Jim Cochrane is the winner of the Ross Thompson competition

There was a good turn out as usual and the standard of scoring was excellent.

The calculated standard scratch score was nett 68. This was equalled by 9 players and beaten by 16.

The nine golfers on nett 68 were Kieran Magennis (5), William Malcolmson (5), Shane Rooney (7), Nigel Bryson (8), Cathal O’Neill (11), David McComb (12), Colin McDonald (13), Glenn Buchanan (20) and Joe McConville (21).

Kevin Smyth (12), Alan Caughey (12), Dennis Watt (16 now 15), John Fitzpatrick (17), James Bryson (19) and Trevor Savage (27 now 26) all finished with nett 67’s.

And that brings us to the top 10 players on the day.

John McDowell (11 now 10), Jim Minnis (12), John Crothers (13) and Brendon Berry (20) played extremely well for their nett 66’s.

Philip McCourt (13 now 12) was in sixth place with his nett 65 and he got the prize for the best senior player.

Rory Madeley (4 now 3) was fifth with another nett 65. Rory, for the fifth time this season, won the best gross prize thanks to a level par 69.

The top four players all finished with nett 64’s.

Young Josh Lockhart (6 now 5) was fourth. Bogeys at 15 and 16 cost him dearly but he still was round in one over par gross 70 and that is superb golf.

Gareth McGregor (11 now 10) was third with his nett 64. Gareth started poorly and he was 5 over par after 6 holes. He recovered brilliantly to climb up to third place in the field.

Tom Mulholland (10 now 9) was second with yet another nett 64. A lovely birdie at the 17th gave Tom a real chance of victory. He needed a par at the last but just couldn’t do it. But he was delighted to get his handicap back into single figures once again.

The winner, one of the most consistent players in the club, was Dromore man, Jim Cochrane (11 now 10).

Jim’s round had its ups and downs and it clearly illustrates the importance of not giving up. He took a nasty seven at the third hole and found himself eight over par at the turn. Many another player would have given up, but not Jim. He proceeded to play the second nine holes in two under par gross and won the competition on countback. How about that for a recovery!

There were two amazing shots hit during the Ross Thompson competition. Shane Rooney had a hole-in-one at the 12th and Michael Robinson also had a hole-in-one at the 15th. How about that! That makes a total of four aces this season, the others being Gareth Magee and Paul McAleavey.

But the hero of the hour was Jim Cochrane. Don’t forget to congratulate him if you meet him.