Coleraine Academical Institution continued their fantastic run to reach the final of the Darren Clarke School Golf League 2010. The competition was established by Darren Clarke for the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Charity after the untimely death of his wife, Heather. Considered as the premier Golfing Union of Ireland Schools event the seven man team of Andrew Thompson, Cameron Fulton, Christian Grossie –Captain, Jack Farrell, Joshua Robinson, Simon Curry and Stuart Thompson clinched the title after a close fought final held at Roe Valley, Limavady on Wednesday 9th June. The opposition were Holy Cross, Strabane who did not make the day easy for the Coleraine team.

 
The first match saw Christian Grossie win 4 and 3 with some outstanding golf. The second match was tough for Simon Curry; he battled back from 4 down early on only to lose narrowly 2 and 1. The next two matches saw Andrew and Stuart Thompson Get superb halved matches after battling back from 2 down with 3 to play. The fifth match saw a comfortable 4 and 3 win for Coleraine Inst thanks to some excellent golf from Cameron Fulton. The Sixth match was another tight affair that saw Coleraine’s Joshua Robinson narrowly lose 2 and 1 to the only girl playing in the final. The final was decided by the last match on the course. Coleraine Inst’s Number 7 and star man, Jack Farrell brought his match back from 2 down with 2 to play to get a well deserved half match.  It was neck and neck right up to the 18th green where Jack Farrell sunk a 25 foot putt to secure the victory.  

C.A.I. were victorious in an event that involved over 50 schools. They won all of their 7 matches in the competition. C.A.I. topped their group which included: Dalriada, Cross and Passion and St MacNissi’s. Regent House were Coleraine’s first victims in the knock out stages at Masserene. Then a quarter final win over St Malachys, Belfast at Cairndhu, Larne and a semi-final win against De La Salle, Dowpatrick at Hilton, Templepatrick.

C.A.I. would like to express their thanks to Holy Cross for the fair and sporting final, Mr Gerry McStay for organising the competition and Mr Richard Beggs for all his help with organising the team.
Simon Curry (Yr 11)