As the 2017 season at County Armagh Golf Club starts to gather momentum, Michael Calvert has got his hands on the first piece of silverware to be awarded this year.
A virtuoso performance of 45 points secured glory for Calvert in the CP McNabb Trophy, which was competed for on the weekend of 1-2 April.
Michael refused to get bogged down by the wet conditions underfoot, instead excelling from the off as he posted 23 points on the outward nine. Most impressive here was the gutsy response to a no-score at the 5th — namely two birdies and two pars in the next four holes.
Michael Calvert receives the CP McNabb trophy from Vice Captain, Colm Shannon. Also pictured (L-R) are prize winners David Grimley, Stephen Catterall and Ciaran McCreesh.
A similarly fruitful back nine was to follow for the 15-handicapper, with solid pars at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 17th displaying no chinks in the Calvert armour and, in turn, offering no signs of hope to the chasing pack.
Paul Doyle was the best of those challengers, maintaining his fine early-season form to take second place with 43 points. Doyle's superb one-under-par round included birdies at the 3rd, 5th, 12th and 17th.
A shot further back was Stephen Catterall, whose 42-point haul claimed top spot in category 1. A triple-bogey seven at Sequoias was the sole blemish on the Catterall scorecard which, more happily, also boasted 13 pars and a birdie.
Four-handicapper Mark Loughran produced a fantastic gross 69 to match that of Paul Doyle. However, on two days of fierce competition, Loughran's 41 points yielded only second prize in category 1.
A family affair at the top of the category 2 standings saw David Grimley return an excellent 43 points to edge his brother Bernard, who himself notched up a not insignificant 41 points, into second position. Indeed, David was denied the overall runner-up accolade merely on account of Paul Doyle's superior homeward nine.
Ciaran McCreesh was again among the prizes in category 3, where his 37-point total was bettered only by Gary McAleavey. Gary signed for 40 points and will be rightly pleased with the steadiness of a round comprising 21 points on the front nine, 19 on the back and not a single no-score in sight.