Golf: Pumperston determined for a hat-trick

Apr 30 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

BATHGATE and Pumpherston are the venues for the Lothians Championship Qualifying on Saturday, when a round on each course will be played, with the top 32 going forward to match-play at Craigielaw next week.

There are 36 players in the field from West Lothian clubs, with six or seven expected to make it to the knockout.

Both venues should be in good condition, though it is a couple of weeks yet before West Lothian courses usually approach their best nick. However, the rain at the beginning of the week has helped the cause.

On a wider front, the Linlithgowshire League is off and running with Section C having completed two weeks of matches already.

Holders for the last two years Pumpherston look determined to make it a hat-trick, though they did get a bit of a fright on their own turf last Friday.

The first week they pulverised Niddry Castle at Winchburgh 5.5 to 0.5, but Harburn at home turned out to be a different proposition with Paul Drake going down in the first match and the victory not secured until the death when Andrew Loch beat the much more experienced Harburn Champion Stuart Boyle. Five games went to the last green with the final result 3.5 to 2.5.

Harburn already look in good fettle for a run at the title, beating visitors West Lothian by 4.5 to 1.5 in their opening encounter.

The other result on Friday was a 5.5 to 0.5 victory for Greenburn at Fauldhouse against the luckless Niddry. The visitors surprisingly salvaged a half point against Greenburn back-marker Gary Corrigan.

Bathgate has started its Wednesday medal events and last week’s was won by Willie Stevenson (12). His net-65 beat a quartet of players into joint second by a convincing four shots. They were John McKie (4), James Kempton (11), Steve Todd (6) and Derek Bock (10).

On Sunday the club had its Stableford for the Willie Cunningham Niblick, and it was Jim Allison with a 43-point total off his 19-handicap who carried the day.

Two points behind in second was Gordon Todd (25).

The club is to hold another Ryder Cup-type event like the one they held last September, but it will be held in May to avoid last year’s issue of failing light.

Niddry Castle golfers played their Nomination Pairs on Saturday and top group was that comprising club Match Secretary Paul Towers — in good form this season — and Dougie Bidwell although their 74 Stableford points total was equalled by former Club Champion Jack Norris and Stevie Rafferty.

When the cards were scrutinised Paul and Dougie were declared winners. A point behind in third were Gordon Park and Alex Roberts.

There were a couple of qualifying events at West Lothian last weekend and prospective qualifiers had to be in pretty decent form to make the match-play stages.

The greensomes for the Past Captains’ Trophy needed pairings to come in with at most 72.4 to make the last 32, while on the Sunday the Hunt Cup qualifiers had to be on 72 or better to get into the knockout stages.

Leaders on Saturday were two Joes — Clarke and O’Neill – with a total of 65.2 net matched by John and Davy Slessor but the first named won on the countback.

On Sunday it was Fraser Murray at the head of matters with a score of 74-8=66 beating Terry Kehoe (20) into second by a single shot.

Over at Binny at Oatridge their Saturday Stableford had Alex Speirs out in front off his 11-handicap with 38 points. This beat runner up Charlie Harding (17) only on a countback.

Harburn’s most recent Kirk Rosebowl qualifier was led by Robin Cockburn with 72-6=66, two better than next-placed Ged Sharkey (5).

Then last Saturday it was John Bestwick who took the West Calder club’s Summer Cup with a return of 81-16=65, two ahead of joint runners-up Gordon Burns (6) and J Glynn Cole (11).

At Pumpherston Stephen Brown won their Midweek Medal with a fine 79-14=65, two ahead of nearest competitors R Anderson (21) and I Adamson (6).

And at the weekend the club’s Almond Trophy Qualifier was led by David A Gardiner (24) though only on a countback from P McWilliams (18) after the players tied on 65 net.

Uphall’s Ryan McWilliams Trophy was won on Saturday by seven handicap GT Beveridge with an almost indecent 44 Stableford points. Bill O’Day was second on 42 total.

Greenburn members had an event on both days last weekend. J Gillogley was the winner of the Grove Trophy on Saturday with his 78-13=65 beating joint second placed P McInnes (13) and D Graham (14) by a single stroke. The following day it was a 66 that was good enough to lift the Hamilton Trophy for P Swan (14) ahead of G Smillie (21), A Sneddon (15) and AD Muir (12) only a shot behind.