The Grand Island Scratch Bowl and Hydro Trophy finally went ahead on Sunday at Ramsey sponsored by Johnny Cowley of Fairway Construction Limited.

Johnny’s round was solid enough but a 75 was not quite enough to make the grade on an excellent days golfing at Ramsey. In fact Keith Ward’s 70 only just made 10th place although he shared the best gross with a 75. Keith Ward had birdies on the 13th and 14th but generously gave both shots away on the 15th and the best gross prize to David Kinrade by a whisker. Kinrade’s back 9 of 36 was superb with only a minor blip on the 13th. The nett prizes were all fought out by players posting solid sub-par rounds and it’s good to see the new members at the Club making their mark, but they didn’t have it all their own way. Captain Hassall posted a 69 after birdies on the 3rd and 5th and again on the stroke 1, 15th but he laboured towards the close with dropped shots on the 16th and 17th. The Captain was one of 5 tied on 69. Lee Earnshaw with birdies on the 4th and 14th was steady enough although the 15th and 16th saw crucial dropped shots take away his advantage. Ray McElhinney also shot a super 69 and keeping a steady hand on the back 9 until a final dropped shot on the 18th lost him a potential podium spot. Dan Williams also shot a 69 and an excellent 36 back 9 almost put him right in the top order but a bogey 15th was his downfall. Great back 9’s were the key and Gary Brown’s 38 gave him a nett 68 and 4th place. Again, a dropped shot on the 15th was his downfall in what was otherwise flawless golf on the closing holes. The top 3 was fought out between Dave Ball, Steve Taylor and Glen Charnock. Both Steve Taylor and Glen Charnock are the in-form players leading up to Ramsey Golf Week but Dave Ball can always shoot a few birdies and this round was a good example. With birdies on the 5th, 14th and 16th he was right up there. The flip side was letting it slip on the 15th and 17th and Dave Ball just needed that extra magic on the 18th to tie 2nd but had to settle for a par and 3rd place. Steve Taylor produced a sterling front 9 helped by a birdie on the 4th which placed him well up the leader board going into the closing holes. Glen Charnock had a steady front 9 and wasn’t really in a position to threaten the leaders. Dropped shots on the 9th and 11th didn’t help his cause but form is infectious and a good finish would give him a top 3 spot. Pars on the 16th and 17th followed by a great birdie finish and a nett 64 left him 2 shots clear of Steve Taylor and champion golfer for the day.

Next Saturday is the prestigious Davy Jones Memorial Trophies, men’s, ladies and juniors open competitions in memory of a great Island golf Champion, Davy Jones, sponsored by his sister Claire, a day and night not to be missed!