Irish Mixed Foursomes

Matchplay Team Reports

Competition:	Irish Mixed Foursomes
Opponents:	Mahee Island
Date & Venue:	Monday 18^th July at Downpatrick GC
Match Result:	Rockmount lost 3-2
Team Captain:	Dougie Fairweather & Heather Mills

Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Warren Burnside Moyra Evans		4 17		Won on 1^st Tie hole
Jimmy Robinson Lorraine		8 17		Lost 2&1
Gordon Goodfellow Jan Lindsay		13 16		Lost 2 & 1
Paul Mearns Helen Hall		11 18		Called in
David Blair Leonie Power		14 16		Lost 7 & 6
Our run in the mixed foursomes came to an end in this quarter final stage. Beaten by a marginally better team on the night, but only just. A very tight ding dong match with many highs and lows. Our team were in great spirit with a great belief in themselves. Out first Warren & Moyra had a tough match against a very good Mahee pairing. After finding themselves 3 down after 13 holes, they dug in deep to win the next 4 holes only to lose the 18^th and go up the 1^st tie hole. After being stuck in the trees from Warrens tee shot, Moyra played out but hit a tree and the ball fell in some tree roots. Their opponents in the middle of the fairway look good to win this match. But an awesome wonder shot from Warren hitting from between tree roots, under tree branches somehow hit the green and the ball finished a few inches from the pin to win the hole and their match. But as this drama was unfolding on the 19^th hole, our next three pairings were unravelling at the 17^th green one by one matches were lost on this hole. This did not reflect the closeness these three matches were throughout the game. Jimmy & Lorraine were either all square or 1 up for most of the match and had a great game only to lose at the 17^th. Some great shots were played by both players, but the putts did not want to fall, lip outs seemed to be Jimmy’s nemeses. A few more fallen putts and this match could have gone our way, but tonight it wasn’t Rockmounts night. Gordon & Jan playing good steady golf were always up or all square until the last few holes. Really good steady golf from this pair, but again things went Mahee’s way on the last three holes. Losing 2 & 1 shows the tightness of this match. Paul & Helen were 4^th group out and like the previous two matches, they had a ding dong very close match. At the 9^th hole after Paul found the fairway bunker from his tee shot, Helen played the sensible shot out and safe, which left Paul to stitch a chip close to the pin and from looking like losing this hole they ended up wining it with a par. Steady golf was the order of the day, but for a few wayward shots and unfortunate lip outs on their putts and this match could have been so different result. David & Leonie bringing up the rear didn’t have the best of luck or rub of the green. After carding a promising practice round, the going was a bit tougher on the night. They struggled on courageously but couldn’t repeat their past performance and eventually lost 7 & 6. After much drama our Irish Mixed team’s run in this years competition came to an end. But on the positive side, it has been a long time since we got past the qualifying round and into the quarter finals. We as a club must build upon this achievement for next years. We have the nucleus of a great squad great players and a great team spirit to take forth for future years. On behalf of Heather and myself we would like to applaud our Irish Mixed Squad for a great campaign this year, the highs and the lows, but most of all the brilliant Team fighting spirit shown by all players. Dougie Fairweather

Matchplay Team Reports

Competition:	Irish Mixed Foursomes
Opponents:	Fortwilliam
Date & Venue:	Tuesday 21^st June at Knock Golf Club
Match Result:	Rockmount won 3 matches out of 5
Team Captain:	Dougie Fairweather & Heather Mills

Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Robert Patterson Diane Patterson		11 15		Won 7 & 5
Warren Burnside Moyra Evans		4 17		On 1^st tie hole when called in
Gordon Goodfellow Christine Martin		12 20		1 down going up 18^th hole
Barry Douds Lorraine		6 17		Won 4 & 2
Mark Wynne Anne Wynne		5 26		Won 3 & 2
After a short delay due o extreme weather conditions and flash flood, the greens were still flooded when the teams teed off at the 1^st,but thankfully the course dried up quickly as the matches progressed. Robert & Diane got off on the charge and by the time I caught up with them at the ninth they were 4 up. As the others came through the ninth, Robert & Diane were back at the ninth after securing a brilliant 7 & 5 win. Fantastic start. Warren & Moyra were playing steady golf 2 up after 5, & 9 and increasing to 4 up after 12. They were looking good for a win, but Golf being Golf especially foursomes, Fortwilliam pairing fought back to go 1 up playing the 18^th hole. After a word of encouragement they got back to level after 18 to take the match back up the first tie hole. Gordon & Christine had a ding dong match with Fortwilliam pairing. It was a thrilling match never more than 1 hole in it for most of the round. A few errors over the closing holes saw them 1 down going up the last, but they were determined to take their match up the 1^st tie hole, however, the overall match was won by the team so they were called in. Barry & Lorraine had a very good sound steady round with excellent golf, square after 5, 3up after 9, and eventually going to dormy 5, but a few wee errors saw them dormy3 at the 16^th but a truly brilliant tee shot from Lorraine at the long par 3 saw Barry having not much more than a tap in for the win. All eyes turned to Mother & Son, Anne & Mark. 2 up after 5, 3 up after 9, 2 up after 12, steady golf from them. A fight back by Fortwilliam saw their lead reduced to 1 hole by 14^th hole, but back to back birdies at 15 & 16 secured them the win and overall match win for Rockmount. Truly some spectacular golf was played by them over these two holes. Overall a brilliant win by our Irish Mixed Team. Fortwilliam team gave a sterling performance making the match in the end a very close tense and tight spectacle. Both the spectators and Team Captain’s nerves were shot to bits with the way matches swung back & forth with one matches going right to the 1^st tie hole. Both teams played with great spirit and sportsmanship. Big thanks to Team Players from both Clubs for great match and to the spectators for turning up on a wet damp night to lend their support. It was very much appreciated. We are now in the last 8 quarter finals of the Ulster section. Our next opponents will be either Kirkistown Castle or Maghee Island.

