Sport
22 May, 2026
Cockle cleans up at golf
AFTER weeks of washouts, golfers finally returned to the course on 6 May and it was Paul Laffin who made the most of the long-awaited break in the weather, clinching the Wednesday competition by a single shot.
Results – Wednesday, 6 May 1st: Paul Laffin – 27 pts 2nd: Jim Ferguson – 26 pts 3rd: John Abbott – 25 pts. NTP: Vaughan Smith.
While Friday’s Sporters event on 8 May was again washed out, players remained hopeful and their patience paid off when the skies cleared for the 18 hole Stableford on Saturday 9 May.
The course looked superb and the rain held off, but tough conditions kept scores tight, with only one golfer managing to better their handicap. Morning groups were separated by just three points inside the top 10.
Andrew Grieve continued his consistent form with 35 points, while David Swaine finished just outside the top bracket on 33. Barry Scott also posted 35 to stay in the mix.
But the round belonged to Caine Cockle Jnr, who lit up the front nine with a two under run before a rocky patch on the back threatened to derail his charge. Three bogeys and a wash on the 15th could have ended his hopes, but a determined finish, par plus two birdies lifted him to 37 points and the day’s win.