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OPEN COMPETITIONS

Gents Senior Stableford

Tuesday 2nd March

Saint Patrick's Day

Wednesday 17th March

Ladies and Gents

Open Stableford

LADIES OPEN STABLEFORD

Tuesday 23 February

Times can be booked in Professional's Shop

Phone 02890621314

COMPETITION REPORT

Dunmurry Retain Belfast and District Trophy

Golfers from Dunmurry retained this prestigious senior trophy thanks to a nail biting win over Ballyclare on Sunday. This magnificent cup was inaugurated in 1903, two years before Dunmurry Golf Club was formed and had been keenly contested by many of the top amateur golfers in Ulster ever since. Previous individual names on the trophy include Norman Drew, Gareth McGimpsey and Rory McIlroy. Seven players play singles matches off scratch with home and away legs. The handicaps of the seven Dunmurry players ranged from plus two to two. The first round commenced in May and a total of 34 Clubs from the Greater Belfast area entered. Several teams were seeded by virtue of good performances last year so Dunmurry played their first match against Bangor who had defeated Tandragee in the previous round. Victories both home and away led to a fourth round encounter with Knock who had beaten Ardglass and were winners in 2006. Matches between these two teams have always proved to be tense encounters and so it proved this year, Dunmurry running out as winners by virtue of a Darren Crowe birdie at the first tie hole. In the semi final Dunmurry played close neighbours Belvoir Park who had disposed of Kirkistown Castle and Donaghadee in their last rounds. The home leg saw Dunmurry win by a 4 ½ to 2 ½ margin meaning that three matches were required at Belvoir. These were duly earned with wins in horrendous conditions from Noel Murray, Stephen and Darren Crowe. The final matched Dunmurry against Ballyclare, who had not won this prestigious trophy before but had disposed on quality teams in Malone, Carnalea, Lurgan and Banbridge on their way to the final.

The home leg at Dunmurry resulted in a 6 to 1 win for Dunmurry and laid the foundation for the second leg. In a thrilling final played in bright sunshine at Ballyclare spectators were treated to a golfing exhibition. In the first match Noel Murray played Simon McConnell and found himself two down after nine holes despite being only one over par. Steady play over the next few holes on tricky greens meant that Noel was one up after the par 3 15th hole, a birdie at the 418 yard par 4 16th moved him to 2 holes up. At the par 5 17th an uphill 483 yard par 5 Noel drained an 8 foot putt for birdie to close out the match. At that stage Paddy McGlone and Michael Dickson had been beaten so Dunmurry still needed half a match from the four remaining matches on the course. Darren Crowe was playing Robert Forsythe and had not been ahead throughout his match. He was one down playing the 17th hole but secured a vital success courtesy of an exquisite third shot from just off the green. The match was all square on the 18th but Darren’s iron off the tee found trees and he had to play out. Robert hit a second shot long and left but miraculously chipped close from under a tree. Darren’s putt shaved the hole but when his opponent missed his putt the decisive half was secured. At that stage both Glen McAuley and Stephen Crowe were 2 down but Graeme Dickson was one hole to the good. Stephen had to contend with a hole in one from his opponent George Armstrong at the 175 yard par 3 eleventh hole. These matches were called in and Dunmurry retained the trophy, the first side to do so for twenty years.

Team Captain Tony Cassidy was fulsome in his praise for his young team who had practiced earnestly since January. “It is a wonderful achievement for the panel of players who showed tremendous fighting spirit throughout the competition, they are a credit to themselves, Dunmurry Golf Club and a vindication of the time and effort spent encouraging Juvenile golfers in our Club”. He mentioned Ian Moore and Andrew Pigott who had played with distinction in earlier rounds and had contributed significantly to the team’s success. He thanked his assistant Stephen Crowe for all his help throughout the campaign. Tony accepted the Cup from Golfing Union of Ireland Official David McNeill and handed it over to Club Captain Tony McVeigh for display in the trophy cabinet. Tony said “I hope this will be the catalyst to gain further silverware for a group of exceptionally talented individuals who have come together as a team to rival any Club in Ireland”

John Bennett (Club Vice Captain), Glenn McAuley, Ian Moore, Noel Murray, Darren Crowe, Stephen Crowe

Patrick McGlone, Tony McVeigh (Club Captain), Michael Dickson Tony Cassidy (Team Captain) Graeme Dickson

Hat Winner Sam Thompson with Vice Captain John Bennett

ANGUISH AS DUNMURRY DENIED HOLT SHIELD FINAL VICTORY.

