Golf: Wind stops play in ‘worst ever' weather conditions

May 14 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

A VEIL is best drawn over the weather of the last week — it would be a very damp and torn veil one would imagine.

The elements killed off Saturday’s Linlithgowshire Handicaps at all three venues in the area and they were the worst ever experienced for the Lothians’ Match-play at Craigielaw in East Lothian according to West Lothian delegate Jim Lamond of Pumpherston.

Indeed, in Saturday’s final, play had to be halted at one point because balls were being blown off the greens.

By Saturday, though, all West Lothian interest had gone. Last man standing had been Bathgate Champion Stuart Crookston. He had put out the 2007 winner of the event, David Warner of Haddington in round one then accounted for Bruntsfield’s Euan Paterson in the last sixteen before he was faced up against the vastly experienced and three time former winner Keith Nicholson, another Haddington player, in the last eight.

Nicholson in a gale, in his beloved East Lothian was a daunting prospect for anyone and, Crookston, like everybody else during the week as it turned out, was not up to it and he went down by 4/3.

Still the Bathgate golfer had made a mark and at the advanced age of 41. Stuart is surely ruing the many years of selling golf balls as a club pro when he could have been doing more of this sort of stuff presumably. Clocks can’t be turned back, however

Of the others, leading qualifier, Paul Drake of Pumpherston, went out disappointingly on the last green to Dunbar player Stephen Simants in the first round while Linlithgow’s Ed Shannly was outgunned by one of the favourites for the title, Steven Armstrong of Turnhouse, at the same stage.

Alan Hogg of Dundas won a tight first round encounter before falling to Simants as well — the Dunbar player went on to the semis.

The third local to win a game was Pumpherston’s Mark Timmins — he won on the first night at the first extra hole and it was on the same green in round two that he bowed out, to another semi finalist in Andy Laurence of Baberton.

And, of course, in the end, it was Nicholson who prevailed in the wind interrupted final on Saturday afternoon. He held on determinedly to beat Marriott Dalmahoy’s Kevin Messer by one hole and register title number four.

There’s always 2010 for West Lothian golfers.

If weekends have not been particularly wonderful for the game there has been plenty midweek activity at local clubs.

Uphall’s most recent Midweek Spoon went to veteran Jim Craig for his fine 75–12=63, a shot better than runner-up John Curran (22) with the in-form Davy Pace (8) a shot back in third spot.

And an unusual occurrence at Harburn. Leader in the Kirk Rosebowl qualifier was past champion Jim Gilmour with a grand 69 scratch, a shot better than a trio in joint second comprising Gordon Sloan (20), Bruce Pringle (15) and Alex Bathgate (7).

Not often there is a scratch winner of a handicap event.

Niddry Castle’s Taggart Shield has gone to Simon Coleman for his 79-14= 65, two better than runner up William Horne (19). Callum McLeod (10) and Neil McEwan (12) were joint third on 68 net.

Over at Bathgate it was another ‘oldie’, Joe Welsh, who took their most recent Wednesday Medal with a 79-9=70 on a trying day.

Joe’s return was two ahead of next placed Craig Menzies (6).

Bathgate had poor conditions for its most recent Seniors’ event as well. Top man was recently returned to the club Tom Sneddon with a highly commendable net 67 off his eighteen handicap and it won for him the Billy Gray Trophy.

In joint second were Andrew Mungall (15), Charlie Stein (14) and David Weir (18) on 70 net.

And it was a Wednesday as well for Linlithgow’s May Spoon. Here victory went to the 71-5=66 of Graeme Scott, one ahead of second placed Scott Gardner (13).

A really top performance over at Bridgend to finish with this week. Their Belhaven Cup was won by Ian Dunlevie (14), by a six shot margin from runner-up Martin Myles (17). The winner’s 66 net certainly spreadeagled the field on a difficult day.