Golf: John Kerr is just capital

Mar 19 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE Alliance members were out at Edinburgh’s Mortonhall course on Wednesday of last week for the last of their winter events before this week’s championship and it was a very happy outing for Deer Park's John Kerr.

The club champion's fine 73-4=69 gave him second handicap prize on a tricky, breezy day but, more importantly, it won for him the prestigious Order of Merit for the season.

He was just ahead of long-time leader Derek Fish of Glenbervie.

Livingston taxi man John has had a very steady winter in the wake of his best season and his annexing of the Carmondean club title in a real cliffhanging final last June.

There have been no first-place finishes in the Alliance for him but he has been a model of consistency, never out of the top 10 in the campaign.

At Mortonhall top spot and the Paterson Medal went to former PGA Champion Andy Oldcorn of King’s Acre with a four-under the card 68, one shot ahead of runner-up David Patrick of Elie. But there was a share of third for another Livingston man, Houstoun Driving Range pro, big Andy Marshall, with a 71.

The handicap top spot went to Duddingston’s Robert Denholm with his return of 73-5=68 while Pumpherson’s Colin Rae had a steady net 72 to take the Seniors’ Prize on the day.

Gullane 2 and 3 were the venues for the Alliance Championship and all the usual suspects were in the draw for the excellent prizes.

David Patrick has won the scratch Order of Merit already but Deer Park amateur Andy Rothney is still well placed to finish as runner-up there.