County Armagh Golf Club’s recent Bankers Cup was backed by Gary McCourt Financial Solutions, and it was Shea Brady who came up with the requisite fairway solutions to secure the coveted late-season spoils.
On 28 September, Shea turned in a virtuoso performance in his composition of a one-under-par gross 69. Set against the stable backdrop of 13 pars and just two bogeys, Brady sprinkled his magic in the shape of a birdie treble at the 3rd, 8th and 14th.
That smart collection of numbers all added up to a triumphant nett 65, which ensured that CAGC’s industrious competitions convenor ended his fruitful 2019 campaign in possession of a hard-fought handicap of four as well as some welcome silverware.
Shea’s closest challenger in the Bankers Cup reckoning was Shane O’Hagan, whose drama-free scorecard showed fourteen pars, four bogeys and, ultimately, a nett 67. Shane’s merited reward for such skilful serenity was the overall runner-up award and he, too, should feel more than content with his on-course efforts this term.
Elsewhere, opening birdies at St Brigid’s Well and Lady Anne’s Walk set Shea Smyth on the path to another worthwhile offering, and he duly obliged with a classy one-over-par final total that clinched him the category 1 honours. Smyth’s nett 68 kept at bay by a single stroke Lee Stewart, who notched 11 pars and a late Fairy Thorn birdie during his excellent gross 75.
Meanwhile, Niall McGeown’s Saturday showing was the archetypal mixed bag, but thankfully the good outweighed the bad. The now 13-handicapper’s valuable haul of seven pars and birdies at the 6th and 15th more than ameliorated the hurt caused by a pair of sevens and an eight, and those sterling efforts culminated in a nett 68 that delivered him to the top of the category 2 standings. Second position behind Niall here was occupied by Ian O’Hea, whose commendable nett 69 was most notable for birdies at the 9th and 14th.
Finally, Connor Mallon and Davy Spratt returned identically satisfying scores of gross 88 and nett 68 and were separated into category 3’s gold and silver slots respectively on a break of tie. Both men have had their handicaps clipped to 19 for the winter exchanges after posting an effective combined tally of seven pars.
Tournament sponsor, Gary McCourt, presents the Bankers Cup to 2019 victor, Shea Brady. Also pictured are Club Captain, Kenny Edgar, and other prizewinners (L-R): Shane O’Hagan, Shea Smyth, Davy Spratt and Ian O’Hea.