The new season at County Armagh Golf Club is only just getting up and running, but Mickey McGuirk looks to have kept his game in rude health during the winter hiatus.
McGuirk's rust-free 41 points in the Club Stableford on Sunday 12 March saw him emerge victorious from a 55-strong field, all of whom were no doubt eager to capitalise on the welcome appearance of some spring sunshine.
Having shaken off the disappointment of a no-score at the opening hole, Mickey reeled off pars at seven of the next eight to reach the turn with 20 points.
The 11-handicapper refused to rest on his laurels, however, and even better was to follow, with a birdie at the par-5 12th and a nerveless par four at the last among the highlights of a 21-point homeward haul. It all added up to 41 points and a very satisfying morning's work for Mickey.
Indeed, it was McGuirk's strong finish that proved decisive, as Marty Oliver also recorded 41 points only to be denied on a back-nine break of tie.
While Past Captain Marty may be slightly rueful about bogeying five of the final six holes having stood on the 13th tee at two under par, his impressive gross 73 suggests a man freed from the shackles of last year's office and ready to feature regularly among the prizes in the months ahead.
Top spot in category 1 was filled by handicap convenor Brian McGuigan after an accomplished gross 75. McGuigan's 39 points were enough to fend off the spirited challenge of Shea Smyth who, playing off three, had to settle for the runner-up prize despite posting a one-over-par round of 71 for 38 points.
Competition was fierce in category 2, where Danny McGee and Martin Grimley both returned excellent scores of 40 points. However, McGee's cracking 22-point back nine proved too much and Grimley was edged into second position.
Another former Captain in the winners' enclosure was John Flack, whose 34 points secured a second-place finish in category 3.
Tomas McElmeel prevailed in this category on 39 points and would have rivalled Mickey much further up the leader board had it not been for his failure to add to that fine tally at the notoriously treacherous 18th hole.