What a day in the life of Banbridge GC as John is the Fab One!

Ula McCandless, a lovely 85-year-old lady, said that last Saturday was one of the most enjoyable days of her life.
Banbridge Golf Club Captain Bill McCandless presented the Captains Cup to Captains Day winner John Lennon ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-244EBBanbridge Golf Club Captain Bill McCandless presented the Captains Cup to Captains Day winner John Lennon ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-244EB
Banbridge Golf Club Captain Bill McCandless presented the Captains Cup to Captains Day winner John Lennon ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-244EB

It was her son Bill’s Captain’s Day at Banbridge Golf Club and it was a memorable day from start to finish.

Bill had everything organised to perfection.

The course never looked better, the prizes were magnificent, the food was delightful and the evening entertainment was top class as well.

Captain Bill McCandless with Captains Day prizewinners, Ross Livingston (visitors), Connor Doran (best gross), Alan McVey (Thursday prize), Paul McAleavey (team Captains prize), Tony Ewbanks (Captains guest prize) and Dennis Lockhart (Past Captains prize) ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-247EBCaptain Bill McCandless with Captains Day prizewinners, Ross Livingston (visitors), Connor Doran (best gross), Alan McVey (Thursday prize), Paul McAleavey (team Captains prize), Tony Ewbanks (Captains guest prize) and Dennis Lockhart (Past Captains prize) ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-247EB
Captain Bill McCandless with Captains Day prizewinners, Ross Livingston (visitors), Connor Doran (best gross), Alan McVey (Thursday prize), Paul McAleavey (team Captains prize), Tony Ewbanks (Captains guest prize) and Dennis Lockhart (Past Captains prize) ©Edward Byrne Photography INBL1531-247EB

The Captain’s Charity was the Special Olympics and a lot of money was raised for this worthy cause. The presence of two renowned local Olympians, Mark Blevins and Paul Ewbanks, added to the occasion.

The competition, as expected, was razor keen. The top two players were the talk of the clubhouse.

Rory Leonard, playing off a plus one handicap, went round in 63 shots equalling the course record set by his good friend, Connor Doran, two days previously.

And Rory did it in some style. He had a hole in one at the final hole. Can you believe it?

Rory had a total of 19 putts in his round, never missing a putt from the fourth green onwards.

In contrast, Connor had 31 puts in his course record round on Thursday. He was left feeling he could have gone even lower in an impeccable round!

Not even Rory’s record-equalling efforts were enough to take the main prize on a sterling day’s golf though.

The winner, John Lennon, pretends that he doesn’t actually like golf.

He will like it a lot more after winning the Captain’s Prize.

John was round in 73 gross with birdies at 9, 10 and 16.

His nett 61 converted to a total of 44 points and he won by three points.

To say he was delighted would be the understatement of the year. His acceptance speech was befitting for this special event.

It was a wonderful day, no doubt about it. It’s no wonder that the captain’s mother enjoyed it so much. She must have been proud of her son and rightly so.

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