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.