County captains gather together for the annual ‘bash’ on the golf course

Oct 8 2009 West Lothian Courier

LINLITHGOWSHIRE Club Captains past and present were out in force at Bathgate on Sunday for their annual ‘bash’ courtesy of the association.

And they got a very good day for it after the ravages of the gales the day before.

It was a man who has made more of a name for himself and, indeed the area, over the years in playing terms rather than in administrative ones who came out on top at the end — Joe McManus of Uphall.

Joe is a man to be relied upon, many times champion of his club and winner of opens throughout central Scotland and having graced many a Lothians team.

His 74 scratch — the course was playing long — gave him a winning 36 stableford points, one better than runner up Adam Storrie of Greenburn and two better than Pumpherston’s Kenny Wood and the host club’s Brian Thain in joint third.

Despite what I said last week, there was a breakdown in communication, the East Alliance boys were out last midweek.

The Scottish Alliance Championship is this week at Gullane. Last week they were out on domestic business at Peebles and the course, rendered up some good returns.

It was local pro Craig Imlah who won the scratch section with a fine 64, one better than runner up Scott Catlin of Greenburn. There was a place, fifth, too, for Houstoun Driving Range’s Andy Marshall with a 68.

Handicap winner was Philip Leggate of Musselburgh with a net 67, one better than Deer Park Champion Andy Rothney (1) in joint second spot.

Just how different the days were at the weekend cannot be better illustrated than by having a look at what happened at Bo’ness.

The West Lothian club had an October Medal in Saturday’s gales and the replayed August Medal on the much balmier Sunday.

On Saturday it was an 87-14=73 which won the day for Joe Armour with next placed J McAulay (12) a distant seven shots back in second , getting sweep money for his 80 net.

The next day, however, it was Wullie Ruffle at the top of the leaderboard with a grand 79-15=64. Gary Dunn (19) was no fewer than 14 shots better than the second place score of the day before while third went to the 67 net of Ian Saunders (15).

Up at Greenburn they had the Peter Lynch Trophy up for grabs on Sunday and it was Dennis Graham with 78-14=64 who took top spot though it was only on a superior inward nine from young Tom Cunningham (6), a former Linlithgowshire Boys’ Champion.

Down at the ‘ferry the Dundas club have had their Captain’s Putter and it was the 91-23=68 of Paul Davidson which carried the day, though, here again, it required a scrutiny of the cards before seven handicap Jon Walsh was deemed runner up on a countback.

Just along the road at Winchburgh, Saturday’s scoring at Niddry Castle, despite the severity of the elements, was quite decent with winner of their Brockbank Bowl, Gordon Park, managing an 81-9=72 to edge out runner up Robert Brown (17) by two shots.

The following day Steve Cherry’s 71-6=65 won him the Murray’s Champions Bowl — an event for all the season’s winners.

This return was five better than joint runners up Neil Mactavish (15) and John Forbes (19). Steve’s 71 was the best scratch score.

It has been a very solid season for Sid Curran up at Harburn and he has capped it with a win in the club’s Labinjoh Medal Final.

His 70-2=68 was one ahead of runner up Allan Maxwell (6) and two better Kenny Proctor (16).