James cards an incredible eight birdies

James McKay carded an astonishing eight birdies on his way to finishing top of the Sunday qualifiers for this year’s Casement Cup match-play competition with a total of 41 points.

Playing off six, James gathered birdies at the second, fifth and sixth holes, added a hat-trick of gains at the tenth, eleventh and twelfth before closing with two more birdies at the sixteenth and eighteenth as he came home in 31 strokes which equated to a massive back nine score of 25 points.

Second place on Sunday went to ten handicapper Brendan Black on a total of 39 points with three handicapper John Callan finishing in third place ahead of Michael Dallat jnr, Colin Millar, Paul Taggart and Eddie McMullan on count-back after all five members recorded 38 points.

Ryan McKay was the leading qualifier in Saturday’s Casement Cup qualifying competition with the twenty handicapper recording 39 points to finish one point ahead of Joe Gillan in second and Angus Iliff, the defending Casement Cup match-play champion, in third place.

The top sixteen stableford scores on both Saturday and Sunday have earned a place in the match-play stages with matches to take place during July, August and September. Please check the clubhouse notice-board for more details.

Galgorm Castle member Gary Crabbe won the Midweek Open Competition at Ballycastle on Wednesday 27th June with a score of 42 points. Gary, playing off fourteen, had a magnificent 25 points on the back nine which gave him the edge over Harry McFadden in second place and Colin Campbell in third after they also recorded 42 points.

Paul Surgenor won the fourth prize on Wednesday with 41 points and Francis McGinn picked up the gross prize ahead of Neil McMaster on count-back after both golfers recorded 74’s.

Congratulations go to Royal Portrush for holding such a successful Irish Open Tournament last week. The club would also like to thank Michael Page, our chief marshal at the 12th hole, and his merry band of marshals for helping to make this event so memorable.

Open Week begins at Ballycastle on Thursday 5th July with a Juvenile Stableford competition sponsored by Stephen Watson. The Ladies Stableford on Friday is sponsored by La Mon Hotel & Country Club.

P.J. McIlroy & Son sponsor Saturday’s Gents Stableford and Moyle Garden Services are the sponsors of the Mixed Foursomes competition on Sunday. Open competitions are also held each day next week and are sponsored by McNamara Home Furnishings, Dallat Group, Anzac Wines, La Mon Hotel and Country Club, Northern Road Markings and Damien McEvoy Club Professional.