To register back-to-back wins is a rare feat, but Neil Dowzell achieved exactly that in the stableford competitions held at County Armagh Golf Club on the weekend of 8-9 April.
Having recently turned in prizewinning displays in both the St Patrick's Day Open and the first week of the Tuesday Cup, Neil had already identified himself as a golfer on top form, but this latest merciless raid of the honours has undeniably marked him out as the man to beat of the early season.
On the Saturday, Dowzell capitalised fully on the beautiful spring weather and rapidly improving and drying course to post a simply fantastic 45 points.
This impressive gross 75 comprised 11 pars, six bogeys and a birdie at the penultimate hole as Neil slammed the door on the rest of the field.
Remarkably, the Dowzell victory margin was only a single point, as pursuing him almost all the way was Malachy McSorley, who notched a massive 44 points.
In a spectacular round that itself would be more than enough to triumph on most occasions, McSorley reached the turn with 21 points before an even better back nine yielded 23.
Coincidentally, the highlight of the Tullysaran man's day was also a three at the 17th. Late triple bogeys at the 15th and 18th would ultimately prove costly for Malachy, but this should not take the shine off an otherwise terrific performance.
The category 1 plaudits were taken by Tom Fox, whose 39-point showing included consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th. Fox's 23-point homeward nine pushed Shea Smyth into the runner-up spot on a break of tie.
Smyth himself recorded four birdies, one of which also came at the Lakes. Index 1 was licking its wounds by the end of Saturday's proceedings but will no doubt bare its teeth again soon.
Recovering admirably from an unsettling no-score at the opening hole was Gareth Reilly, who ended more cheerily as the best of the category 2 contenders.
Birdies at the 9th and 15th helped to contribute to Reilly's score of 40 points, which pushed Denis Hughes into second position. In an excellent 39-point offering, Denis's lucrative twos at the 3rd and 7th were slightly undermined by no-scores at the par-5 8th and the perilous 18th.
Ciaran McCreesh continued to treat category 3 like his own personal fiefdom, collecting his third category prize in as many weeks. McCreesh's characteristically consistent 37-point haul was matched by the equally solid Noel Muldoon, who missed out on top spot only as a result of his less fruitful homeward trek.
In the following day's tournament, it was that man Dowzall who would again emerge victorious. Making a mockery of the accepted "after the Lord Mayor's show" adage, the irrepressible 14-handicapper racked up 20 points on his front nine and a further 22 coming home.
Although three fewer than he amassed with his heroics 24 hours earlier, Dowzell's 42-point Sunday tally is not to be sniffed at and deservedly earned him this follow-up win. All in all, this was a remarkable weekend's golf from Neil.
Fresh from his category success in the previous weekend's CP McNabb Trophy, Stephen Catterall took second place overall this time out.
An indifferent front nine of 16 points was long forgotten when the 11-handicapper carded 23 points coming home for a fine 39-point total. Enjoying something of a hot streak himself, Stephen is another player to watch in the coming months.
With 38 points, Lee Stewart provided evidence, if it were needed, that he can master more than just par 3s. In the category 1 pecking order, Lee trailed only Colin Clarke.
Strangely, Colin had a diverse points breakdown that was the exact reverse of Catterall's. Having roared out of the traps to arrive at the 10th tee with 23 points already in the bank, Clarke wilted slightly and added only 16 more on the back nine. Nevertheless, the 12-handicapper's 39 points represented a high quality outing.
Proving that he's a man for all seasons, Ian O'Hea made hay while the sun shone to follow up his rain-soaked St Patrick's Day Open success with a category 2 triumph here.
Satisfyingly, Ian finished par, par, par in a decisive final flourish that meant Colm McElroy, who also recorded 39 points, had to content himself with the runner-up berth.
Tom Donnelly and Henry Lyttle were neck and neck at the top of the category 3 standings on 36 points, but the latter scooped first prize on a break of tie. Henry hoovered up 20 points on his outward trek, and only a nul-points return from the last two holes prevented him from competing further up the overall leader board.