Golfers pray for better weather

May 21 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

REPORTS from local courses say that greens are improving quickly after the heavy rains of the last week but that golfers are now wishing the sun would shine and give us the chance of some good scores.

There are some players lapping up the conditions and nobody more so than Bathgate 10 handicapper Lee Docherty.

His 40 points in his club's stableford event on Sunday for the Captain's Prize had him at the head of matters over a trio in joint second comprising Bobby Henney, Stuart Veitch and Craig Menzies.

And a good job too he would be thinking because the previous week it was only a superior inward half by Ronnie Forrest (20) that pipped him in the club's May Tankard.

The pair had tied on 66 net but Ronnie got the nod on his better figures after the turn.

Next placed here were Kevin Gibson (12) and Steven Bett (13) on 68 net.

Meanwhile over at Niddry Castle in Winchburgh there is another man in good form. Club Match Secretary Paul Towers has had a stunning 80-16=64 to win last weekend's Captain's Prize from Danny Smith (17) by a clear three shots.

Some people saw this coming as Paul already had a 69 net for third place in the Midweek Spring Porteous behind winner Bryan Chapman on 66 and Simon Coleman runner-up on 67. Both lads are off 12 handicap.

Up at Greenburn they have been suffering with all the rain but still the guys put in good scores.

Winner of the recent McFarlane Trophy was James Johnston – off three and nice to see a handicap success for one of the men off a lower mark.

His fine 66 net was a shot better than runner-up Phil Flannigan (17) and two ahead of the trio comprising Neil Findlay (13), Scott Stewart (20) and Robert Peebles (6) in joint third.

In the next village along there was a win in the Shotts club's Saturday Medal for John McLeod (13) though only by a single shot from John McCourt (12) and Scott Meechan (10). McLeod's net 66 carried the day.

Down at Bo'ness the West Lothian club's George McCall with 41 stableford points off his 10 mark has won him the Polmont Properties Trophy from joint runners-up Mark Donnelly (12) and Alan Blair (3).

And in the club's May Medal it was a fantastic 74-10=64 that won for Douglas McFee though, despite the heavy wind, only by a single shot from Colin Smith (8).

Just over the hill at Linlithgow they got a really tough day and a small field for their May Spoon where it was Fraser Smith's 85-15=70 at the top at the end though only on a countback from Gavin Ford (14).

Harburn's most recent Scott Medal qualifier had S McGrane at the head of proceedings with a fine net 64 off his 19 handicap, two ahead of joint-second placed D Stuart (11) and A Leitch (12).

Pipped at the post in the Midlothian County Ladies' Golf Association 'B' Championship was the Harburn club's popular Helen Warnock. So near yet so far for runner up Helen over at Newbattle.

And the Harburn Ladies were not at their best in their recent Tuesday evening event where, despite a pleasant evening, the CSS ballooned to 75. Winner was Linda Boyle with an 87-15=72, four ahead of runner up Meta Matthews (19) and five better than third-placed Jennifer Bryans (4).

An excellent return for Jason Williamson at Pumpherston – a net 64 off his 14 handicap – has won him the club's May Medal. This put him out in front of second-placed Craig Manson (12) by only one shot.

And, as usual, scoring continues to be low and undeterred by the elements it seems at Uphall. There was a four-way tie in the most recent Wednesday Medal with Alex Young declared winner in the end with his return of 85-20=65.

Those who lost out on the countback were three Andys – Stevenson (5), McGregor (13) and Grant (11) of that ilk.

Things got even better scoring wise on Saturday with Richard Sneddon needing a 61 net off his 15 mark to lift the Mayer Trophy though only by a shot from Ian Fairlie (14).

Andrew Bruce (17) and James Stenhouse (7) were next placed on 63 net.