JONATHAN Hewitt's birdie at the 17 th hole was, in reality, the difference between him lifting County Armagh's Lonsdale Cup or having to settle for the runner's up prize.
Winner of the County Armagh Golf Club Lonsdale Cup, Jonathan Hewitt is presented with trophy by competition sponsor Brian McCormick, Armagh City Hotel, and Club Captain Richard Black. Included also are runners up and category winners (from left) – Alan O'Donaghue, Brendan Powell, Jarlath McReynolds, Niall Brady and Ronan O'Reilly.
In the Open Stroke competition, sponsored by Armagh City Hotel, the 4-handicapper returned a nett 64 – the very same score returned by Ronan O'Reilly. On countback however, it was Jonathan who was deemed the victor.
In ideal conditions, it was the low handicappers who dominated the prizes – all but two going to Category 1 players.
Jonathan's was the most impressive score on the day – two over par after nine holes which included birdies at the 3 rd and 6 th holes, and 12 th and 17 th to complete a similar two over par back nine.
Second placed Ronan O'Reilly – an 8-handicapper - notched up birdie twos at the 3 rd and 11 th holes with a third thrown in at the par-five 10 th hole for his round of nett 64, and will perhaps look back disappointingly at his bogey at the last.
Adam Hunniford (9) was the birdie king on the day with five on his card registering them at the 2 nd , 3 rd , 8 th , 10 th and 11 th , and but for a double bogey, bogey, double bogey finish he would almost certainly have lifted the coveted trophy.
Brendan Powell was fourth with a nett 66 and a further shot adrift on nett 67 Mark Shannon picked up fifth prize.
Ian Beaddie was the best of the players outside the Category 1 players returning a nett 67 for sixth prize and losing out on countback to Ian, Alan O'Donaghue picked up 7 th after returning a similar nett 67.
The best gross scores of the day were returned by Jarlath McReynolds 67 and Niall Brady 71.