Banbridge golf club kindly hosted the Finals Day of the 2010 Darren Clarke Schools Golf League. The league, with over 50 participating teams for boys and girls, gathered in Banbridge to celebrate the conclusion of another very successful year. As well as having the two most successful teams Holy Cross Strabane (runners up) and Coleraine Inst (winners) there were also present the various group and section winners and they all teed off at 10.15 in a scramble format (shotgun start).
The teams were made up of kids from different schools and with differing abilities. The winning team was the group that started at hole 15, Kevin Gallagher Holy Cross Strabane, Jack Farrell Coleraine, Ryan Mckeown St Pats Armagh and Daniel Scollan Our Ladys and St Pats Knock. The boys were delighted to be told that thanks to the Lough Erne Golf Resort and Platinium One they would be getting tickets to the Lough Erne Challenge in July. They scored an amazing 53 nett round Banbridge. There were 4 other teams that won prizes on the day and again all the prizes were generously donated by Darren and the Taylormade company.
However, the main point of the day was to present the trophy and medals to the most successful schools this year and also to allow the schools to present various cheques to Mr Gerry McStay and these cheques will be passed on to Darren and the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Charity at Loch Lomond in July. All money is raised by the children themselves and it is hoped that this year will see the total amount collected surpass £40,000. Regent House handed over £900 and the Abbey Grammar School £500 and St Catherines Armagh £300 and this is just a small sample of the varying amounts that have been collected this year.
The league owe a great debt of gratitude to a large number of golf clubs all around the province for their kindness and generosity in allowing this competition to grow and flourish and would hope for there continued support in the future. Banbridge Golf club deserve a special mention though for an outstanding finals day with the course in super condition and the catering facilities excellent throughout.
So if you are interested in joining next years league please consult http://www.darrenclarkesgl.com/ and let us have your details by the end of September 2010.
