Club Captain wins Pro’s Day event at Galgorm Castle

However it was not only a two man event as several others came very close to taking the first prize.

Teeing off at lunchtime, little did Foster and Mailey anticipate what lay ahead. After the front nine Jonathan Keys (18) was one point ahead of Brian McFall (27). A point behind McFall came Stephen Mailey (8), Roy Bell (12) and Gareth Beckington (15).

A further point behind came Lyle Foster (7), James McKendry (13), Jonathan Rodgers (3), David Boyd (25) and Keith Clements (17).

Through 13, Mailey, Rodgers and McFall had moved up to join Keys (‘ding’ at 13) with Bell and Beckington one point behind. Another point down came McKendry who was one point ahead of Clements.

Foster showed his hand for the first time when he upped his game with a run of two birdies and a par over the next three holes and joined Mailey (three pars) at the head of the field with two to play.

However they were not having things all to themselves as close up only one point behind they were being pressurised by McKendry, Boyd, McFall, Keys and Bell – all waiting for either or both the front two to slip.

Rodgers and Beckington (‘ding’ at 16) were at one point intervals respectively further behind. With only three points separating these ten golfers a close finish was envisaged and so it turned out.

Foster and Mailey finished strongly with each recording two pars to remain one point ahead of the rest and with a better back nine Foster took the honours with Mailey in second place.

McKendry (two pars) and Boyd (two bogeys) finished together and with a better back six, McKendry just held off Boyd for third place.

Keys came home double bogey, par which was enough for him to take the final placing.

Rodgers (two pars), McFall (bogey, ‘ding’), Clements (bogey, par), Bell (two bogeys) and Beckington (bogey, par) all finished together one point out of the placings.

Rodgers won the Gross with 36 pts.

Chappell won nearest the pin at the fifth and Tony Carroll won nearest the pin at the fourteenth.

There was also a prize for beating the Pro at the par three seventh.

Golfers were treated to refreshments at halfway.

Twos were recorded by: D Chappell, J Andrews, T Carroll (x2), Paul Houston, G Irwin, S McCormick, N Nicholl, M Herbison, S Mailey, GMcWilliams, G Millar, D Robinson, D Stirling jnr, A Atkinson, L Foster and P Hughes.