Dunmurry’s Holt Shield men were denied victory by the smallest of margins in a tense battle against a strong Ballyclare team. Both sides gave everything over both legs of the encounter and the result was undecided until the final match on the last green at Dunmurry on Sunday.

With the scores tied at four and a half each, Dunmurry’s John Johnston failed to make his birdie putt, which was needed to win his match, leaving the scores level at five-all with Ballyclare victorious by a margin of 4 holes.

Both legs of the match had been thrilling, tense affairs with obvious nerves on display. This did not detract from the quality of golf witnessed throughout - a testament to all who participated.

It began at Ballyclare, in sunny, but windy conditions, with both sides anxious to make amends for heartache in past finals - Dunmurry in 1991 and Ballyclare in 2005. A further twist had been added the previous day, when Dunmurry’s Belfast & District team, overcame a dogged fight back from their Ballyclare counterparts, to retain the trophy.

First off for Dunmurry was the semi-final hero Colin Power up against Stephen Herron of Ballyclare, a former European Tour caddy. The game was tight through the opening holes but by the tenth, Stephen had edged 2 holes in front.

At the short 11th hole Colin found the water to allow his opponent to lead by 3 with seven holes to play. Colin won the long 12th to pull one back, but a miraculous recovery over the trees to the fourteenth green, yielded a birdie for Stephen, and a par secured a win for the Ballyclare man at the 15th by a 4 & 3 margin.

Don Weekes was next up for Dunmurry against one of two brothers in the Ballyclare team, Robin Mairs. This match remained tight throughout but by the 17th Don found himself dormie 2 up.

A birdie by Robin took the match down the last hole, where Don found trouble behind a tree. His opponent safely found the green, and when Don failed to hole a bunker shot for a four, the Ballyclare man had secured a half point.

Conor Graham was out in the third match against a formidable opponent in Michael Agnew, whose short game skills proved too much for Conor and he eventually succumbed 4 & 2.

At this point Ballyclare had a commanding lead and it was imperative, that if Dunmurry were to have any chance of winning, they needed to salvage something from the last two matches.

Ryan Murray, out next against Colin Jenkins, was all square on the seventeenth hole but John Johnston up against Trevor Mairs, was 2 down playing sixteen but had a birdie putt from 10 feet to reduce the deficit. The putt did not drop and although his opponent found trouble at the next, a superb recovery shot secured a half, leaving John defeated 2 & 1.

Up ahead, the fourth match reached fever pitch. Somehow, all square on the final hole, after Ryan had chipped in for par and a half, both players had found the fairway. The Ballyclare man played first and found the green some 25 feet from the flag. With the result in the balance, and Dunmurry requiring something from the outcome, 15-year-old Ryan played a superb approach, taking on the bunker guarding the flag and finishing five feet past the cup.

Colin’s putt was equally impressive and narrowly failed to drop, sliding past the edge leaving Ryan to hole his for victory. Showing great composure he knocked it in to win 1 up, and gave Dunmurry a lifeline to take to the home leg.

First leg score Ballclare 3.5 Dunmurry 1.5. Ballyclare 9 holes up.

For the home team the second leg at Dunmurry could not come soon enough, but when it finally arrived there was some bad news, when Don Weekes pulled out through illness. In form player Kris Mullan returned to the side after playing well in the group stages. Once again conditions were good and both teams had an excellent showing of support, which witnessed a scintillating match unfold.

Conor Graham led off the Dunmurry side against Stephen Benson, who was eager to make up for his defeat at Ballyclare.

The only player on both sides to play every single match in this year’s competition, Conor found himself 1 down at the turn but the gritty player rallied and led by 2 holes with four to play. Stephen pulled one back at the fifteenth only for Conor to take the sixteenth to lead by 2 again with 2 holes remaining.

