Alastair takes Visitors Cup at Portstewart

A front nine of level par gross, including two birdie twos, saw him five up and, although the course bit back at the tenth, Alastair regained his five up position at eleven.

A series of halves from twelve to seventeen was broken at the final hole where a par was enough to get his total to six up and to an assured victory.

Three players vied for runner-up spot, Paul Hewitt taking this on countback. Paul went one up at the first and a good five at the fourth put him two ahead.

An unfortunate six followed at the long fifth and he finished the front nine one up. Two wins and two losses started the back stretch before Paul hit his stride and series of pars saw him run out four up on the day.

This finish kept him ahead of Kevin (Slim) Doherty (10), who was two up on each nine, and Gary Wolfe (19) whose back nine of one up saw him moved into fourth spot on countback.

Other prizes went to Barry McGrotty (6) and Roy Martin (19, both on three up. Ivan McDonald, at three up, had to disqualify himself as he signed for the wrong score, I’m sure Roy will see him all right!

Best gross score of the day went to ‘the Quiet Man’ Stephen Garrett for his return of 74. A level par front nine included birdies at the first and fourth.

The back nine was more sedate with only one birdie, the thirteenth, and several bogeys to add a two over par 38 to his outward 36.