Golf: Callister wins W A KirkPatrick Trophy by four shots

Next big event - IOM Junior Champs

Sunday saw the annual W A Kirkpatrick Trophy, sponsored by Miss Irene Pugh, played at Comis Mount Murray over 36 holes in glorious weather.

The first group out was Club Captain and Ex Island Champion Paul McMullan, who was the leader in the clubhouse with a score of 70 with a two under back nine. This remained the leading score until Daryl Callister came in with a three under 68. All the leading contenders were grouped on one over so still in the mix for the second round.

Leading the nett classification was Richard Clark Wilson with a 70 net on the same score as 5 other players, so the net competition was also to be hotly contended.

On the back 18, with the wind dropping, the course should have played easier but this did not prove to be the case with best score of the afternoon coming from American Collegiate player Alex McAuley shooting 70 beat Julian Sutton and Kevin Moore on count back.

In the net, Richard Clark Wilson could not maintain his lead eventually finishing 5th and it was left to Matthew Nicholson of the host club to win on the back 18 from Ben Locking of Ramsey who also has a good knowledge of Mount Murray after only leaving for the North at the end of 2020. Matthew was delighted with the win and his lack of double bogey’s which has been plaguing his golf of late.

In the main event, Daryl started poorly and his playing partner Rob Noon closed the gap after 8 holes but with Callister birdieing the par 5 ninth and a 1 under par back nine extended his lead to 4 over Noon who ultimately finished second on count back from Isle of Man 72-hole Strokeplay Championship Jamie Arneil.

The next event on the calendar is the Isle of Man Junior Championships, which takes place on the 4th July at Rowany.

Entries close this Sunday so please encourage your junior club members to enter via the website www.isleofmangolf.im.

Classes are available for under 14, 16 and 18.