Yvonne and Alex take top spot on a historic day for Banbridge GC

Last Sunday was a special day in the history of Banbridge Golf Club.
By Tommy Fee
Published 20th Mar 2015, 13:44 BST
The Banbridge GC captain Bill McCandless and Lady Captain Lorna Poots along with the Captain's Drive-In Mixed Foursomes winners Yvonne Gallaway and Alex Clarke.The Banbridge GC captain Bill McCandless and Lady Captain Lorna Poots along with the Captain's Drive-In Mixed Foursomes winners Yvonne Gallaway and Alex Clarke.
The Banbridge GC captain Bill McCandless and Lady Captain Lorna Poots along with the Captain's Drive-In Mixed Foursomes winners Yvonne Gallaway and Alex Clarke.

First of all, the newly designed first and second holes were open for play for the first time.

Everybody thought they were marvellous.

The new club caterers, Karen and Nigel Heslip, also launched their latest venture, the Downshire at Banbridge Golf Club. It was an outstanding success. Let’s hope it is well supported throughout the year ahead.

Alan McGowan, a recent winner of the Saturday Stableford (left), with Morris Phillips, Philip Strong and Joe E. Hamilton at Banbridge GC.Alan McGowan, a recent winner of the Saturday Stableford (left), with Morris Phillips, Philip Strong and Joe E. Hamilton at Banbridge GC.
Alan McGowan, a recent winner of the Saturday Stableford (left), with Morris Phillips, Philip Strong and Joe E. Hamilton at Banbridge GC.
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And, to crown it all, the two captains for 2015, Bill McCandless and Lorna Poots, got the season up and running in the traditional manner. They led the way in the Captain’s Drive-in Mixed Foursomes.

Bill (7) and Lorna (28) played really well together and they finished in fourth place with 28 points.

Karen Curran (20) and her husband Sherwin (14) were third, also with 28 points.

Last year’s winners, the Rooney partnership of Jacinta (29) and Seamus (9), were runners-up with 29 points.

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The privilege of lifting the beautiful trophy went to Yvonne Galloway (27) and Alex Clarke (13) who won with 29 points. They were delighted and rightly so.

It was a brilliant day all round and it augurs well for the rest of the season.

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH

Norman Robb is enjoying a marvellous run of form. He won the Saturday Sweep on the 28th of February, was runner-up in the Sunday Sweep the following day and then won the next Sunday Sweep.

And he won it in some style. His winning score of nett 28.5 was the best score for the nine holes Sunday course this year. He was a mere three and a half shots ahead of his friend Ian Craven.

1st- Norman Robb (25) Nett 28.5.

2nd- Ian Craven (18) Nett 32.

SATURDAY 14TH MARCH

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Aidan Doran played the 14 holes of the Saturday Sweep in only four over par. That gave him a superb score of 38 points and he won the competition, beating Stanley Dickson on countback.

Aidan is far too good a player to have a handicap of 18. Now that he has experienced the sweet smell of success, he will be determined to get that handicap down again.

The golfing season proper starts this week with all 18 holes in play. Coming off a performance like this, Aidan could have his eye on a major win. I wouldn’t bet against him.

Winner: Aidan Doran (18) 38 pts

Section 0-12

1st- Malcolm Hanna (12) 36 pts

2nd- John McDowell (12) 35 pts

Section 13-17

1st- Cameron Morton (13) 33 pts

2nd- Tom Fee (14) 33 pts

Section 18+

1st- Stanley Dickson (20) 38 pts

2nd- Norman Robb (25) 36 pts

Best Gross; Conor Mulholland (5) 30 gross pts (2 under)

Best Senior: Gary McCormick (11) 34 pts