Sam Rutherford

Match Reports – Matchplay Competitions

Competition:	Sam Rutherford
Opponents:	Tandragee Golf Club
Date & Venue:	24^th July 2011 Tandragee Golf Club
Match Result:	Tandragee win
Team Captain:	Roger Heasley

Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Conor Drummond and Charlie Lalley				Tandragee 6 holes up through 10th
Sam Gilmore and Danny Montgomery				Tandragee 4 holes up through 10th
John D’Arcy and Paul Banford				Tandragee 4 holes up through 10th
Laurence Murdock and Marty Lawther				Rockmount 1 hole up through 10th
Overall Comments – Performance, Conditions etc.
Weather-Bright sunshine with temperatures in the high twenties. It was obvious to everyone that the home result had left us with a mountain to climb! Again, everyone tried their best and fought for every point but it was not to be. Going through the 10^th we had run out of holes and all matches were called off the course. Credit to Laurence Murdock and Marty Lawther who were the only Rockmount pairing to finish holes up!!!!! Tandragee is without doubt the best club side I have encountered, either as a team captain or player. The golf they played in both legs was outstanding. We wish them well in the next round (and incidentally in the final of the Jimmy Bruen!!) From a personal point of view I am obviously very disappointed to go out with such a heavy defeat but I can honestly say that every Rockmount player (including reserves) gave me and their team mates their best and fought for every hole. My thanks to all players selected for each match, the reserves, those who were not selected but expressed a desire to play, supporters, Barry Dunlop (who kept me sane during the away leg), the Vice Captain and of course our Captain.

Match Reports – Matchplay Competitions

Competition:	Sam Rutherford
Opponents:	Tandragee Golf Club
Date & Venue:	17^th July 2011 Rockmount Golf Club
Match Result:	Tandragee 21 holes up
Team Captain:	Roger Heasley

Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Sam Gilmore and Robert Patterson			Mark Bannerman and Ralph Buckley	Tandragee 1 hole up
Ryan Wilson and Michael Carson			Gordon Haire and Phillip Dennison	Tandragee 8 holes up
Paul Mearns and Marty Lawther			Jonny Quinn and Emmet Nixon	Tandragee 7 holes up
Francis Ward and Charlie Lalley			Hammy Loney and John Hanna	Tandragee 5 holes up
Overall Comments – Performance, Conditions etc.
Weather-heavy rain and wind. Not much to say. Very disappointing home performance but credit must be given to all the players who played in horrendous conditions. Weather possibly reduced our home advantage but the number of holes we are behind say it all really. Credit must go to a very strong Tandragee side that played some magnificent golf and we just could not match them. Indeed Tandragees last pair out went, from the 13^th, birdie, birdie, par, hole in one (and the par was a wedge from 60 yards!!!) Very disappointing result but all our players tried their best and fought for every point. Mountain to climb in return!!

Match Reports – Matchplay Competitions

Competition:	Sam Rutherford
Opponents:	Loughgall Golf Club
Date & Venue:	19^th June 2011 Rockmount Golf Club
Match Result:	Rockmount win 10 holes up. Overall result Rockmount win 4 holes up.
Team Captain:	Roger Heasley
Rockmount Players		Handicap	Opponent	Result
Paul Mearns and Marty Lawther			Jason Wilson and Michael Conor	Won 1 hole up
Paul Kelly and Michael Carson			Andrew Currie and Phillip McCoy	Holes level
Francis Ward and Colin Childs			Harry Clougher and Stephen Wilson	Holes level
Conor Drummond and Charlie Lalley			John Allen and Jamie Wortley	Won 9 holes up
Overall Comments – Performance, Conditions etc.
Weather dry with slight wind. Course in excellent condition following Open Week. First up were Paul Mearns and Marty Lawther. They raced into a 3 hole lead but by the time the match reached 18 it was all square. A steady 5 was enough to win the hole. Next, Paul Kelly and Michael Carson. Their match was very tight but they managed to tee off on 18 with a 1 hole advantage. Unfortunately Loughgall scraped a par to level the match. Third up were Francis Ward and Colin Childs. Going down 18 they were 1 down but following Frankie’s massive drive, Colin played a superb approach to level the match with a conceded birdie. Last and bringing up the rear, Conor Drummond and Charlie Lalley. This pair was level after 8 holes but excellent golf brought them home 9 holes up. A superb result for the squad and we look forward to the next round against either Silverwood or Tandragee.

Match Reports – Matchplay Competitions

Competition:	Sam Rutherford (1^st leg)
Opponents:	Loughgall Golf Club
Date & Venue:	12/06/2011 Loughgall Golf Club
Match Result:	RockmountGolf Club 6 holes down
Team Captain:	Roger Heasley

Rockmount Players	Result
Paul Mearns and Martin Lawther	Rockmount 3 holes up
Laurence Murdock and Andrew Mulholland	Loughgall 8 holes up
Paul Kelly and Michael Carson	Rockmount 4 holes up
Colin Childs and Samuel Milligan	Loughgall 5 holes up
	Overall Loughgall 6 holes up

This match was played in atrocious conditions with heavy rain and a strong wind from the start making it very difficult for all players. The course was in excellent condition.

First up for Rockmount were Paul Mearns and Martin Lawther. They played solid golf, racing into a 5 hole lead and came home with an excellent 3 up advantage even though they had their disagreements when it came to the giving of short putts!!

Next up were Laurence Murdock and Andrew Mulholland. They were unfortunate to come up against an opponent who hit the ball miles. The tempo for the day was set when he drove the par 4 second. It was not to be their day but to their credit they kept going until the end before finishing 8 holes down.

Third up for Rockmount were the Eversteady pair of Paul Kelly and Michael “The Doc” Carson. This pair started off steady and kept that going throughout the match. Though behind in the early stages they powered through the back nine to finish a very comfortable 4 holes up. Nothing spectacular from this pair (apart from a exquisite chip in from Paul to halve a hole) but they did the simple things right and consistently which is what was needed on the day.

Last and by no means least, bringing up the rear were Colin Childs and Samuel Milligan. Unfortunately on the day they fell a couple of holes down early doors and couldn’t manage to get it back to all square. A chip in and a monster putt from their opponents made their task even harder and they finished up 5 holes down. But, as with our second pairing, they tried to the end and that’s all anyone can ask of them. They did have a lengthy debate on the 18^th as to whether Sammy should go for the green in two. 240 to back, 220 to front. Sammy takes out his wood, checks his Sat Nav only to discover those distances were to the water in front of the green!!!

The weather had a big bearing on this match. The conditions were truly atrocious but both teams battled hard for each hole. The match was played in a great spirit. This match is not over by any stretch of the imagination and I am confident that this squad will pull back the 6 hole deficit in the return leg at Rockmount. All 4 pairings were a credit to Rockmount Golf Club.