A BIRDIE at the par four 18 th hole for a nett 65 secured the narrowest of victories for Noel Murtagh in County Armagh's Sunday club stroke competition.
His three-shot finish was actually the difference in countback when Martin Grimley (17) returned the very same nett 65 score.
Five over after nine holes, 11-handicapper Noel hit top form for a one over back nine holes which included birdies at the 12 th and 18 th ,a double bogey and bogey 16 and 17.
Grimley will have been disappointed by an opening double bogey, triple bogey at the 8 th and an unfortunate further double bogey at the 17 th hole. But his nett 65 finish for runner's up prize will be very gratefully received.
In Category 1, Paul McCurry (12) was just a shot behind the two top finishers – his nett 66 a shot better than runner-up Tom Calvert (9) in whose fourball Brian Wilson (13) was to claim first prize in Category 2 with a nett 68. Gerry Kelly (17) was runner up.
In Category 3, Sunday early bird Paul McKeown (20) took the plaudits with a nett 70 also with Paul Donnelly, a further six shots adrift, taking the runner's up prize.
The Best Gross Score was recorded by Andrew Miller (2) – Gross 75.