McCourt leads the field

On a pleasant day for golf the top pairing on the day was Gerry Cleary and Chris Wilson with a fine 48 points. Second place on the day was taken by the father and son pairing of Raymond and Aaron Taylor who recorded 47 points. Jimmy Mohan and Eddie Mitchell combined well for their third place scoring 45 points. Five other pairs qualified on the day and their details and also the match play draw can be found on the notice board in the men’s locker room

Sunday’s competition at Prehen was the Rathowen Cup open to ladies and men and this year it was the men who took the honours. David Hughes (19) was steadiness personified in accumulating the winning score of 41 points and that despite starting with a triple bogey six. He was followed in close order by Billy Acheson (24) with 39 points just getting the verdict from Jarleath Clarke on a tie break. Best of the ladies on the day was Mary O’Doherty (36), her only reward for her 37 points was a handicap reduction of two shots.

Next on the list at Prehen is the City of Derry Building Society Open on Saturday, with a special section for the ladies. Visitors are more than welcome

While Eamon McCourt (11) secretary of Prehen’s Thursday Society put his administrative duties to one side to concentrate on his golf and duly took home the prestigious Ted Pope Trophy last week with a very steady 39 points.

His 22 points on the back nine gave him the title on a count back from former Skipper of the Society Billy McKeegan (28). An ugly seven at the last hole proved very costly to Billy who was delighted however to be anywhere in the prize list. Third place went to Seamus Given (19) on 38 points; he will surely rue the successive blanks at 15 and 16. The front nine prize went to Jimmy Mohan ((14) with 19 points and the second nine went to Terry Coyle (7), a one under gross giving him an excellent 23 stableford points.

Prizes were presented by outgoing Skipper Mr Norman Kane and he handed over the reins to Michael Carroll who will preside over the Society’s affairs on its resumption on October 4.

Meanwhile The weekly Thursday Opens continue throughout the season and every Monday the fabulous golf and a meal deal for £15 has to be the best value in town. Bookings can be made online at www.cityofderrygolfclub.com or by phone at 02871311496

The weekly Thursday Open continued alongside the Ted Pope Trophy and Eugene Hillick (24) was the winner on 41 points courtesy of a tie break with rising star Kealan Quigg (2). And that despite a double bogey at the last two holes.

Gary Brown (14) took third place with 38 points and best of a bunch on 37 points was Gary McKinney (12) who took the fourth net prize. Kealan had the best gross of the day. Best of the visitors on the day was Keith Lapsley (5) from Dunfanaghy.

Golfers in the North West are reminded that Prehen’s Open Week this year takes place from May 26th until June 3rd and the can book times on the club’s website at www.cityofderrygolfclub.com or phone 71311496.