WINNING President's Day once in a lifetime is an achievement which most club golfers would be content with. Ronan O'Reilly however, is now among the elite band to have achieved it twice at County Armagh Golf Club!
He lifted President Jack Moore's prize on Saturday last to compliment the same first prize he won two year's ago on President PJ Collins big day.
"I was lucky enough to win PJ's prize, but this was a real suprise. I certainly didn't expect to win it," admitted Ronan, modestly.
"I shot my best ever gross score - 73 to win it two years ago and I shot my best ever gross since then - a 72 to win it this time around."
That gross 72 earned nine-handicapper Ronan 43 stableford points in Jack Moore's competition which spanned two days. "Sixteen pars and two bogeys at the 6th and 17th holes, pretty boring golf," suggested Ronan.
But it was one better than all the rest. Andy Steed was his nearest challenger with 42 points and will be hugely disappointed with a 'no-score' at the 2nd hole which denied him the top honour. Michael Calvert too returned a similar score but likewise a 'no-score' at the 10th hole ultimately cost him dearly, although he still lifted the 18-28 handicap category prize.
Nigel McMahon led home the low handicap category with 41 points and the club's Captain's Day winner just a month previous, Barry Scully, clinched the mid-handicap category prize with 40 points.
President Jack was joined by family, friends and former school-teaching colleagues for his big day. A coffee morning saw a packed clubhouse of Past Presidents and Captains join him as the competition got underway in earnest. And again in the evening he was joined by many more for the President's meal in the Green Room Restaurant before prize-giving.
From a beautiful array of prizes, little Anna Jennings was the first presented by Jack and his daughter Alison for winning the Juvenile Girls 9-hole competition. Ciarra Devlin was winner of the 18-hole competition and collected her prize and the President's Cup which was presented by Hugh McElvanna during his term in office some years ago.
Jamie Calvert joined his father Michael among the prize winners by lifting the Junvelie Boys prize, and James Thompson won the Senior Boys Prize and President's Cup.
Handicap Convenor Colm Shannon received the Council and Committee prize and the Past Captain and President's Prize went to Michael Grant.
Jarlath McReyonolds deservedly lifted the Overseas/Country/18-24 age group category prize and fittingly President Jack's son Niall won the Visitor's Prize.
Lady member Colette McAleavey also celebrated a prize double. Having won the Ladies Prize on Captain's Day a month ago, she added the President's Day Ladies prize to her trophy haul for the year. Lily McMahon was runner up and only narrowly defeated on countback after signing for 39 points.
Prize-giving complete, Past Captain Pearse McBride delivered an eloquent and humurous thanks to President Jack before yet another hugely successful President's Day was brought to a celebratory end.
And the winners are ....
President's Prize – Ronan O'Reilly 43pts
Runner Up – Andy Steed 42pts
Category 1 – Nigel McMahon 41pts
Category 2 – Barry Scully 40pts
Category 3 Michael Calvert 42pts
Past Captain & President Prize – Michael Grant 35pts
Council & Committee Prize – Colm Shannon 35pts
Overseas/ Country / 18-24 Category – Jarelth mcReynolds
Visitor's Prize – Niall Moore
Ladies Prize – Colette McAleavey 39pts
Ladies Runner Up – Lily McMullan 39pts
Juvenile Boys – Jamie Calvert
Juvenile Boys (Snr) – James Thompson
Juvenile Girls (9-hole) – Anna Jennings
Juvenile Girls (18-hole) – Ciarrai Devlin
County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore presents Ronan O'Reilly with his prize after winning the President's Day competition.
President's Day Category winners, Michael Calvert, Barry Scully and Nigel McMahon are pictured with County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore and daughter Alison.
County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore and daughter Alison are pictured with Andy Steed (right) who was runner-up in the competition, and Council and Committee prize winner Colm Shannon.
County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore and daughter Alison are pictured with Jarleth McReynolds winner of the Overseas/Country/18-24 years age group category, and Niall Moore, winner of the Visitor's prize.
Colette McAleavey (second from right), winner of the President's Day Ladies Prize, and Lily McMullan, Ladies runner up, are pictured with County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore and his daughter Alison.
County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore and daughter Alison are pictured with Juvenile prize winners on President's Day (from left), Jamie Calvert, Anna Jennings and Ciarrai Devlin.
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN: County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore is pictured with Pas Presidents and Captains who joined him at the coffee morning.
County Armagh Golf Club President Jack Moore is pictured with his wife Joy, daughter Alison and son Niall on President's Day.