Castletown Golf Club
STEVE McGOWAN WINS THE 7TH ROUND OF THE WINTER LEAGUE
Neville Peterson Memorial cup holder Steve McGowan (7) - shown above after his ace at Royal Liverpool GC last year -was the Winter League winner at Castletown GC on Saturday. McGowan’s 42 points included three birdies and, until the 18th, he was on luscious level par. Closing out with his fourth bogey, McGowan signed for a 73 which was just two more than his best general play round of 71 recorded back in November 2021.
Taking advantage of his arrow-like approach shot hitting the pin on the 6th, Ian Souter (10) turned at level par with 23 points. Three putts on the 12th and 16th cost Souter - shown above over another knee-knocker - but a lucrative two on the 13th augmented his clubhouse credit for finishing second with 41 points. Souter also moved up to second in the Winter League, 12 points behind Frankie Doherty’s impressive 55.
Callum Brookes (17) nett eagled the 10th which counterbalanced his blobs on the 9th and 12th. Adding seven nett birdies, seven nett pars and a nett bogey earned Brookes 40 points for third place overall and placed him top in division two (handicaps of 11 and above).
Three players stepped in with 39 points with Michael Kinmond (12) crowned as the countback king despite a double bogey on the ‘gorge-us’ 18th. A back six countback was needed to separate Dermot Hamill (10) from David Quayle (2) for the remaining division one prize. Hamill prevailed notwithstanding Quayle’s sub-par round and third birdie on the 17th.
Four fellows finished with 38 points but only one division two prize remained. After a back-three count this went to Jimmy Kelly (15) as Mark Walker (14) was the latest victim of the ‘gully-ball’ 18th. Neither Alan Rowe (2) nor Mark Haywood (8) in ninth and tenth place respectively were eligible for consideration.
Bryan McMahon, who won the 4th round, did not add to his Winter League tally so remains on 39 points and slips to third place in the league. The aforementioned Hamill, who was victorious in round 2, now lies fourth in the league having gained 11 placement points after finishing fifth on Saturday.
Liam Cowin and Steven Boyd lead the gross eclectic at an amazing 14 under par. They are both yet to bag birdies on four holes. Martin Young is one point back on 59, with Rowe, Chris Kneen and Robert Noon sharing 4th place on 61.
With one round remaining, the nett eclectic leaderboard has closed up. Doherty’s superb 16 under par total is now just one better than Hamill and Young who are both on nett 57. Messrs. Kelly, Mark Healy, Jamie Garrett and Stuart Campbell are a further shot back on 58.
Midweek the ladies ventured out for their 9-hole Stableford which was won by Michelle Hooker with 19 points. Lady club champion Julie Amphlett came second with 16 and Louna Vermeulen came third with 13.
Having played all seven rounds so far, Claire Walker now heads the ladies’ winter eclectic having nett birdied five of the nine holes. Her nett 32 score being one better than both the lady captain Belinda Pilling and Leighton Cup holder Vermeulen.
On the previous Sunday in the mixed Stableford Patrick Swanney won with 38 points from his two over par round. Second was Terry Ditchfield who matched Swanney on the back-nine but he fell one short having N/R’d the 6th. Neil Cartwright finished third on 36 points from sixteen scoring holes.
This coming Saturday sees the Paddy’s Day Scramble which is an open competition. Call Oli in the pro-shop on 822211 if you wish to experience the ‘Links -effect’.
MALCOLM LAMBERTCreated by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.
