AN HISTORIC CLUB WITH A MAGNIFICENT GEORGIAN PARKLAND SETTING SINCE 1893

As its title might suggest, County Armagh Golf Club’s Half Century Cup is battled for by those whose 50th birthday has been and gone. Emerging victorious from this experienced coterie in a tournament sponsored by Rumour Cafe on 2 August was Neil Linton.

The Killylea player’s outstanding three-over-par round garnered 40 points, which was sufficient to fend off all contenders. Neil’s outward nine was a peaceful journey of eight pars and a bogey, and a Ballyheridan birdie and half a dozen more pars would follow on the back nine.

Especially creditworthy in Linton’s conclusion to proceedings was a four at Cathedrals immediately after three dropped shots at the 16th and 17th had endangered his silverware bid. That closing par enabled Linton to put his name to a fine gross 73 that rendered him a more than deserving recipient of the coveted trophy.

Runner-up to Neil was Martin Grimley, whose 39-point tally came up just one short. Martin’s scorecard showed 41 strokes on each nine and his six pars in seven holes either side of the turn was a particularly high-quality spell.

Speaking of which, the tip-top gross 77 with which Stephen Catterall clinched the Half Century third prize incorporated bursts of five successive pars on the way out and a birdie and then four pars on the trot on the way home. Stephen matched Grimley’s 39 points but missed out on second place on a countback.

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