The white tee markers were back in play. The format was penal stroke play rather than the more forgiving stableford. It was the first of the qualifying competitions, where good scoring results in the slashing of handicaps. Placing in the rough was but a fond and distant memory. In the view of many then, the April Medal on Saturday 22 April represented the start of the ‘proper' season at County Armagh Golf Club.
Entirely unperturbed, perhaps even inspired, by the reintroduction of these more stringent circumstances was Bernard Grimley, whose majestic nett 64 sealed for him the first of this year's monthly medals.
Bernard took to the course no doubt still smarting from being pipped by his brother David to first position in category 1 in the CP McNabb Trophy on April Fools' weekend. His determination to come out on top in any familial battle this time out was absolute and, indeed, he managed to do so — but only just. With yet another brother, Kieran, matching Bernard's total but losing out on a break of tie, it appears that the Grimley clan's appetite for honours simply cannot be sated.
April Medal runner-up Kieran Grimley is pictured with Vice Captain Colm Shannon, sponsors Steven and Andrew Miller (Painters and Decorators) and category prize winners Gary McAleavey, Malachy McSorley and Don McKee.
Key to Bernard's victory was the absence from his scorecard of anything worse than a bogey. A useful, if unspectacular, front nine of six over par gave the 15-handicapper a solid base from which to strike for glory on the homeward strait. The three-over-par back nine that followed included a hat-trick of pars at the 11th, 12th and 13th and, most impressively, a finish of 5, 3, 4. Any local golfer who's ever tried to get a potentially winning score over the line in those last three holes will applaud Bernard's clinical bogey-birdie-par denouement.
Indeed, runner-up Kieran would have bitten Bernard's hand off for such an untroubled conclusion to proceedings. Playing quite beautiful golf from the off, Kieran birdied the 7th before eight consecutive pars meant he reached the 16th tee just one over par. However, a somewhat jittery 6, 5, 5 climax put paid to any hopes of wresting the April Medal from his sibling. Kieran will not be the last contender to let things slide late in the day, and this was still a tremendous morning's work that sees his handicap cut from 11 to 10.
Elsewhere, a fantastic gross 72 earned young Lee Campbell the category 1 crown. Campbell, now playing off five after this nett 66, came second in the 2016 Golfer of the Year standings and may be a decent bet to go one better in 2017.
Next to Lee was Art McCrory, who shot a fine nett 67 comprising birdies at the 4th and 11th and an excellent two-over-par outward trek that was slightly undermined by five dropped shots in the last four holes.
On the subject of fraternal rivalry, while Ciaran McCreesh has been greedily gathering prizes in the last couple of months, it was older brother Jim who brought home the bacon on this occasion. Jim grabbed first place in category 2 with a gross 79 built on the stable foundations of 10 pars. McCreesh's 65 was the third best nett tally of the overall competition and pushed Don McKee into second. McKee birdied the 6th and posted eight pars elsewhere on his way to a nett 67 that reduces his handicap from 14 to 13.
In category 3, Malachy McSorley secured his by now weekly accolade with a commendable nett 67 showing pars at three of the final five holes. However, the Tullysaran man couldn't quite keep pace with Gary McAleavey, who occupied top spot here. McAleavey's nett 66 was a performance of quiet assuredness and balance, as he was two under his handicap on each nine and registered timely pars at the 9th and 17th.
An eagle at the par-5 12th contributed to a successful bid for the gross award from two handicapper Andrew Miller, who recovered brilliantly from the relative predicament of being four over par after eight holes to eventually sign for a 72.