Cloverhill Golf Club - Noel is Seniors Golfer of the Year

75 years old Noel R Williams has been crowned Senior Golfer of the Year for the third time in his short six year golfing career Thursday last was the last day of counting competitions in both Golfer of the Year and the Maritime Trophy competition. Things could not have been any tighter with a quartet of players separated by 4 points vying for honors. Former club captain Noel finished with 108 pts just one point ahead of joint second placed Brendan Brown and Vincie Gorman when all the counting cards were added up.

If the contest for Senior Golfer of the Year was a close run affair the Maritime Trophy was an even closer run affair. Long time leader of the competition Brendan Brown was ahead by a point going down the last hole with playing partners Gerry McShane, Noel Williams and Vincie Gorman hot on his heels. Brendan picked up two points at the last hole to lead by three but a par for Vincie brought him level with Brendan on 150 points. That par at the last for Vincie was to prove invaluable as it helped him win the last counting card to give him his first Seniors Maritime Trophy.

There was a little consolation for the unlucky Brendan in that he was the section two winner for the day with Galwayman Patrick Counihan showing that the Wests awake by visiting the winners enclosure for the first time in section one.

There will be an all brothers clash in the seniors pairs final as Frank Ryan partnered by Brendan Brown will take on younger brother Brian playing with Pat Counihan to see who will be crowned 2009 champions. Ann Murphy Lady Captain prize for Seniors will be played for next Thursday.

The juveniles continue on Tuesday with the competition for Golfer of the Year hotting up between leading contenders Caomhan Downey and Conor Hoey. The due were first and second this week with Caomhan coming out on top. Christopher Lynch was third with Dominic Kealey fourth. There will be another competition this week. On Wednesday next a team of 6 juveniles will travel to Banbridge to partake in their prestigious stroke play team competition.

When you are on a winning streak in golf everything seems to go right. Just ask Paddy Malone who followed up Sunday's big competition win by capturing a place in the Newry Crash Repair Cup final courtesy of a Hole in One at the par 4 17 hole. Paddy aced the 255 yard penultimate hole for 5 points which helped him to a 23 points total for the back nine off the green markers. With the adrenaline flowing following the Albatross Paddy duly drove out of bounds up the last hole for a ding but had done enough to secure his place in the Sunday Sept 6 final. There are three more weeks of qualifying competitions remaining to see who will join Jim McKay, Barry McKeown, Ollie Martin, Chris Devine, Nial Smyth, Jim McDonnell, Ronan Byrne, Noel Magill, Seamus McGivern, Christopher McKay, Benny Tierney, Colm Traynor, Shane Grant and Paddy Malone.

The weekend competition was for a place in the International Pairs final to be held in Lough Erne next month. The fourball better ball competition turned out to be a close run affair with a countback necessary to determine the winners. The testing conditions saw scores hard to come by with the day's best for a long time being 41 points until Seamus McGivern and Shane Grant came in with 43 points to take the outright lead. The chances of the Moan brothers Liam & Sean looked very slim at the halfway stage as they turned with only 18 points. A blistering back nine which yielded birdies at 11 and 16 for two four pointers as a 25 point haul for the back nine tied the leading score of 43 points. The better back nine was that of Sean & Liam who can get ready for the very challenging Lough Erne in September.

Next Sunday is a three category singles stableford competition The August Monthly Medal will take place on Sunday week Aug 30.

Next Saturday Aug 22 our Lady Captain Ann Murphy will be hosting her Captains Day. Timesheet is posted in the clubhouse. Presentation of prizes at 9-30 pm followed by music.

The Sam Rutherford first leg semi-final away to Banbridge will take place at 3pm on Sunday next Aug 23 with the return leg a week later at Cloverhill.

Saturday Aug 29 Lissummon GAC will be hosting their Golf Classic where there will be a New Car on offer for a hole in one. along with some other great prizes.