Ian's retiring success
Ian Ritchie is obviously enjoying his retirement and celebrated the extra time he has on his hands now by winning the Sunday Club Stroke competition.
His nett 67 proved the best score on the day and took the honours from Ian O'Hea who returned a similar nett 67 but lost out to Ian R on a back nine countback.
In the company of his Killylea collleagues, Ian's early Sunday morning round produced steady scoring front and back. Ian O'Hea's downfall was a double bogey six at the final hole after an equally steady round.
Andy Conn's triple bogey at the fourth hole and another double bogey six at the difficult 16th hole was to cost him dearly too. Birdies at fifth and seventh helped him somewhat and a nett 68 finish earned him first prize in Category One. Tom Fox was runner up with a nett 68 and again it was a double bogey at the 18th which proved costly.
In Category Two Ronan McWilliams edged it with a nett 69 and early-bird Andy Dunwoody picked up the runners-up prize with a nett 70.
Francie Smyth however, will recall the best missed opportunity of the day, returning a nett 67 score, and that after taking nine (9) shots at the 17th hole! He still collected the Category Three first prize, and Paddy Campbell was runner up with a nett 68.
Overall
1st Ian Ritchie (nett 67 - back 9)
2nd Ian O'Hea (nett 67)
(0 - 12)
1st Andy Conn (nett 68 - back 9)
2nd Tom Fox (nett 68 - back 9)
(13 - 18)
1st Ronan McWilliams (nett 69)
2nd Andrew Dunwoody (nett 70 - back 9)
(19 - 28)
1st Francie Smyth (nett 67)
2nd Patrick Campbell (nett 68)
Gross
1st Jarleth McReynolds (gross 73)
CSS = 69
Prizes for the above competition will be entered into your Pro Shop Account
Competition Convenor (24th June)
Paddy's efforts raise £2000
Big-hearted Paddy Duffy raised almost £2,000 to help send his little neice Caoimhe to America for a life-changing operation.
Five-year-old Caoimhe has cerebral palsy. She was born 11 weeks prematurely and as a result of complications is unable to stand on her own or walk without assistance. However, thanks to a major effort to raise £50,000 for a special operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, she is now well on the way to recovery.
County Armagh Golf Club members got behind the fund-raising efforts, supporting a draw for a new set of Bridgestone clubs, bag, a driver, woods and wedges. And on Saturday evening Paddy announced the winners.
His oft-times fourball playing partner Johnny Palmer claimed the prize, but in a further generous jesture to boost the fund-raising efforts, Johnny auctioned his prize. Johnny Brown was the delighted recipient when all the wheeling and dealing was complete.
"I am absolutely overwhelmed with the support of our club members," Paddy told a packed clubhouse. "The opportunity this operation offers little Caoimhe is phenomenal and affords her the life changing opportunity to lead a more normal life."
The full list of prize winners in Padd'ys Draw is:
Johnny Palmer, Bridgestone Set of clubs, Johnny Palmer.
Ian Millar, Driver.
Eric Hamilton, Golf Bag.
Aiden O'Kane, 4-Wood.
Cathal Cullen, Utility Wood.
John White, Wedge.
Damien Murray, Wedge.
Niall makes it a 'Brady Bunch'
Niall Brady belied his young age to produce a scintillating performance to win the County Armagh Golf Club June Medal.
Just a week after his big brother Shea grab the headlines by winning the Allen Cup, Niall, who plays off a handicap of 10, shot a three over par gross 73 for a winning score, nett 63.
The Armagh student was two shots better than the rest of the field, John Maguire, Kyle Wilson and John Lavery three players in the chasing pack who carded the next best, nett 65 scores.
Bar a bogey six at the par five eighth hole, Niall produced a blemish free front nine. And although he kicked off his homeward trek with a further bogey, a birdie two at 13 cancelled this out. By the finish he had dropped only two further shots at the course's most difficult 16th hole and at the 17th. But his nett 63 was always going to be among the prizes.
John Maguire produce a similarly impressive gross 68, nett 65 score to claim the runners up prize. Level par after nine, two birdes, at 11 and 15, highlighted a superb round which earned John the best gross prize on the day also.
Kyle Wilson, off a handicap of nine, took the Category One prize with a nett 65, his better back nine pushing John Lavery, also returning nett 65, into runners up spot.
In Category Two, two 'old hands' claimed the prizes - Declan McReynolds winning with a nett 67 and Charles Vernon's nett 68 taking second prize.
