Cloverhill Golf Club - Remarkable Recoveries

The last two surviving inter-club teams the juvenile Ronan Rafferty squad and the Sam Rutherford holders were in very grave danger of exiting both competitions following disastrous away leg performances. The juvenile team captained by Miceal McGuinness with Nial Smyth, Ryan McGivern , Christopher McKay and Christopher Lynch on board trailed 16-4 after the first leg. With 4 points on offer in each of the 5 matches (1 each nine, 2 overall) the visitors only needed 5 points to go through. But when the chips were down our juveniles turned in a remarkable performance only losing a half point in total as they romped to a crushing 19 1/2 to a 1/2 victory for a place in the last eight. In the quarter final they will play Clones.

Plying conditions as well as the prospects of the Sam Rutherford team did not look healthy on Thursday evening when we entertained a very strong Killymoon team who came holding an 11 hole lead. The top match got off to a blistering start with 5 birdies in the first six holes with Benny Tierney and David Pilkington taking a one hole lead. Benny and David produced three more birdies in the round and ended up winning the opening match by 3 holes. D Declan Byrne made a winning debut teaming up with Colin Pilkington as they came through a very tight encounter by two holes. The third match was coming up the eighteenth with Mickey Concannon and Michael McEntegart 5 holes in front as the last match were leaving the sixteenth with us winning by a hole leaving the overall match level on holes as we were 11 in front. Killymoon won the last hole in match three to regain the lead by a hole. Jim McKay pitched partner Sean Campbell's ball over the bunker to a foot on seventeen to put them two in front and square the match. In the fast fading light Sean nearly pitched their third shot straight into the hole with the ball running some sixteen foot past the hole. Killymoon hit their fourth to three feet and it looked as if the match was heading to a tie hole. Jim had other ideas as his putt never left the cup and in for a birdie to spark off Ryder Cup scenes on the last green. A superb finish to an amazing match as Cloverhill await the winners of Banbridge and Rockmount in the semi-final as we bid for back to back titles.

The fireworks in terms of scoring in the July Monthly Medal were well dampened by the rain and soggy underfoot conditions. Despite the inclement weather there was a good turnout with Seamie Fearon (22) qualifying for the gold medal final with a nett 66 good enough for first place. Patrick Malone and Jim Conroy were second and third respectively with returns of 68.
The Darren Clarke qualifier a singles stableford competition will take place this weekend with the winner going on to represent the club in the grand final.

Jim McKay warmed up for his Thursday night heroics by winning the Newry Crash Repair Cup 9 hole competition with 22 points for the front nine off the white markers. There are only a few more 9 hole competitions left before the grand final so the pressure is on to qualify to see who will lift the cup. Back nine white is in play this week.

The Seniors played a round of their golfer of the year competition last Thursday with Noel Williams winning the top section from Francis Gorman with Turlough O Brien topping section two from Oliver McDonald. There will be a three person rumble next Thursday at 10am.

The juveniles will be back in action on Tuesday 10 am with them all chasing current leader in Golfer of the Year Caomhan Downey.