North Western Golfing Alliance
Captains Day (Marty McDermott) Played in Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) Golf Club Saturday 6th April 2013 Par 72 SS 72
1ST Nett Paul Travers (14) Rosapenna G.C.39 Pts.
2nd Nett Eddie McHugh (14) Strabane G.C. 38 Pts b.o.t.
3RD Nett Peter Smyth (13) Rosapenna G.C. 38 Pts b.o.t.
4th Nett Clive Davison (15) Portsalon G.C. 38 Pts
5th Nett Niall McLaughlin (8) Buncrana G.C. 37 Pts
6th Nett Delwyn Montgomery(8) North West G.C. 35 Pts
1st Gross Michael McGeady (scr) McC ambridge Duffy 74
2nd Gross Sean Quigg (2) City of Derry G.C. 75
3RD Gross John G.McBride (scr) Portsalon G.C. 76
4TH Gross Ben Corry (4) Strabane G.C. 77
5th Gross Paul Duffy (6) Faughan Valley G.C. 78
6TH Gross Noel Callan (scr) Faughan Valley G.C. 79
Visitors
1st Kevin Connolly (13) Strabane G.C. 42 Pts
2nd Brian Boyle (15) Strabane G.C. 34Pts
3rd John Sweeney (8|) Portsalon G.C. 32 Pts
Captain for 2013/14 is Michael McGeady, Challenge and Euro pro tour Professional
The 2012/13 Alliance season came to an end on Saturday with the playing of the Captains prize. It was played 2 weeks late because of the weather conditions pertaining at the time it was originally fixed for .The decision to rearrange the fixture proved to be an inspired one. What a beautiful spring day was revealed after a delay because of the early morning frost. This did not spoil the enjoyment of the large turn out who had a cloudless largely wind free day for the Playing of Popular Captain Marty McDermott’s Prize.
The course was in excellent condition the green fast and true a tribute to the work of Head Green keeper Paul Travers and his staff .More about him later .The course has also become more user friendly by the cutting back in places of the rough.
The member who was flying from the start was Clive Davison who playing off a handicap of 15 was 3 over after the first nine. He had a had a lead of 4 over some of his pursuers playing partner Eddie McHugh and Local Peter Smyth had 19 points .Niall McLaughlin was also on 19.The eventual winner was languishing well down the field with 16 points. After 12 Clive was going well having scored 2 points a hole Niall McLaughlin was faltering as he only added 2 points ,Peter Smyth was making a charge having cut Clive’s lead by one Eddie McHugh had fallen back to third .
On the last 6 holes Clive had 2 blanks to finish off with 15 points to add to his 23 for a total of 38 points .Eddie McHugh had a back nine of 19 points to add to his 19 on the first nine .Peter Smyth also added 19 to his first nine but the count back showed he had to give way to Eddie McHugh
So the wait then ensued as there was just one fourball left on the course .This fourball included Paul Travers ,the head green keeper who had been responsible for presenting the course in such excellent condition. He had a dismal 16 points on his first nine .He came alive on the homeward run as he played it in just 2 over not bad for a 14 handicap man .He had two gross Pars for the first three of the second nine and that gave him 10 points to put him on 26 and while the others in contention contrived to blank holes Paul stayed on course to win by a single point .He had won his first Alliance Major.
In the Gross former local man John G. McBride attached to Portsalon G.C. showed his local knowledge by racing into the lead with a one under first nine of 35 .He had 3 birdies and a bogey to put him in his position. Sean Quigg was level on 36 having had 2 birdies cancelled out with 2 bogies .The incoming Captain Michael McGeady seemed to be feeling the strain of his new office as he carded 3 bogies to finish the nine on 39 .Ben Corry, John G’S playing partner was on level par the result of a bogey cancelled out by a birdie.
So on to the back nine and all change John G.. dropped 3 strokes by the 15th as did Ben Corry Sean Quigg lost 2 strokes to par
Michael McGeady meanwhile had gone level for those 6 by dropping 2 strokes and picking up 2 birdies John G. on his final three holes dropped 2 shots Sean Quigg lost one by bogeying the 18th while the incoming captain who had well regained his composure played them in one under so it ended up that Michael won by one from Sean Quigg who pipped John G.
So that brought the curtain down on a most successful season which had seen all dates played and just this final day being delayed by 2 weeks.
The new season will start in Letterkenny G.C. on 21st September 2013