airing for a while and the dust well washed off them by the incessant rain Seamy Fearon was electric on his return with his return of 41 points netting him first place in the Friday Open and a handicap cut to boot. Seamy beat Joe Carroll on the back nine with Andrew Brodigan back in third place with 40 points. Friday Open Entry is £10 or €12 GUI Card required. Tel 028 30 889 374

Lady Captain Ann McGivern will be hosting her Captains Day on Friday Sept 2 from 3 pm with the mens prize being played for on Saturday Sept 3 with the presentation of prizes taking place on Saturday night.

Dromintee GFC will be holding their annual Golf Classic on Saturday Sept 10 with some fabulous prizes on offer.