The course was in great condition for the Eileen Steenson Memorial Bowl competition at Co Armagh on Thursday 31 March. Since Northern Ireland had basked in 90% more sunshine than average for the month of March and with little rainfall unsurprisingly there was a return to run on the ball, which was very much welcomed, however, the sudden drop in temperature made it feel more like winter than spring.
In welcoming ladies to prize-giving, Lady Captain Karen Edgar provided a brief history of the origins of the competition and her affiliation to it. She also announced the establishment of a new Friendship Cup presented by June Humphries, Joy Steenson and Flo McCall.
Hon Competitions’ Secretary Mary provided further details on the competition which was designed to engender friendship and fun of competition via an 18-hole four ball better ball matchplay format. Entries for the competition, which was free, would close on Thursday 14 April at 6.00 pm and the draw would be made following prize-giving that evening.
Ladies were also advised that, from 31 March 2022, Golf Ireland required that a player’s Handicap Index was the handicap that the player must show on the scorecard for Rule of Golf purposes. The player’s Handicap Index, Course Handicap and Playing Handicap were all printed on cards issued at Co Armagh.
Hon Competitions’ Secretary Mary also explained changes to weekend competitions for ladies. Moving forward there would be a combined green and red marker competition each Saturday and Sunday, rather than specific ladies’ competitions each day.
Fifty-five ladies competed in the Eileen Steenson Memorial Competition, with a further 14 ladies playing in the 9 hole competition.
In the 18 hole competition Lady Captain Karen Edgar was delighted to receive first place with 39 pts, beating Gail Steed, also with 39 pts, into second place. Ellen Brady was third with 36 pts, beating Lena Duffy and Sylvia Ashe on the countback.
The remaining prize winners were:
Cat A – June Humphries 34 pts
Cat B – Jacqueline Kelly 35 pts
Cat C – Sylvia Ashe 36 pts
Cat D – Lena Duffy 36 pts
There were birdies for Emma Garrigan at the 1st, Alexandra Mawhinney at the 3rd, Frances Davidson at the 8th and Gail Steed at the 15th and twos were recorded by Gail Steed at the 11th and Flo McCall and Ellen Brady at the 13th.
The 9 hole competition was won by Margaret Clarke with 36 pts.
It was also a Golfer of the Year competition for which points would be awarded for the top twenty competitors.
The top sixteen qualified for the Eileen Steenson Memorial Bowl match play competition with the draw as follows:
Jill McKenna v Mary McElvanna
Fionnuala Quinn v Maggie McKee
Katherine Steenson v Colette McSorley
Gail Steed v Jacqueline Kelly
Karen Edgar v Sylvia Ashe
Ellen Brady v Emma Garrigan
Bernie Rice v June Humphries
Lena Duffy v Paula McCrory
Matches to be completed by 18 April 2022.
Thursday 7 April’s competition is the Daisy Ferguson Greensomes Stableford with the winning pair qualifying for the regional final.
Back L-R: Sylvia Ashe and Ellen Brady
Front L-R: Gail Steed, Lady Captain Karen Edgar and Jacqueline Kelly