The burgeoning reputation of Joe Rooney was enhanced still further as the juvenile member won the June Medal at County Armagh Golf Club.
In the same month that he completed his GCSE examinations, Rooney had added cause for celebration after shooting a stunning one-under-par gross 69 in the competition held on Sunday 18 June
In an utterly flawless first 14 holes, Joe found birdies at the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 11th and parred the other 10 to walk onto the Beresford tee-box an awesome four under par.
Then came something of a blip, as the now four-handicapper toiled to a double bogey at that deceptively troublesome 15th before bogeying the Lakes.
Normal order was resumed, however, when the Easter Stableford champion steadied himself admirably to par the last to holes – the finishing touches to a tremendous nett 64.
Young Rooney follows in the footsteps of Kieran Grimley and Gary McAleavey, who have secured the other two monthly medals awarded this term. Given his immense talent — and now the absence of that pesky schoolwork to hamper his practice plans over the summer months — Joe seems destined to be a repeated victor.
Joe Rooney is presented with the County Armagh Golf Club June Medal by Alan Johnston of Johnston's Bakery, Scotch Street, Armagh, as Club Captain Richard Stewart looks on.
Despite these heroics in the tournament sponsored by Johnston's Bakery, Joe's path to glory was no cakewalk. Matching him almost every step of the way was runner-up, Gary McDonald, who returned a marvellous nett 65.
Gary's round contained a masterly two-over-par back nine and a hefty total of 10 pars, including four on the spin to conclude proceedings. McDonald will tee it up as a 13-handicapper next time out by virtue of his brilliance here.
Another youngster featuring in the prizes was category 1 winner, Adam Cromwell, whose wonderful gross 71 for a nett 66 comprised two bogeys, one birdie and no fewer than 15 pars.
On the same gross score was the ever-consistent Jerome Leer. He birdied the 2nd, 10th and 13th but will no doubt regret three dropped shots in the last four holes.
In a battle of the Christophers at the top of the category 2 rankings, Lester's nett 66 sealed first place ahead of McCabe's nett 67. So, Lester's profitable season continues apace, while McCabe will be chuffed with the birdie and seven pars that enabled him to scoop his first accolade of 2017.
Stephen Miller recorded a birdie at the 12th and six pars elsewhere while constructing a nett 68 that saw him emerge victorious in category 3.
Miller did well not to let his head drop completely after a punishing nine on Oul Coach Road, and the excellent back nine display that followed meant he defeated Shane O'Halloran on a break of tie. Shane himself parred four holes on the homeward trek as he earned a one-shot handicap reduction.
The Keady mafia accounted for the winner's prizes in both the Wednesday Open events on 21 June.
Ian O'Hea's formidable 44-point scorecard, which showed nothing worse than a bogey, did the business among the seniors, while Barry Scully's 39-point haul was the best of the under-55s. Barry birdied the 12th and 15th and now plays off 11.
Meanwhile, having received a first round bye, County Armagh's Sam Rutherford team ended just one hole down in their second round first leg tie at Kilkeel on Sunday 25 June. Patrick Brannigan's side will hope to take advantage of this very decent result in the home leg on Sunday 2 July.
June Medal winner Rooney is currently competing in the Irish Boys Amateur Open Championship at Castletroy in County Limerick. You can track his progress here: https://www.golfnet.ie/guilive#/competition/1044018/leaderboard