Surprise results in first round of the Haughton-Smyth Cup

Bill McCandless congratulates his good friend Kerry McCluskey on his tie hole victory in the Haughton Smyth Cup.

Jamie Thompson beat Cecil Wilson 7 and 6.

Now I find that hard to believe but that’s the score on the noticeboard.

Matthew Mallon beat Mark McCoy 3 and 1. There was very little to choose between these two talented young players.

Kerry McCluskey, my tip for the title, beat his good friend Bill McCandless at the second tie hole.

Stephen Shaw beat Gerard Degan. Stephen has already won the T.B. Wallace Cup and he is hoping to add the Haughton Smyth Cup to his list of achievements.

Kenny Stevenson beat Barry Tumilty 1 up. Kenny is without doubt one of the greatest match players the Banbridge club has ever produced and he is just as enthusiastic today as he was 50 years ago.

Alan McGowan beat Alan McVey. This was a brilliant win for as he was up against one of the best players in the club.

Norman Robb beat Brian Mulholland 1 up. Norman was not overawed by Brian’s reputation and he pulled off his greatest matchplay result to date.

Malcolm Russell beat Philip Strong. Philip would have fancied his chances but now he knows how good a player Malcolm really is.

BANBRIDGE MIXED TEAM ARE INTO THE LAST 16 IN ULSTER.

The Banbridge GUI Mixed Foursomes team, captained by Gerry and Denise McBrien, went to the neutral venue of Tandragee last Sunday to play against Lurgan.

Colin Wilton and Mary Joe Thompson were out first and they played superb golf to win 4 and 3.

Seamus Rooney and Anne Maire Canavan hardly made a mistake as they coasted to a 5 and 4 win.

Banbridge were 2-0 ahead and only needed one more game for victory.

And that wasn’t long in coming.

Harry Shannon and Mildred Hodgett gelled beautifully on the golf course at Tandragee. They won 3 and 2.

That was it all over.

Martin McAleenan and Mary Longmore were 2 up after 16 holes when they were called in.

Cathal O’Neill and Fionulla Crossey were a few holes in arrears but it was of no consequence.

This was a great win for Banbridge and they now go into an open draw along with the other top 15 clubs in Ulster.