McGeady wins in Rosapenna gale

Sandy Hills Golf Links, Rosapenna. Picture via Rosapenna.ie 

Michael McGeady followed his winning 60 at Dunfahaghy last week with a 71 gale force winds to claim the nett (and the gross) as well as the Golfer of the Season prize in the North West Golfing Alliance outing at Rosapenna's Sandy Hills on Saturday.

The reigning Irish PGA champion was among the early starters at the Co Donegal links and out in the teeth of the storm.

After going to the turn in one over par with bogeys at the fifth and seventh and a birdie at the ninth, he got back to level par with a birdie at the 11th.

Birdies at the 13th and 14th followed by a bogey at 16th left him one under at the finish and even off a handicap of plus three, he had 34 points to win the nett by four from Eddie McHugh.

His 71 would also have won the gross but that fell to former British Amateur champion Brian McElhinney, who finished eight behind after a 79 on a day when Padraig MacLochlann had an eagle at the 17th.

In the final standings for Golfer of the Season standings, McGeady topped the gross with 72 with McElhinney on 61 and young Letterkenny professional Finnian O’Doherty on 29.

The nett was a close-fought affair, however, and while reigning champion Odran McGettigan was leading by one from Eddie McHugh and four from his brother Maurice going into the final event, he was blown away by the wind.

McHugh triumphed and Odran was then beaten on the break of tie for the runner up spot by Maurice.

The last competition of the year will take place in a fortnight's time when Michael McGeady's Captain's Prize takes place at North West on March 22.

North West Golfing Alliance, Rosapenna (Sandy Hills) Golf Club, Par 72

Nett
1st Michael McGeady (+3) North West 34 Pts
2nd Eddie McHugh (15) Strabane 30 Pts
3rd Marty McDermott (5) Rosapenna 30 Pts
4th Kieran Ryan (9) Letterkenny 30 Pts
5th Eamonn O’Carroll(16) Letterkenny 28 Pts
6th Maurice McGettigan(16) Strabane 28 Pts

Gross
1st Brian McElhinney (+3) Foyle Golf Academy 79
2nd John G.McBride (scr) Portsalon 80
3rd Noel Callan (scr) Faughan Valley 83
4th Keelan Quigg (+1) City of Derry 84
5th Seamus Patton (5) Portsalon 87
6th Jamie Foley (4) Letterkenny 90
“2”’s T Meenan, J Patton and Kevin Quigg

Next outing: Captain's Prize (Michael McGeady), North West GC, March 22 .