Juggernaut Mick lifts Gerry Lenagh Trophy
THE juggernaut character that is Mick Murphy was the popular winner of the Gerry Lenagh Trophy which climaxed the Open Week at County Armagh Golf Club.
The final open competition of the seven-day series was sponsored by Morgan McLernon Transport Division, and once again atttraced a huge field of golfers from across the province and as far away as Rathmore on the north coast.
But it was genial giant and Armagh clubman Murphy who earned the applause of a packed clubhouse when he was presented with the prestigious trophy by Declan Lenagh.
"I think it's well overdue," he joked with members as he collected the coveted silverware.
Blustery winds made for less than easy conditions but the prestine course could not be faulted in anyway for low scoring.
Certainly trophy winner Murphy took advantage and after a front nine holes from which he amassed a score of 18 points, he romped to victory by adding an impressive further 23 points, highlighted by a birdie three at the 15th hole.
Ten-handicapper Brian McGuigan warmed up for the World Police and Fire Games in which he will play this week, by taking the runners up prize. He too signed for 41 points - 20 and 21 points respectively front and back nines - but obvioulsy bowed to Mick's better score on the homeward trek.
Gerard O'Callaghan was next best on 40 points. A level par back nine which included a birde two at the 13th hole, produced 23 points to add to 17 he had secured on the front nine. His 40 points was infact one of four on the day. Jonathan Black's 21 points back-nine clinched fourth prize and he will almost certainly rue that 'no score' at the 4th hole. Davy Grimley was next on the prize-winners list with another 40 points and Paddy Loughran collected sixth.
Juvenile Stewart Hall signed for 39 points but could easily have been collecting the top prize and not seventh had he not failed to score at the 15th hole.
Stewart Stevenson once again produced the best gross score on the day, 36 points, just pipping young John Maguire who produced a similar 36 gross pts.