Cloverhill Golf Club - Club Classic

LADY CAPTAINS DAY

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.

GREENORE TO THE FORE

The Annual fundraising club classic was a tremendous success thanks to the strong support from our sponsors DLK Quality Fuels, Armagh Logistics and Enchanted Spa and Retreat. Fractions decreed by a tenth of the combined handicaps saw the top sextet separated by less than a shot. An eleven birdie haul with a handicap allowance of 5 for a nett 53 gave the Greenore quartet of Ciaran Keenan (4), Patsy Winters (10), Alan Winters (15) and Malachy Duffy (21) the top prize of 4x100 fuel vouchers. Cloverhill duo Stephen Markey (13) and Niall McEnaney (27) teamed up with 24 handicappers Chris Markey and Sean Dixon to take second prize 4x75 fuel vouchers. Warrenpoints Hudson McGuffin (8) and Martin Murray (11) paired up with father and daughter Cloverhill members Anthony (11) and Charlotte (26) Hillen to take the 4x50 fuel vouchers. The fourth prize of 4x25 fuel vouchers saw Ashfield father and son Damian (15) and Joe (17) Rock combine with Jarlath Og Burns (16) and Colm Traynor (15) to complete the team prizes on offer. The 4x25 vouchers for Enchanted Spa saw big hitting Gerard McGarvey do the double by winning both longest drives at holes 5 & 13. Nearest the Pin at 7 went to Colin Pilkington with the one at hole 12 going to Declan O Neill.

SENIORS REGAIN CUP FROM KILLINBEG

Pat Reynolds brought a strong team to Cloverhill for the second leg of the annual Killinbeg v Cloverhill Seniors challenge Cup. Holders for the past 2 years Killinbeg were 3-2 in front seeking their hat-trick before play commenced. Unfortunately by the time the last fourball of the five had teed off the opening hole the rain began which got very heavy and put a damper on the day. Cloverhill paired the lowest 2 handicappers of 20 together in the opener and Jim McDonnell and Eugene Creelman both off 12 did not let playing captain Noel Williams down by putting the first point on the board with a 3/1 win over Joe Mullen and Robert Brown which squared the match overall. Eamon Doherty and Gerry Smyth regarded as the strongest away teams pairing suffered a 3/2 defeat at the hands of John Joe Hassard and Gerry McShane who excelled for the home side. Killinbeg duo Tommy Campbell and Alan McGough were coasting 3 up only to be hit by a late rally from Seamus McCoy and Vincie Gorman which salvaged a half. Indeed were it not for an inexcusable missed winning putt at the last hole by Vincie it could have been more embarrassing for the visitors who now trailed 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 with 2 matches left. Fittingly it was team captain Noel Williams and playing partner Fr Kevin Cullen who came in with the cup clinching point following their 2/1 victory over Tom Duffy and Pat McGee. Charlie O Hare and Pius Tierney with a polished performance put the icing on the cake with a fifth and final 3/2 win over Kevin Morgan and Pat Cunningham. The dinner and cup presentation took place in the Cloverhill clubhouse following the match. Once again this competition in it's fifth year was played in exemplary spirit very competitive and very fair with nothing between the teams as Cloverhill edge ahead 3-2 in the annual wins column.

There were not too many bright sparks on Thursday morning when the seniors met for their weekly competition but they still managed to return some decent scores despite the rain. Noel Magill with 41 points was the winner with Charlie O Hare and Heber McMahon next with 40 each.

TREMENDOUS COMEBACK

The Rossmore Cup team faced an uphill battle in their home leg semi-final against Edenmore on Saturday as they trailed 3.5 to a half from the first leg and that task became all the more harder as the second leg reached it's concluding stages. Early wins for Paul Kelly & Neil Smyth and second pair out Anthony Hillen & Gavin McErlene had wiped out the hole deficit between the teams. When Paddy Malone & Raymond Flynn won the third match the outcome of the match rested on the fourth and final match. It was not looking too good for the home side as they trailed by 3 holes with 5 left to play. But the fighting spirit of the men from Mullaghbawn came to the fore as Raymond Kelly and Colin McParland with a birdie on 17 drew level to put Cloverhill in command coming up the last as a half would be good enough to win the match on holes. Not contend with a half Colin and Raymond won the eighteenth to complete a tremendous comeback and a 4-0 win for a place in the final against Banbridge. Team Captain Seamus McGivern was naturally delighted with the result and a first ever Rossmore final appearance.The Sam Rutherford team bowed out of the competition following a first ever home defeat as Co Armagh who held a 6 hole advantage coming to Cloverhill played superbly to win three of the four matches played and halved the other to progress to the final.

CILLIAN WINS LADY CAPTAINS PRIZE

The juveniles were out in force on Tuesday seeking to win the fabulous golf bag put up by Lady Captain Ann McGivern.The standard produced was very high with Cillian Campbell (25) getting home by only a single point despite a super return of 47 points. Hot on his heels with 46 was Gareth Kilgallon (18) and Conor Reel (15) was third with 42 points. The last Tuesday competition before school resumes will be for the Captain John Byrne prize on Tuesday next. There will be a food and drinks party after the golf which has a 2 pm start and then the prizes for the Presidents, Captains Lady and Mens will be presented and the Juvenile Golfer of the Year will be announced.

Jarlath Og Burns will Captain the Cloverhill team heading to Killinbeg on Wednesday morning to take on the home side in a Ryder Cup format match. There will be 12 members on the team and a Cup to play for which will provide great experience for our juveniles regardless of the result. It will also mark the debut for Jarly Og as Juvenile Club Captain a position he will hold for all of next year. Jarly Og selected Gareth Kilgallon to be his vice-captain.
The Crash Repair Centre, Newry Wednesday Cup off the back nine green markers saw Paul Murchan (14) grab the penultimate spot in the final with a winning score of 24 points to pip Seamus Keenan who returned a point less. The front nine White markers gives members the last opportunity to qualify for the 18 hole final on Sun Sept 4.

The Friday Open provided a new club member with his place in the winners enclosure as 43 points from Mark Maginnis gave him first place ahead of youthful Gareth Kilgallon who was second with 40 points two better than playing partner Fr Kevin Cullen who had 38. Friday Open Entry is £10 or €12 GUI Card required. Tel 028 30 889 374

Dromintee GFC will be holding their annual Golf Classic on Saturday Sept 10.