EXPERIENCED PADDY AND JIMMY CLINCH THE CUPS

Among the final pieces of silverware on offer from County Armagh Golf Club's 2017 fixture list were the Half Century Cup and the Arthur Mayne Cup, both of which were contested on Saturday 2 September.

As its title might suggest, the Half Century Cup is competed for by those whose 50th birthday has been and gone, and emerging triumphant from this practised coterie was Jimmy Wilson with a hefty 41-point salvo. After birdies at the 2nd and 5th arrived either side of bogeys at the 3rd and 4th, Wilson proceeded to par all but one of his remaining 13 holes, with his only other dropped shot of the day coming up on the 10th. This meant that Jimmy would sign for a fantastic gross 71 that enabled him to add the Half Century Cup to the Junior Scratch Cup that he lifted earlier in what has been a brilliantly fruitful campaign for the now five-handicapper.

County Armagh Golf Club Captain, Richard Stewart, awards the Half-Century Cup to Jimmy Wilson. Also pictured are Ian O'Hea and Paul McCurry, who came 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Another player to have featured frequently among the prizes in recent months is Ian O'Hea, and he notched a runner-up finish here by virtue of a 40-point round that owed much to a marvellous back nine containing six pars and a birdie at the 18th. Testament to O'Hea's successful season is the reduction of his handicap from 15 to 12 since the qualifiers began in April — there's seemingly much to be said for warm-weather golfing training.