AN HISTORIC CLUB WITH A MAGNIFICENT GEORGIAN PARKLAND SETTING SINCE 1893

Despite a Saturday of fine scoring at County Armagh Golf Club on 22 July, many may have regarded club professional Will Carey's provision of hotdogs, burgers and beers on the 11th tee as the day's very best result.

This was Will's first Professional's Competition since taking up post in April, and that hearty sustenance certainly went down well with the stroke event's 176-strong field.

Indeed, seemingly finding the surprise barbecue particularly to his liking was Johnny Brown, who turned in a tremendous display to take the top honours with a nett 66.

Brown's birdie at Lady Anne's Walk immediately preceded a disappointing double bogey five at the 3rd, but the string of four consecutive pars with which he reached the turn had the then nine-handicapper very handily placed at the halfway stage.

Back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th — surely owing much to Will's welcome nourishment just beforehand! — were the highlights of an equally impressive homeward trek that also included two pars and four bogeys.

Johnny eventually signed for a classy gross 74 to seal his victory and ensure he'll tee it up off eight next time out.


Johnny Brown, winner of the County Armagh Golf Club Professional's Competition, is presented with his prize by Adam Kerr, Assistant Professional, and Richard Stewart, Club Captain. Also pictured are other prizewinners (L-R) Bernard Grimley, John Maguire, Adam Cromwell, Don McKee and Roy Davis.

Don McKee registered the same nett 66 total but had to content himself with the tournament's runner-up berth on account of his marginally inferior back-nine showing.

McKee's excellent outing shared similarities with that of the winner, as he too birdied the 2nd and 12th and enjoyed a spell of four pars in a row among his opening nine holes.

Don backed up that 37-stroke front nine with 43 blows coming home, and his gross 80 meant a well-deserved 14-to-13 handicap reduction in addition to his second prize.

Trailing Brown and McKee by a single stroke but prevailing in category 1 on nett 67 was Ryan McVeigh, who fired birdies at the 8th and 18th in his high-quality gross 77.

Second place in category 1 was filled by John Maguire also on nett 67. The three-handicapper's characteristically consummate level-par round comprised three birdies, three bogeys and a dozen pars.

Roy Davis amassed seven pars and a birdie as he secured the category 2 top spot with a creditworthy nett 67 of his own. Davis would likely have had a say further up the overall standings but for damaging treble bogeys at the 9th and 16th. Two strokes adrift of Roy in second place was Bernard Grimley, whose latest prize-bagging scorecard boasted pars at half of the holes.

A symmetrical showing of 44 shots on each nine and a nett 67 saw Sean Dougan Junior earn the category 3 plaudits and a new handicap of 20, while Patrick Hughes posted the same gross total and clinched the runner-up award with his pleasing nett 68.

The inimitable Philip Kelly led the way in the gross reckoning with a 69-shot performance containing five birdies but a regrettable six at the 5th. Meanwhile, Jerome Leer had his eye in for the nearest-the-pin accolade, and big-hitting youngster Adam Cromwell boomed away the longest drive.


Will's 11th tee barbecue was a big hit with the passing players.

Four days later, Roy Davis continued his hot steak with a fantastic 42-point haul that sealed victory in the Wednesday Open on 26 July. And, having recently achieved septuagenarian status, Gerry McCreesh proved there's plenty of life left in this old dog, as his marvellous gross 76 and its accruing 43 points did the business among the seniors on the same day.

On the inter-club front, County Armagh unfortunately exited both the Senior Cowdy and Sam Rutherford competitions on the weekend of 28-29 July after suffering defeats to Lurgan and Ashfield respectively.