Cloverhill Golf Club - Rutherford Roll On

Taking a one hole lead into the home leg on Sunday the Sam Rutherford team sporting three changes from the team on duty in Portadown swept to a very comfortable victory. The opening match featured the visitors top winners last week but they found Benny Tierney and Colin Pilkington in sparkling form and went down to the home pair by 7 holes. With the newly formed bottom pairing of Jim McKay and Sean Campbell in cracking form also going 8 holes up in their match with four holes to play the game was up for the visiting team. Second out Mickey Concannon and Michael McEntegart were 3 holes up with the third pairing of Colin McParland and David Pilkington 4 holes up when all matches were called in as there were not enough holes left for the visitors to win. Cloverhill the defending champions roll on to the quarter-finals where they will play the winners of the Killymoon v Ashfield match.

The 3 person Scramble on Sunday attracted some 31 teams and produced some great scoring. The Scramble proves very popular and enjoyable as well as providing a good mixing agent for club members. The draw pitted three seasoned competition regulars together in Miceal McGuinness (12), Raymond Flynn (16) and Gerry McShane (18) and they did the business. Two birdies in the opening nine holes at the two par 5's were followed by birdies at 10, 11 and 13 and a very strong finishing burst with birdies at 17 and 18 for a 7 under par total of 62. With a handicap allowance of 4.6 a nett 57.4 was the winner. Ann Murphy (26) teamed up with Mark Keogh (11) and Joe Mackin (14) to finish in the runner-up spot on 58.9 Next week is a singles stableford competition with three categories in operation.

Mr Nial Smyth will be hosting his Captain's Day on July 12. The draw for playing times will be made and posted in the clubhouse from July 5. The opening rounds of both the singles and pairs matchplay competitions has been finished on time full marks to all concerned and hopefully the winners will proceed as swiftly to complete the next round.

The Newry Crash Repair Cup midweek 9 hole off the front nine white markers was won by Declan O Neill with a return of 23 points. This week is off the back nine white markers
The first of the Tuesday juvenile competitions was won by Caomhan Downey with Conor Hoey second and Christopher Lynch in third place. Competition for places in the Ronan Rafferty juvenile team for the next match against Rossmore is hotting up with plenty of practice being put in now that the holidays have arrived. Tuesday at 10 am will see the next juvenile competition take place.
The Seniors on Thursday saw "too many shots" Jim McDonnell visit the winners enclosure in the low section with Noel Williams in second place. The high section was won by Joe Callaghan no doubt boosted by his great matchplay wins over firstly Fr Cullen and then vice-captain Charlie O Hare. There is a three person scramble this Thursday.
The 20 golfers who went to play Mayobridge in a friendly match last Thursday were lavish in their praise at the reception and hospitality that was afforded them by the home club. Mind you the golf was pretty good too with all looking forward to the return leg this Thursday at Cloverhill.