On-fire Bell weathers the storm to win Bathgate’s ‘open’ trophy

Aug 13 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

BATHGATE scratch man Graham Bell has won his own club's 36-hole 'open' for the Livingstone Trophy on a day of heavy showers and interruptions to play.

There are ever fewer of the 36-holers on the golfing calendar – maybe they just take too long to play – but there was a decent turnout at Bathgate where Bell led after the first round with a four-under 67.

His second round was almost ruined by a double bogey 5 at the short 17th but he finished with a very determined birdie at the last and, in the end, it was this hole which won him the cup.

Had he parred it he would have been runner up as Colin Swanston of Uphall's Trophy was on a better second round.

Two Braehead players, A Watson and J Struthers took the top handicap prizes.

Leading returns (Scratch).

G Bell (Bathgate) 67,71 = 138, C Swanston (Uphall) 69,70 = 139, J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 70,71 = 141, S McClory (Bathgate) 70, 71 = 141, T Beattie (Grangemouth) 75, 67 = 142.

(Handicap).

A Watson (Braehead (5) 66,68 = 134, J Struthers ( Braehead) (8) 69, 69 = 138.

The dust is now settling at Harburn where there has been a busy period settling the club's championships.

Top of the heap is former Lothians Boy Champion Michael Burnett, now Club Champion with the 'B' event going to Terry McCormack and the 'C' to Steve McCormick.

Old hand Ged Sharkey took the Seniors title while at the other end of the age scale the Junior Blue Champion is Cameron Stanton.

The Junior Champion is Chris Rooney with another Cameron, Adam of that ilk, taking the Youth's event.

The Ladies' Silver winner was Arlene McGarty while the Bronze went to Fiona McEwan.

The club's most recent Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier was won by Mark Wardrop with an 80-13=67, one better than joint runners-up Michael Flynn (10) and Euan Rennie (8).

There was a real tussle at Bo'ness for the Windsor Bowl, the big 72-hole scratch event.

As was reported last week, Alan O'Neill led after the first 36 holes but he was caught in the last round on Sunday by fellow competitor Paul Dick and it turned into almost a matchplay tangle.

The pair swapped birdies towards the end of the round but were level on the par-three last. Dick hit the green but O'Neill bunkered his tee shot and it was all over when he took three to escape from the sand.

Dick had the luxury of three putts to win with 282 to 284.

The handicap event for the Josephine Turnbull Trophy went to Kenny Bell on 277 by one shot from Grant McKenzie.

The Airngath Trophy, for the best aggregate on the second weekend outwith the prizewinners, was won by old stager, into his seventh decade, Ian Cox (5) with a grand final total of 135.

It's been a great few days for Andy Stevenson of Uphall with a second place in the Wednesday Sweep before a stunning winning return on Sunday in the club's Tennant Caledonian Trophy.

Top man on Wednesday was Davy Pace with a super 69-7=62 to beat Andy into second spot by a shot off his four handicap.

Then on Sunday there was a five birdie and no bogey 64 scratch from Andy for a net 60 to win by three shots from William Ferrier (11) and John McDermott (12).

The previous day Steven Ralston's 79-16=63 had won him the Fifth Monthly Medal for the Logan Trophy from Gordon Kinghorn (12) by a single shot.

Just a word here for junior member David Samuel who had a super 71-8=63 and would have won on a countback but was not qualified because of his junior status.

And there was a really memorable ace on Saturday, too. It was by 12-handicap man Jock Burnside who went over the trees at the par-four 17th and thought he had lost his ball until it was found in the hole.

This was Jock's first-ever hole-in-one-but strangely the sixth already this season at the club.

Wednesday medals still seem to be bringing out the best in people. Bathgate's most recent went to Mervyn Henderson for his super 73-9=64, three better than next placed Stuart Christie (7).

And at Greenburn there was another winning 64, this time by Jamie Pollard (20) and it left him five ahead of nearest rivals John Rennie jnr (5), James Johnston (1) and Tom Cunningham (6).

Strange to relate there was another winning 64 in the county as well.

This time it was Tom Hanson (22) at Niddry Castle. The Winchburgh player's return squeezed him by runner-up Mike Crowe, also 22, by a single shot.

Deer Park's recent Captain's Day event, played as a stableford, went to Hamish Leisk for his 44 points, with Neil Houston second on 41 and Stuart Durkin third with 40.

A couple of August medals to finish with. Robert McIntosh at Linlithgow had a grand 78-15=63 to win by two from a sea of faces too numerous to name, while at Dundas Parks it was an even better return of 72-10=62 from Gary Croy which left him looking down on a trio in second place on 64 comprising Douglas Jamie (14), George Barker (18) and Alan Kelly (16).