Golfers from clubs across Ulster competed for the top prizes in both Women’s and Men’s competitions at the Mary Peters Trust annual Golf Finals Day.
Hosted by Dunmurry Golf Club on Thursday 3rd September, each golfer had won their respective Club competition progressing through to the special shotgun start ‘Finals Day.’
Organised in conjunction with Golf Ireland and supported by Golf Now, the Stableford competition included lunch and a prize presentation ceremony with players achieving first, second and third places each receiving a voucher prize. Specific prizes for the ‘Longest Drive’ and ‘Nearest the Pin’ were also provided by Golf Now.
Taking the top prizes this year, were Denise Blair from Castlerock Golf Club who won 1st place in the Women’s competition with 42 points and Silverwood Golf Club member John Austin who claimed the top spot in the Men’s competition with 43 points.
Runners-up awards went to Robyn Howard from Malone Golf Club and Michael Graham of Lisburn Golf Club. Taking 3rd place in each competition were Fiona McClements from Aughnacloy Golf Club and Barry McEvoy from Ardglass Golf Club.
Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin winners were Chris Donn from Portadown Golf Club, Whitehead Golf Club member Devin Todd and John Lynn from Edenmore Golf Club.
Set up in 1975, the Mary Peters Trust helps talented young sports people, both disabled and able-bodied to achieve their sporting dreams. Special guests taking part in this year’s event included TV presenter Ruth Gorman, Paralympian gold medallist Michael McKillop and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medal winner, Philip Doyle.
In partnership with Golf Ireland the Trust has supported many stellar names; Maureen Madill, Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey, Gareth McGimpsey and Gareth Maybin. Alumni also include Stephanie Meadow, Leona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffy and Tom McKibbin. The Trust also brought Rory McIlroy into the fold with a special trophy accolade, a Mary Peters Trust International Award which Lady Mary presented to Rory in person.
Excelling in their golf and funded by the Mary Peters Trust currently or in recent years are young golfers Harry O’Hara, Rebekah Gardner, Gemma McMeekin and Fionn Dobbin. Also supported are Eoin Burrows, Beth Coulter, Molly O’Hara, Adam Buchanan, Kayleigh Mulholland and Darcy Hogg.
Congratulating the winners and runners-up, Lady Mary Peters said, “The Trust’s Finals Day event has been a wonderful part of our events calendar for many years and always proves to be a great day, no matter what the weather. Well done to this year’s winners and a huge thank-you to Golf Now and Golf Ireland.
“The Mary Peters Trust is proud to support so many up-and-coming young golfers who are developing their game both at home and in America. We can also boast a stellar set of Trust ‘alumni’ golfers, including Stephanie Meadows, Leona Maguire, Olivia Mehaffey, Graeme McDowell and Tom McKibbin. We look forward to helping many more young players in the future.”