Jimmy Bruen

Qualifying Team Reports
Competition:	Jimmy Bruen
Date & Venue:	1^st May 2011 Downpatrick Golf Club
Team Score:	336
Team Captain:	Colin Childs
Rockmount Players		Handicap	Score	Comment
Sam Milligan			82
Ryan Wilson
Andrew Neagle			89
Michael McGiven
Danny Montgomery			85
Marty Lawther
Frank Wallace			83
Davy Harrison
Fra Ward			86
Colin Childs
Overall Comments – Performance, Conditions.
And so on a glorious May Bank Holiday, the proud colours of Rockmount’s finest walked onto the first at Downpatrick. A standing ovation for Frank Wallace who was playing in his150^th Jimmy Bruen, and hoping for his first good partner since he was paired with Ben Hogan in 1926. Sadly this show of morale was cut short when we were immediately chastised by the GUI official for enjoying ourselves! Sammy and Ryan, the strongest pair in practice were chosen to lead the team into battle. In Sammy`s opinion it was to get us off to a strong start, but really it was to give us some peace on the tee-box. The pair played very steady golf and Ryan showed great calmness (or was it deafness) and guided the team home to a best score of 82. The Eagle and Big Easy were up next. Michael drove magnificently up the first into the trees on the left and seemed to like the look of the 14^th rather than the 1^st. Andrew did tell him he was fairly sure that the holes had to be played in order, advice that judging by the score wasn`t listened to. After very steady practice rounds the pair managed to conjure up a score that would not have even qualified for Pierce Purcell. Next came our strongest, sorry heaviest pair of Marty and Danny. After taking sometime explaining the rules to Danny, the pair set off. Marty had taken note of all the flag positions earlier in the day, but hadn’t noticed the fir trees to the right of the first....Danny obliged by hitting it straight into them. Undeterred, Marty (obviously used to being in trees in Jimmy Bruen events –see team captain for confirmation) hit a wonder shot to the green and a birdie three was secured. It was all looking splendid and we were wondering who we would play in the matchplay. But alas trees, bunkers and hedgerows thwarted our heroes. They did return a creditable 85. Next up was the legend, Big Frank. Having seen the two pairs in front biff it into the trees, decided that obviously it must be the line to take. No birdie followed. Spurred on by the youthful Davy, the pair then played some splendid golf to the turn. Unfortunately at this point the Club Captain offered them some inspirational and sincere words. Davy, who had been told not to talk to strange men, proceeded to drive magnificently into the marshland adjacent to the 10^th. But our intrepid eco warrior’s splished and splashed and no doubt destroyed vital wildlife in the process of locating their ball, donned wadders and called for the coastguard then decided to take a drop. (I believe that they are on the National Trusts most wanted list). The pair returned a fighting 84. And to our last pair, a stunning drive by Fra Ward which split the fairway seemed to confuse his partner. “I didn’t know that was allowed”. Undaunted, the pair somehow scrambled a seven. Honest! They battled on bravely and recorded a magnificent birdie on the 17^th to set up a well-deserved qualifying place. Only an easy par 3 required on the last. Everyone was calm and confident (yeh right) that the pair would secure the par. Colin narrowly missed the green (by 60 yards); Fra then almost hit the shot of the season and was very unlucky to see the ball just trickle off the back of the green. You could feel the tension build. To hole it and we go through, a four tied us with Warrenpoint. What happened next will feature in years to come on a question of sport and can only inspire the Olympic table tennis team for 2012. A game of ping pong then ensued as they knocked the ball backwards and forwards to each other across the green with great skill and accuracy missing the huge hole in their way. “To me, to you” So, as you guessed we narrowly missed qualifying and it was unlucky for everyone who had battled hard in very tough conditions. Special mention to the last pairing who were genuinely unlucky at the last after playing so well and setting us up with a chance to qualify. And finally to Vice-Capt Patmore. What can we say? Never put a foot wrong all day. Except that he came out of the bar and watched the golf!! Cheers for all the help.