Weekly Results: Russell Storms to Ace Fixings Victory with Superb Net 59

Rod Russell (11) produced an outstanding performance to win the Ace Fixings sponsored event at Ballymena Golf Club with a superb net 59, finishing four shots clear of his nearest challenger.

Russell began with a par at the first before dropping shots at the next two holes. He quickly found his rhythm, however, reeling off four consecutive pars before birdieing the par-four eighth and adding another par at the ninth to reach the halfway stage just one over gross.

His excellent form continued on the back nine with a birdie at the par-three tenth followed by a par at the eleventh. A bogey at the wind-affected twelfth was followed by four more pars before another birdie at the seventeenth. Despite finishing with a double bogey six at the last, Russell completed his round just two over gross and an impressive nine shots better than his handicap, securing a comfortable victory with a net 59.

Barney McCann (18) took second place as the best of the players finishing on net 63. After a difficult opening double bogey, McCann settled into his round and reached the turn six over gross. A steady back nine, including pars at the tenth, fifteenth and eighteenth, saw him finish five shots better than his handicap.

Michael Smyth (5) claimed third place, also on net 63, following an excellent level-par round. Birdies at the sixth and ninth were cancelled out by bogeys at the eleventh and sixteenth.

The remaining daily net prizes went to:

• Eugene McGarry (18) – Net 63

• Kenny Morrison (21) – Net 64

• Jonathan Lynn (9) – Net 64

• Brian Russell (20) – Net 64

• Darren Hill (9) – Net 64

In the Gross competition, Adam Barr produced an excellent two-under-par 66 to take the prize, recording birdies at the third, seventh, ninth and thirteenth holes. Michael Smyth finished runner-up with a level-par 68.

There were 18 twos recorded during the competition, with Bruce McKenzie the only player to record two, coming at the second and fourteenth holes.

Harry Harper Set for Exciting Final Round

With the Ace Fixings event also counting as the second round of the Harry Harper, the competition remains wide open heading into the final round.

Just five shots separate the top eight players, with Clifford Worthington and Paul Rodgers sharing the lead on a cumulative net total of 129.

The current standings are:

• Clifford Worthington – 129

• Paul Rodgers – 129

• Kenny Morrison – 132

• Jonny Lynn – 132

• Brian Russell – 133

• Campbell Wade – 133

• John Lorimer – 134

• Connor O'Dornan – 134

Next week brings a change of format at Ballymena Golf Club, with the Tullymore Cup up for grabs in a VPar competition.