Paul O’Shea enjoyed a double dose of Christmas cheer by lifting the Boxing Day Sweep with 43pts off 21.
He had 6 nett birdies and 2 nett eagles to bring his golfing year to a close in the best possible fashion.In second place came Canice McGivern with 42pts off 10. He was very much in contention until an unwelcome and belated double bogey at 17 left him just short. Five players had 40pts and the remaining nett prizes were decided after close inspection of their performances over the closing holes. Third place eventually went to the fluid swing of Olcan Kearney whose level par round gave him 40pts off 4. Two over par at the turn he birdied the two par 5s coming home to claim the last podium spot.
The other players on 40pts were Mark Headley, 4, Ryan Harbinson, 5, and Joe Dowey Jnr, 7. Mark had 2 birdies and 2 bogeys for a level par round of 70. Ryan’s round of 71 meant he continues to have the edge in the battle for golfing supremacy in the Harbinson household, while Joe’s recent form suggests that 40pts is just another day at the office for him now. The exceptionally consistent Jim McKee was the third player of the day to go around in level par, but he was unable to find a place among the honours. Two over par after 16, his pair of closing birdies will have been a most pleasing conclusion to an extremely steady round. Only one player managed to break par on the day and he did it in some considerable style to take the day’s gross prize. Ronan McCrory birdied the opening two holes and added further birdies at 14, 15 and 18. He managed to throw in 13 pars to accompany those five birdies and return a gross 65 which will surely be one of the lowest rounds of the winter.