IT may not have been the Olympic gold medal won by Justin Rose, but Sean Dougan’s August Medal win at County Armagh will be treasured just the same.
The local tyre company manager was the impressive winner of the Daly Motor Spares sponsored stroke competition.
Playing off a handicap of 13, his nett 62 was three shots better than the rest of the field. Anthony Conlon was the closest anyone got to Sean, returning a nett 65.
Sean Dougan is presented with the August Medal by Nicky Daly from Daly Motor Spares Ltd, competition sponsors, in the company of County Armagh Golf Club Captain Martin Oliver, and runners up Philip Kelly and (back row L-R) Sean McAnenly, Anthony Conlon, Ronan O'Reilly and Norman Mallon
Just two over par after nine holes, Sean launched a homeward trek with a par and a birdie 2 at the 11th hole. After a bogey at 12, three pars followed and he dropped a shot at each of the remaining three holes. However, his nett 62 proved simply untouchable.
Anthony Conlon (11) was just three over par front nine and repeated that over the back nine for a nett 65 finish to deservedly claim the runner’s up prize.
Neil Linton (6) chipped in at the 18th hole for a birdie and a nett 66 score to claim first prize in Category 1. Ronan O’Reilly (6) conceded in countback – after returning a similar nett 66 - for the runners up prize, but will still have been very happy with his return to the prizes.
In similar fine form and making a return to the prizes, Sean McAnenly (13) returned a nett 65 to win Category 2. And Damien Smyth (17) was runner up with a nett 67 – punished heavily by a triple bogey at the 5th hole and a double bogey at the par three 9th hole.
Aidan McParland’s nett 66 won Category 3 and a delighted Norman Mallon picked up the runner’s up prize with a nett 68.
A Gross 70 by Philip Kelly (1) was again the Best Gross score on the day.