May 20, 2024

Mourne Golf Club News

By Paul Gallagher

There was much drama on the high hills of Conlig last Sunday when the Mourne GC Senior Cup team gave it their all at Clandeboye GC before qualifying for the knockout stages on a countback.

Mourne is fortunate to have a strong squad of scratch players at present, who are hungry to make their mark in one of Golf Ireland’s blue riband events. They also know what it takes in such a tense environment for in recent years they reached the Ulster final and semi-final but are now hungry for more.

In a format where four scores from the five-man team count in an aggregate total, there was still a need for Carol Voderman’s mathematical skills by day’s end to work out which golf clubs had qualified.

Mourne put in a strong team performance in difficult, windy conditions, with James Maginn recording a crucial birdie on the final hole for the team’s best score of 74. Maginn was closely followed by the shy and retiring Mark Feenan with his 75, while the ever-present Noel Crawford weighed in with an all-important 76 in his anchor role.

While number one Stephen Barker had an off day when his round unravelled on the back nine, there was also a chance to blood Senior Cup debutant Jack Keenan after his recent run of good form. Both players grinded hard to eventually sign for 81s.

Mourne were tied with four other clubs for the all-important fourth and final qualifying spot. However, when it came to a countback, the Newcastle men’s third best card of 76 was good enough to secure qualification.

It now means Mourne return to Clandeboye in the coming weeks to take on leading qualifiers Belvoir Park, while Bangor meet host club Clandeboye for a place in the Ulster semi-final.

“There was a bit of a sweat at the end, waiting to see who qualified, but we got through. That was the only goal here today and thankfully we’re through to the knockout stages,” said Barker after his round.

On a great weekend for team golf at Mourne, John Murphy’s Junior Cup side also advanced with their 3.5-1.5 win over Concra Wood. The in-form Ryan Brannigan played another starring role as he and Kieran Polly were sent to play the away legs. Brannigan won a crucial away point, while Barry Hillen and Michael McLaughlin were comfortable 3&2 winners at home, while Ross Methven won on the 18th to halve his match.

Elsewhere the Junior Cowdy team were up against Lisburn and Michael Keane’s charges came away with an excellent 5-3 win. In a very tight game, the away matches in Lisburn went to the wire before Mourne won two of them by one hole. Back in Newcastle Keane’s men won 3-1 to secure the overall win.

On the individual front, there was more great scoring at the weekend as Kristopher Stratton pipped Greg Smyth to land the Mourne Trophy.

Stratton and Smyth were tied at the top on 39 points but the former took the spoils on a countback. The winner enjoyed birdies at the first and 10th holes, while Smyth picked up shots at the third and 14th. Eoghan Simons took third on 38 points, one ahead of Michael Hawkins (37), with Paul Doyle next on 36.

-ENDS

Mourne GC Senior Cup Panel at Clandeboye Golf Club

Caption: L-R  Mourne GC Senior Cup captain Paul Gallagher, Connor Pimm, Noel Crawford, Jack Keenan, James Maginn, Patrick McNiff, Mark Feenan, Stephen Barker and Mourne Golf Club Captain Paddy Curran at Clandeboye Golf Club.