King of the castle

A good start and a solid finish make a round of golf much more pleasant Damian Mooney will surely agree. That's the way he handled the latest PGA Northern Branch Grand Prix tournament at Kirkistown Castle.

In summer-like sunshine, Mooney posted a three-under-par 66 to top the leaderboard and, in partnership with organising secretary Phil Posnett, he also collected the team prize on 40 points. That was after a countback as local pro Neil Graham and partner Gavin McBride also posted 40 points.

Ballyliffin attaché Mooney began with birdies at the long first hole, where he was just short after a drive and six iron, and the par four third, where he drove through the green but got down in a pitch and putt.

He missed the green and then lipped out for bogey four at the fourth hole but he recovered that shot at the next when a drive and wedge left him just two feet from the flag for birdie three.

After turning in two-under 33, Mooney stumbled at 10 and 14, putting his second shot under a bush at 10 and three-putting 14, but was back on the birdie trail when he wedged into the cup from 50 yards at the par four 15th hole.

The winner then finished as he began with birdie four at 18, getting down in two stabs after a drive and three wood left him five yards short of the surface.

Along with amateur Posnett, Mooney edged out the Kirkistown combination of Graham and McBride on the back nine - 20 points to 18 - to win the team award. The gross amateur winner was former pro Ian Smyth (Clandeboye) who carded 71 while the nett prize went to Brian Gogarty, a Killymoon five-handicapper, who handed in 35 points.

The next Grand Prix round for the Connor Mallon Trophy will be at Royal Portrush (Dunluce) on December 3 and next Tuesday there will be an Ulster Alliance outing at Ballycastle.