STUDENT Caolan Doyle lifted the prestigious Hirsch Cup at County Armagh after a superb winning round for a magnificent seven under par nett 63 score.
The historic trophy is the Swiss Ladies Open Championship Cup which was won by County Armagh's most famous lady golfer Maisie Hirsch, and presented to the club in 1938. Maisie also won the Swiss Open in 1923 and presented that trophy to the club when her father Henry, a former club captain, died in 1950. Today it is played for annually in the club's popular Tuesday Cup competition.
Netstretch Ltd now annually sponsor the Hirsch Cup competition and city IT Business Manager Cormac Knott presented the trophy - to Paul Doyle, collecting it on behalf of son Caolan who was unfortunately unable to attend the prizegiving.
It was every bit deserving after topping a field of more than 140 golfers. The 11-handicapper was just three over par after nine holes and dropped only one further shot over the back nine holes to record that magnificent 63 nett score. That impressive back nine included a birdie 2 at the 11th hole and will undoubtedly be looked back on as the winning hole for Caolan.
It was obviously a day for the 'young ones' as student Niall Brady too chalked up his season's best score to date to take the runners up prize. Playing off a handicap of just six, Niall impressively returned a nett 64 from a round which included birdies at seventh and 14th holes.
Another six-handicapper, Adrian Woods's penciled an eagle on his card at the par five 12th hole on his way to claiming the best Category One score on the day - a nett 67. It was a shot better than Niall McGeown who returned a nett 68 for the runners up prize.
Barry Scully's nett 66 and better back nine earned him the Category 2 first prize ahead of Paul McCreesh who also returned the same nett 66 score.
And Tom Donnelly's nett 66 was the best in Category 3 where Jim Carberry claimed the runners up prize with a nett 68.
Paul Doyle is presented with the Hirsch Cup by Cormac Knott from NetStretch Web Design, who sponsored the annual stroke competition at County Armagh Golf Club. Included also is Club Captain Pat McAleavey and runners up Adrian Woods, Tom Donnelly and Paul McCreesh