MAGIC MACKIN SHINES IN SUNDAY SUN

As the wall-to-wall sunshine continues to bathe County Armagh Golf Club's fairways and provide glorious golfing conditions for the playing hopefuls, it glimmered brightest for Tommy Mackin on 24 June when he landed tournament victory.

The Sunday Stroke event was sponsored by Hugh McElvanna Drapery and Footwear and witnessed Tommy deliver a fantastic display in which, crucially, he managed to keep anything worse than a bogey off his scorecard.

Three pars on each nine allied with a bonus birdie boost at the 3rd ultimately led to a wonderful gross 80 and accruing nett 65 that earned Mackin a new handicap of 13 and kept him ahead of the chasing pack.

Prizewinners in the recent Open Stroke event at County Armagh Golf Club (L-R) Dermot O'Neill, Calum Connell, Joe Rhodie, Robert Patterson and Tommy Mackin are pictured alongside Hugh McElvanna of McElvanna Drapery and Footwear, competition sponsors, and Club Captain, Colm Shannon.

The best of that group was Robert Patterson, who was just one shot off Tommy's pace. Robert bagged the overall runner-up award courtesy of a high-quality nett 66 that incorporated seven pars and an admirable riposte to the frustration of two double bogeys in the opening three holes.