County storms to the top of league

Oct 30 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian has moved to the top of the Lothians and Fife Winter League with a well-merited draw against East Lothian at Castle Park near Gifford on a wild and woolly Sunday.

Indeed the elements proved just too much for one of the competitors.

Myles Cunningham, out against young Harburn champion Stuart Boyle, had to concede his match because of breathing problems in the dire conditions after only seven holes. Thankfully he seems to have recovered fully now.

Castle Park was a credit to the greens staff because, apart from two or three puddles, the course has stood up to all the rain thrown at it in the last few weeks and was eminently playable.

Our lads did not, however, get off to the best start in the pouring rain. The normally reliable Steven Armstrong went down to Mark Hilson in the first game and Haddington Secretary Keith Nicholson was just too strong for Graham Robertson at number four.

Allyn Dick, the Shotts player, in here because of his membership at Carrickvale, had a super match with Shaun McAllister at number two – the pair produced the best golf of the day and could not be separated at the end – square game.

And James Ross , despite surrendering the last to Graham Davidson, took a half point at number four.

Then things improved for the visitors. Young Boyle conceded his match and Mark Timmins of Pumpherston was in devastaing form at number six to sweep away Stephen Simants by 6/5.

In the last couple of games Kevin Messer and Keith Reilly were well in control against Ross Noon and John Hall respectively so we were looking for something from Tom Blennerhasset or Robert Carson at seven and eight.

Blennerhasset, however, was having a bad day on the greens – not able to buy a putt against Grant Forrest and went down at the 16th.

Carson, though, looked well in his match with Michael Williams only to collapse completely at the death surrendering the 15th, 16th and 17th for a 3/1 reverse.

So with Messer and Reilly both winning out in the country it was 5-5 and West at the end of the day with three points.

In the other game Fife defeated visitors Mid at Charleston by 6-4. The latter are now West’s guests a week on Sunday at Winchburgh where Niddry Castle is the venue.

The team is hoping to be not too hospitable to the holders of the title to continue with our title aspirations. I’m sure the club will be equally welcoming to both sides and let’s hope the weather improves by then.

Stephen Gallacher, by contrast, was having a wonderful day weatherwise in north-east Spain on Sunday – competing, and doing well, in the Castello Masters, won eventually by Sergio Garcia.

A final round as good as his third one of six under the card 65 was needed to haul him up the leaderboard and give him a placing high enough to compete in the Volvo Masters this week at Valderrama.

A two-under 34 to the turn left him in with a chance but a drive into the rough at the 10th and a recovery behind a tree bequeathed his only double bogey of the week at the most inopportune time.

It was never really on after that as he had to finish in the first couple of spots to earn enough to get into the top 60 in the Order of Merit – those who are entitled to tee it up at the Volvo bash.

Still, it was an encouraging top-10 finish and a nice pay day for the popular Bathgate-based professional.