Both players found the green at the next with Conor to putt first to secure the match. His ball finished agonisingly on the edge of the hole, and when Stephen holed his for birdie, the match went down 18. Conor found trouble of the tee, failed to recover, and when he missed his putt for five, Stephen secured a half.

Second up for Dunmurry was the big hitting Colin Power against Robin Mairs. Once again 1 down through 9, Colin over-powered his opponent on the back nine, and finished the match off at the 16th by a 3 & 2 margin.

Kris Mullan was next up for Dunmurry against Colin Jenkins and found himself 2 down through 9. Back he came though, and by seventeen, he was all square. Kris, playing first, pulled his approach slightly, leaving him on the edge of the green some thirty feet away. Colin played next and caught his pitch heavy leaving it short in the front bunker.

A fine bunker shot narrowly missed the hole but ran 10 feet past. Kris putted up to within 3 feet and, after his opponent missed, he had the chance to take an advantage to the last.

His putt slid by, and after regulation pars at the last by both players, resulted in a half match, it left Ballclare on the brink at 4.5 to 3.5 overall.

Like in the first leg, Dunmurry had their backs to the wall, and the same two players were involved. Ryan in the fourth match had been 3 down after nine but dug deep and had four holes in a row to lead by 1 playing the short par 4 fourteenth.

He sent his drive some 75 yards off-line down the thirteenth fairway but produced a stunning recovery over trees to find the green, albeit some 40 feet from the pin. His opponent, Michael Agnew, pitched his second to within inches, securing a birdie leaving Ryan his for the half. He struck his putt firmly and it ran across the green, hit the back of the hole and fell in!

With the momentum turned in his favour, Ryan won the next to go 2 up, and although his opponent pulled one back at sixteen, Ryan halved the next and after a solid par at the last secured a 2up victory to level the overall match.

While Ryan played the 18th, the final match was unfolding between John Johnston and Trevor Mairs. John had a one hole lead playing the 17th and if he could hold it - Dunmurry would be victorious.

Playing his second shot first, John caught the ball clean and it bounced through the back of the green by some five feet. His opponent found the green some 20 feet from the hole. John’s chip came up short, six feet from the hole, and when he missed the putt, Trevor holed his three-footer for par to level the match and put Ballyclare within touching distance of victory.

As spectators and team members congregated on the final hole, Trevor drove over the fairway bunker down onto the first fairway. John smashed a drive down and around the corner of the dog-leg to the bottom of the hill.

Playing his approach first, Trevor hit an immaculate iron shot, which only just cleared the greenside bunker, and ran to 12 feet. John pulled his second slightly to the left, leaving a shot of around 40 feet in the edge of the rough. Electing to putt, John left his putt 10 feet short and although he holed the next for par, his opponent had knocked his up to within inches and secured the third half match of the day, leaving the scores tied at 5 matches apiece.

As in many of these situations, the number of holes won, decides the winners and as Ballyclare held a sizeable lead from the first leg, Dunmurry were unable to overcome the deficit and lost out by 4 holes.

The presentation of the Holt Shield and the Runner’s up trophy was made by the Holt Shield Tournament Secretary, Bobby Conroy, and Chairman, Tom Coburn.

Dunmurry Team Captain, Roy Donnan, was magnanimous in defeat. He said: “My team gave everything over the whole season, but on the day Ballyclare were too strong and they are very worthy winners.”

“It’s a terrible way to lose a final, in football terms like goal difference, but unfortunately there has to be winners and losers,” he added.

Jubilant Ballyclare Team Captain, Norman Reid, said: “This is the proudest golfing moment of my life. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. Both teams played the matches in a friendly spirit while at the same time fought for every hole of every match. I hope the teams can meet again in next year’s final.”

John Johnston, Ryan Murray, Matt Cochrane, Craig Fleming, Colin Power,

Conor Graham, Roy Donnan (Team Captain), Don Weekes, Darryl Flannagan.

OPEN COMPETITIONS AT DUNMURRY GOLF CLUB

Sunday 2nd August

Junior Open Stroke