Martin Makes Magic: Lynagh Lands Medal No.3 with Personal Best Performance as Hart Jnr Threatened New Course Record with his PB

 

Some day for scoring on the hill on Saturday with some magnificent scoring, both nett and gross and none more so than the 2 lowest scores in those categories with Martin "China" Lynagh recording his best ever score of 75 nett 63, beating his previous best of 77 a number of years ago. 

 

Last years Championship Runner Up Michael Hart Jnr shrugged off his consistent tag this weekend with a superb 65, his best competitive score, beating his previous PB of 66 in 2022. 12 pars, 6 birdies and 9 3's. 

 

Scratch Medal 

 

No surprises that Michael secured the top prize in the scratch medal but there was some excellent scoring behind Michael as well with 5 players recording below par scores. Vice Captain Clark Hill maintained his good start to the season with a 68 (5 birdies and 2 bogeys) for second place with Ian McMillan and big hitting Mark Turnbull both returning 69s, Ian also going bogey free and Mark recording 4 birdies in 5 holes around the turn. 

 

First Class 

 

No real surprise that some of the players above also featured prominently in First Class but Simon Leonard showed what he's capable of with the only gross 71 of the day for a nett 64. Keeping the theme I think that's also Simon's personal best competitive score as well, it's difficult to tell scrolling through his 455000 rounds submitted! 10 pars, 4 bogeys and 4 birdies, 2 of which came in the last 5 holes. 

 

Second Class 

 

China came out top in 2nd class winning by 3 from Alan Williamson, not Alan's PB but his best score since July 2021, A good effort having started with a double bogey 6 but Alan steadied the ship and delivered a much improved back 9 despite starting that half with a 7. James Armstrong Jnr took 3rd spot, a further 2 shots behind Alan on nett 68, fairly steady stuff with a 2 at 7 the highlight. 

 

Third Class 

 

It was tighter at the top in 3rd Class. James Johnston came out on top with a nett 67, a strong front 9 that included a birdie at 8, a not so good back 9 with some fairly steady stuff and the odd blip but still done enough to see off Graeme Lester and Bradley Campbell by 1 shot, both Graeme and Bradley returning nett 68s. Graeme's card was very consistent, lots in the way of nett pars and birdies. Bradley was on course to break 90 for the first time competitively but let's just leave it at a "poor" finish cost him that milestone and almost definitely the 3rd class medal....I've no doubt it's just around the corner though Bradley. 

 

FerEx 

 

Clark Hill proved why he's the early season leader extending his lead at the top of the standings with his 5th place finish, that's a 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 18th place so far, that's excellent golf for someone of Clark's low handicap. He's been pestering me about sorting these metal lockers, I really ought to get him onto that to disrupt his season! These McCluskey's like the FerEx, dad Muir has been a consistent performer in this the last couple of years but it's son Muir that's representing the family well, although not hitting the heights of his 2nd in the Spring Meeting his consistent scores have him in 2nd (Dad is in 22nd place) Craig Shaw recorded his 2nd top 15 finish in 4 events and moves up to 3rd from 8th. Simon Leonard, again no stranger to the upper echelons of FerEx qualifying bolts from 33rd to 4th courtesy of his 2nd place 175 points....look out those above. Martin Lynagh's 200 points means he completes the top 5, moving from 46th. 

 

Victory Shield Qualifiers 

 

Clark had already qualified from Q1 so the following players will be added to the 8 already qualified. 

 

• Martin Lynagh
• Simon Leonard
• Michael Hart Jnr 
• Alan Williamson 
• Mark Turnbull 
• James Johnston 
• Tony McGorrian 
• Graeme Lester