Golf: Gullane first to beat the big freeze

Jan 21 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

GULLANE was one of the few places where golf was possible last week and the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance golfers were out in force on the No.3 course after the long lay off caused by the extreme weather conditions.

Falkirk Tryst’s Ian Wyse took top spot in the handicap ratings with a fine 74-11 (63) to pip Baberton’s Gordon Brown on a countback. Ian took the John Glen Trophy.

A name immediately recognisable to West Lothian golfers, former Deer Park player, now at Prestonfield, Willie Laing, got himself into the money with a fourth equal spot on 65 off his six-mark. Willie has plundered many shekels over the years in Alliance events.

In the scratch section, it was another amateur in top spot. Torwoodlee’s Mike Thomson shot a 65 to edge out power-hitter Scott Catlin, the Greenburn pro, and Scott Grieve of Turnhouse for top money by a shot.

And there was a placing for Deer Park’s Mark Chaplin, a former Linlithgowshire Champion.

His 67 was good enough for a fourth-equal alongside Merchant’s pro Neil Colquhoun.

The trainee’s prize again went to the promising Alan Mackay, who is based at Pumpherston alongside Richard Fyvie. Alan shot a 68.