JULY 5 is a date on which Gerry Kelly has celebrated for the past 28 years, but this year it was an occasion for a double celebration.
His 28th wedding anniversary was also the day on which he was to win Captain's Day at County Armagh Golf Club!
18-handicapper Gerry returned the top score of 44 points to claim the Captain's prize in the stableford competition.
Captain Pat McAleavey and wife Collette joined in those special celebrations, congratulating the affable Gerry on winning the most sought after prize in the local club's golfing calendar.
“You can never be sure of that winning score and especially on Captain's Day,” Gerry declared to a packed clubhouse. “With 44 points I hoped I was in with a shout, but when the news came through I'd won it I was over the moon.
“To be honest I was already celebrating – it's my wedding anniversary. So it's been a very special day for my wife Jacqueline and I.”
To meet the demand of golfers, Captain's Day at County Armagh is now played over two days, and on both, glorious sunshine shone down on the immaculately prepared fairways and greens, interrupted only by the very occasional summer shower which served only to cool golfers in rising temperatures.
Exceptional scores were always going to be the order of the day and none more so that that returned by eventual winner Gerry Kelly. His 44 points was one point better than the field of more than 250 golfers.
A birdie four at the par five 8 th hole was the highlight of a very steady scoring front nine over which Gerry amassed an impressive 23 points. That form was continued over the back nine holes where a further 21 points were added. And, but for a double bogey six at the difficult 16 th hole which yielded his only single point score on the day, the margin of victory could have been much bigger.
As it was, it was sufficient to take the honours ahead of 19-handicaper Ian Ritchie who signed for an impressive 43 points, secured with 20points from the font nine holes and 23points on the back nine. Double bogeys at the 1 st , 2 nd and 7 th holes ultimately cost him dearly.
Nigel McMahon led home the Category winners with a similar 43 points taking the 0-12 handicap section – an exceptional gross 72 score for the 9-handicapper.
Mark Gillen took the 13-18 handicap category prize with 42 points – again double bogeys at the 5 th and 16 th holes the only blemishes on his card.
And Michael Smyth's 43 points took the honours in the 19-28 handicap category with some steady scoring throughout.
Five-handicapper Stuart Lee deservedly claimed the Gross Prize with a two-over par round and 39 points.
Gary O'Reilly was the popular winner of the Past Captain and Presidents' prize with a similar 39 points and Colm Shannon picked up the Council and Committee prize with 39 points also.
And newcomer Ricky Dobbs had a smile as broad as the first fairway as he picked up the Country, Student and Overseas Prize after returning an excellent 40 points.