Birdie hat-trick primes Andy for stableford win
A BIRDIE hat-trick at the 5th, 6th and 7th holes primed victory for Killylea man Andrew Millar in the Sunday Stableford competition at County Armagh.
The village painter and decorator brushed up 10 stableford points from those three holes as part of a 21 points total for the front nine. And he added a similar second coat across the back nine holes for a further 21 points and a winning total of 42.
Tommy Mackin was his closest rival on 41 points and which ironically included a 'no score' a the 7th hole. His 24 points amassed from the back nine holes - on top of 17 from the front nine - was enough however, to secure him the runners up prize.
Marty Oliver shared a similar return of 41 points with a 'no score' at the 15th hole but picked up first prize in the 0-12 handicap category. His better last six meant Brian McGuigan, also returning 41 points, had to settle for runners up, although his disappointment will have been measured in the knowledge that he shared in the 2s with birdie two's at the 11th and 13th holes.
Philip Kelly led home the 13-18 handicap category winners with 39 points - a birdie 3 at the 15th hole the main highlight of his round. And Turlough Brady collected the runners up prize with 38points.
Showing good form in recent weeks, James Magwood produced very consistent scores to take the honours in the 19-28 handicap category returning 40 points. And Brian Liddy was runner up with 38 points, despite 'no scores' at the 3rd and 5th holes.
Four-handicapper Neil Cromwell's 40 points earned him the Best Gross score on the day.