GOLF: Albert tops the scores in the Winter League

All the news from round five of ther Banbridge Golf Club Winter League with Tommy Fee.
Albert Morrison was top scorer in round five of the Mervyn Stewart Winter League at Banbridge Golf Club with a superb 38 points over just 14 holes. That proved enough to win the 20+ handicap section.Albert Morrison was top scorer in round five of the Mervyn Stewart Winter League at Banbridge Golf Club with a superb 38 points over just 14 holes. That proved enough to win the 20+ handicap section.
Albert Morrison was top scorer in round five of the Mervyn Stewart Winter League at Banbridge Golf Club with a superb 38 points over just 14 holes. That proved enough to win the 20+ handicap section.

THE MERVYN STEWART SKODA WINTER LEAGUE - ROUND FIVE

THE TOP PLAYERS

Joe Glass (Team Two) and Malcolm Russell (Team Four) are the only two players to have won all their five games and scored 30 points or better every round, writes TOMMY FEE.

Tony Lunney and Albert Morrison, both from Team Three, are the only other players to have won all of their five games.

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John Crothers (Team Four), John J Lennon (Team Six) and Jim Cochrane (Team Nine) are so far undefeated after five rounds of the Winter League.

Tom Mulholland (Team Eight) also deserves credit for scoring 30 points or better every round.

Sad to say, eight players have so far failed to gain a single point. In one or two cases, if they played more often, they might have a chance of winning.

THE LEAGUE POSITIONS

Five rounds played, four to go, and Cecil Johnston’s Team Three have 85 points and a lead of 12 points.

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Michael Robinson’s Team Nine are in second place with 73 points. They gained four points on the leaders in round five.

Team Ten, led this week by John Poots, are in third place with 72 points. They too gained ground on the leaders in round five.

Paddy Malcolmson’s Team Four are still in the running for honours. They currently lie in fourth place with 71 points.

ALBERT MORRISON IS THE TOP SCORER IN ROUND FIVE

Albert Morrison (Team Three) shot the best score in the fifth round of the winter league, a superb 38 points. Albert won the 20+ handicap section.

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Gareth Martin (Team Seven) won the low section (0-10) for the second time with a score of 34 points (35-1).

Joe Glass (Team Two) won the 11-14 handicap section with 35 points.

Rory Leonard won the gross prize for the third time with 31 gross points.

And, finally, the great Cecil Johnston (Team Three) won the prize for best senior with 31 points.

Well done, one and all.

THE MATCH REPORTS

TEAM ONE V TEAM SIX

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Teams One and Six are sitting in joint fifth place in the Winter League after five rounds. Team S, led this round by Kenny Arlow, beat John Parkes’ Team One by 16 points to 12.

Kenny lost 27-28 against John but he was there to cheer Kevin McKay 33, Jonathan Ward 29, Colin McDonald 28, John J. Lennon 27, Jim Lennon 27, Brian Parkes 27 and Cathal McAnarney 27 into the winner’s enclosure.

Colin Kennedy drew 24-24 with Philip McCourt. Kenny Baines drew 24-24 with Michael Gillen.

The winners for Team One were Philip Mallon 28, John Parkes 28, Bobby Barnes 25, John Canning 26 and Dougie Stevenson 22.

TEAM TWO V TEAM TEN

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John Poots led Team Ten to a 16-12 win over Roy McAfee’s Team Two in round five of the Winter League.

John and Roy played out a friendly little draw, 27 points each.

Brian Mulholland 30, Joe Thompson 30, Martin Cassidy 29, Andrew Robb 26, Lyle Rea 26, Vaughan Lamont 24 and Felix Duffy 19 all won for Team Ten. In the top game, Eugene Weir drew, 30-30, against Rory Leonard.

Team Ten are in third place and hoping to go higher.

Jim Matthews 28 was delighted to get his first win for Team Two. Other wins followed from Joe Glass 35, Mervyn Waddell 35, John Crozier 30 and Kerry McCluskey 25.

TEAM THREE V TEAM NINE

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The two leading teams in the Winter League, Three and Nine, met in round five.

Despite losing 12-16, Cecil Johnston’s Team Three maintain the lead but it has been reduced to 12 points.

Cecil beat Michael Robinson 31-24 and further wins came in from Gordon Haire 33, Joe Whiteside 26, Robert Canning 30, Tony Lunney 25 and the star of the week, Albert Morrison 38.

Team Nine are playing really well and they still think they can win this Winter League. They have won three times and drawn once and are certainly the in-form team.

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Their winners in round five were Rory Madeley 28, Peter Hillen 30, Jim Cochrane 30, Trevor Mulholland 32, Freddie Rowan 30, Aidan Doran 28, Sherwin Curran 29 and Niall Parfitt 31.

TEAM FOUR V TEAM EIGHT

Team Four, led by Paddy Malcolmson, beat Team Eight by 16 points to 12 and they stay in fourth place. They have their eye on a podium finish.

Six players scored in the 30s and they all won. They were Malcolm Russell 31, Cameron Morton 31, John Crothers 31, Dennis Lockhart 30, Eamon McConville 30 and Eamon Galloway 32.

Mel Hylands 29 and Jim Minnis 28 were the other two winners.

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The happiest man on Team Eight was Stuart Faulkner who secured his first win for the team.

Paul Magennis 31, Tom Mulholland 31, Norman Robb 31, Jack Bickerstaff 33 and their captain for the week, Bobby Geddis 29, all won for Team Eight.

TEAM FIVE V TEAM SEVEN

Team Five, led by Alan Dale, beat Sydney Pepper’s Team Seven 15-13 and they moved up three places on the league table to joint fifth.

Kieran McGreevey got his first points with a 33-28 victory over Gerry Blevins. Other wins followed from Alan Caughey 26, Gordon Cruikshanks 30, Paul Faulkner 26, Tom Fee 27, Robert Murdoch 28 and Patrick McAleenan 30.

Merton McDowell drew 24-24 with Noel Burns.

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Gareth Martin was once again the star player for Team Seven. He beat Neil Diamond 35-31. What a game that was.

Paul McAleavey 31, Damian Weir 26, Sydney Pepper 26, Shane Crossan 33 and Norman Doak 30 also won for Team Seven.

Team Seven were my tip to win the league and, after five rounds, they are in last position. My reputation as a tipster is in tatters.

SWEEP RESULTS

SUNDAY 13TH NOVEMBER

Colin Smylie won the Sunday Sweep six times in 2014 and three times last year. It’s hard to believe that it has taken him until now to get his first win this year. Is the opposition getting stronger?

1st- Colin Smylie (18) Nett 31.

2nd- Eugene Weir (5) Nett 31.5.

3rd- Alan Dale (11) Nett 33.5.

4th- Martin Cassidy (17) Nett 33.5.

MONDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

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Brian Mulholland is a magician when it comes to the short game. His pitching, chipping and putting skills are phenomenal. It’s certainly paying dividends in recent sweeps.

1st- Brian Mulholland (11) 32 pts

2nd- Albert Morrison (21) 30 pts