Winston Gordon also made a return to the prize list with an impressive nett 66 taking the Category Three prize ahead of Paul O'Hagan on nett 68.
Overall
1st Niall Brady (nett 63)
2nd John Maguire (nett 65 - back 9) - also best gross score - 68
(0 - 12)
1st Kyle Wilson (nett 65 - back 9)
2nd John Lavery (nett 65 - back 9)
(13 - 18)
1st Declan McReynolds (nett 67)
2nd Charles Vernon (nett 68 - back 9)
(19 - 28)
1st Winston Gordon (nett 66)
2nd Paul O'Hagan (nett 68)
CSS = 69
Presentation of Prizes will take place on SUNDAY, 1st JULY at 7.00 pm - just after the conclusion of the Irish Open at Portrush and before the Euro Championship Final.
NB: SUNDAY Presentation NOT Saturday
1st Chris Guinane 42pts
2nd Pady Digby 41pts
Front Nine: Ciaran Black 25pts
Back Nine: Haorld Price 22 pts (back six)
Suits you Shea!
Shea Brady lifted the JR McMahon sponsored Allen Cup with an unbeatable nett 62 score.
Brian Graham, from the Scotch Street mens clothing store, presented the young barman with the coveted trophy in front of a packed clubhouse on Saturday evening.
Playing off a handicap of eight, Shea produced his best round of the season so far to take the honours by two clear shots - Jimmy Quinn his nearest challenger with an equally impressive nett 64.
A dropped shot at the par three third hole was cancelled out by a birdie three at the par four fourth hole as Shea got off to a steady start. And with a second birdie at the par three ninth hole he was under par at the turn.
Shea completed a hat-trick of birdies at the 12th hole and in between an impressive run of pars dropped only one further shot at the 17th.
Shea's playing partner Jarlath McReynolds was equally in top form and off his 4-handicap produced a level par front nine and two under par back nine which included two birdies and an eagle at the par five 12th hole for a superb gross 68, nett 64 to win Category One. Stewart Stevenson was just a shot behind and lifted the runners up prize.
David Grimley's three over par front and seven over par back nine for a nett 65, won him Category Two with Johnny Palmer runner up with a nett 66.
And Ronan McWilliams shot his best score of the season to date for a nett 64 to win Category Three, Benny Simpson his runner up with a net 68.
Overall
1st Shea Brady (nett 62)
2nd Jimmy Quinn (nett 64 - back 9)
(0 - 12)
1st Jarleth McReynolds (nett 64 - also best gross score - 68)
2nd Stewart Stevenson (nett 65)
(13 - 18)
1st David Grimley (nett 65)
2nd Johnny Palmer (nett 66 - back 9)
(19 - 28)
1st Ronan McWilliams (nett 64)
2nd Benny Simpson (nett 68)
Presentation of Prizes on Saturday, 23rd June at 6.30 pm for the following competitions:
4-Ball Waltz Classic played for on Saturday, 9th June (3 winning teams);
Club Stableford played for on Sunday, 10th June;
June Medal played for on Saturday, 16th June; and
Allen Cup played for on Sunday, 17th June.
All Prizewinners are asked to attend Prizegiving as a manner of courtesy for our Sponsors. Some regular prizewinners seem unable to attend at any time. Make an effort to collect your prize or contact Club beforehand regarding your unavailability.
Also, Paddy Duffy's Draw for Club Members who supported his Charity - fabulous Golf Prizes to be won - this will take place immediately after Club Competition Prizegiving.
Overall
1st Shane O'Halloran (43 pts - back 9)
2nd Paddy Digby (43 pts)
(0 - 12)
1st Neil Cromwell (41 pts - back 9) - also best Gross
2nd Alan Pedlow (41 pts)
(13 - 18)
1st P J Quinn (42 pts)
2nd Jack Jackson (40 pts)
(19 - 28)
1st Benny Simpson (40 pts - back 6)
2nd Mervyn Watts (40 pts)
Competition Convenor (10th June 2012)
1st J Palmer, Paddy Duffy, Art McCrory and Declan Lenagh (90 pts)
2nd John McKinney, Winston Gordon, Robert McIlvenna and George Monaghan (86 pts - back 9)
3rd Niall McGurgan, Barry McGurgan, Conor McGurgan and Anthony Farrell (86 pts - back 9)
Prizegiving arrangements later.
Competition Convenor (9th June 2012)