Matchplay Team Reports

Competition:	Irish Mixed Foursomes
Opponents:	Lurgan
Date & Venue:	Sunday 5^th June 2011 at Spa Golf Club
Match Result:	Rockmount 3 Lurgan 2
Team Captain:	Dougie Fairweather & Heather Mills

Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Robert Patterson Diane Patterson		11 15	Timmy Cummins 2 Orla O’Dowd 19	Won 1 up
Warren Burnside Moyra Evans		4 18	Lawrence McGrady 6 Sian Mulholland 13	Won 1 up
Paul Mearns Helen Hall		11 20	Brian Scullion 5 Heather Shaw 21	Lost 1 down
Mark Wynne Anne Wynne		6 25	David McGee 6 Kath Matchett 22	Won 8 & 6
Barry Douds Lorraine		6 17	Kevin McKavanagh 8 Lynne Hanna 12	Lost 4 & 3
Weather was not kind to the teams, after a few very sunny and hot days, temperatures dropping by 15 degrees and heavy rain was the back drop to this tight, tense and nail biting Irish Mixed matchplay 1^st round match. Robert & Diane set the scene with a very tight close match coming from 3 down at early stage to taking the match down the 18^th all square and eventually wining 1 up. Warren and Moyra played some great golf in the early few holes going 5 up at one stage but the wheels came off in the last third of the match and ended up going down the 18^th all square. But digging deep into their reserves they eventually won 1 up. Paul & Helen had a ding dong match leading for much of the match with steady golf, found the last 3^rd of the course their Nemesis and were 1 down playing the last when the match was called in. The Mother & Son partnership, Mark & Anne Wynne got off to a great start and were 4 up after 5 holes, continued to build upon this lead eventually giving us an early win of 8 & 6. The last match with Barry & Lorraine despite playing some good golf found their luck was not quite with them in the heavy drenched course and lost their match 4 & 3. Overall a brilliant win by our Irish Mixed Team. Lurgan team gave a sterling performance making the match a very close tense and tight spectacle. Both the spectators and Team Captain’s nerves were shot to bits with the way matches swung back & forth with two matches going right to the last hole. Both teams played with great spirit and sportsmanship.

Qualifying Team Reports
Competition:	IRISH MIXED FOURSOMES
Date & Venue:	15^th May 2011 SPA GOLF CLUB
Team Score:	298
Team Captain:	Dougie Fairweather & Heather Mills
Rockmount Players		Handicap	Score	Comment
Warren Burnside & Moyra Evans		4 18	Nett 72
Robert Patterson & Diane Patterson		10 15	Nett 75½
Paul Mearns & Helen Hall		12 20	Nett 76
Barry Douds & Lorraine Toolan		6 17	Nett 74½
Mark Wynne & Anne Wynne		5 25	Nett 80
Overall Comments – Performance, Conditions
Weather wise the day was blustery but dry. Our team was out 2^nd last tee off time and partnered Lurgan Golf Club. All matches got off the 1^st tee in great style hitting centre fairway. First off were Warren & Moyra and after a shakey first 5 holes, knuckled down to be 9 over after 9 but a brilliant 2 over par back nine gave them a fantastic net 72, level par round. 2^nd off was Robert & Diane who put in a great performance, steady and solid golf, finishing with a very creditable nett 75½. So far so good. Our 3^rd pairing of Paul & Helen had a solid first 9 holes returned a equally good solid back nine including 3 birdies in their round, finished with again a creditable net 76. On checking other team results it was looking good for us. Only required one of the last pairs to come in with a good score and we looked likely to qualify. Barry & Lorraine after shooting a solid front nine score of 10 over came good in the back 9 with a 4 over finishing with a net 74½. A quick tot up gave us a total of 298 at that stage. Our last pairing was a first for Rockmount with Mother & Son pair of Anne & Mark Wynne. A steady front 9 of 9 over was in line with the others, a few wee problems in the back 9 including a lost ball on the 18^th saw them finish with a good steady net 80. A brilliant performance for all the players as we finished top qualifiers with a total of 298 6 shots ahead of 2^nd place team. We now have to play Lurgan in a head to head matchplay back at the Spa. Congratulations to our team, both Heather & myself are very pleased with all the performances, great sportsmanship and determination shown by the whole team, well done. Thanks to Peter O’Hara, David Blair, Mel & Leonie Power, Barbara Fleet for giving great support.

Irish Mixed Team after qualifying at Spa Golf Club May 2011

Anne Wynne

Helen Hall

Lady Captain Moyra Evans

Warren Burnside sinking another great putt

Great wee chip from Barry Douds