A tournament-winning scorecard won't usually include three double bogeys in the space of five holes. However, such was the calibre of the rest of Brian McGrady's round, even that untidy patch between the 7th and 11th holes couldn't deny him victory in the stroke competition at County Armagh Golf Club on 23 April.
With the wind apparently taking a long overdue break from its howling duties, McGrady's inner composure mirrored the agreeable calmness overhead as he put together an impressive gross 79.
The 2nd hole, Lady Anne's Walk, resplendent in early morning April sunshine.
The 13-handicapper's Sunday win owed much to a brilliant three-over-par back nine that contained a birdie at the 15th – his second of the day – and valuable pars at the 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th.
It was this fruitful homeward trek that set Brian apart from no less than three other nett 66s also returned on a day when all the clickety-clicking perhaps put the remainder of the field off their game.
Runner-up in the overall standings was Greens Convenor, Davy Baird, who appears to have the measure of the course that he helps to prepare.
Having posted a nett 67 to no prizewinning avail in the previous day's April Medal, Baird was one shot and one prize better off this time out. A solid round showing 10 pars and 40 strokes on each nine wrapped up an accomplished weekend performance from Davy.
Two more nett 66s were registered in category 1, where Ian Beaddie beat John Vernon to first position on a break of tie. After his 42 points claimed a category prize in the Chest, Heart and Stroke event in March, Beattie's assured season continued with a gross 77 in which he reeled off eight consecutive pars either side of the turn.
A holed bunker shot – or a 'golden ferret' for aficionados of quaint golfing terminology – was among the many highlights of Vernon's scintillating front nine of just 32 strokes. Double bogeys at the 10th, 14th and 18th would ultimately block John's seemingly inevitable march to the leader board summit, but the nine-handicapper's gross 75 represents a high quality day's work regardless.
Refusing to be forgotten amid the recent heroics of his brothers David, Kieran and Bernard was Martin Grimley, who was top of the category 2 pops with a nett 68 that incorporated a birdie 2 at the Quarry and six pars elsewhere.
The last of those pars came at the 18th and proved crucial in edging out Tommy Mackin, who notched up the same nett score but, with a six at the last, chose an inopportune time to record his only double bogey of an otherwise very steady offering.
The category 3 plaudits were taken by Kieran Beagan, who also shot a nett 68 and looks sure to make repeated visits to the winners' enclosure in 2017. Benny Simpson occupied the runner-up berth in this category for the second time in a month after carding a nett 74.
A classy 71 enabled Jerome Leer to claim the gross prize. After opening with unwelcome dropped shots at the 1st and 2nd, Leer got down to business and proceeded, with a minimum of fuss, to birdie the 5th and 10th and par 13 of the other 14 holes.