Weather puts a dampner on the West Lothian golf card

Apr 1 2010 West Lothian Courier

THE weather seems to have a guiding hand which lurks waiting every year for the clocks to change and then, that weekend, it hauls the spring back into winter mode.

Harburn members were out in large numbers to compete in their Winter Cup only hours before British Summer Time made its entrance.

No fewer than 29 found conditions just too difficult and “no returned” their cards.

But on a day when CSS was up to 72 there was a triple tie at the end of proceedings with three-handicap Craig Deerness pipping two 11-mark men, Harry Sneddon and Joe McGarty, on his inward run to land top spot and the trophy.

Meanwhile, it was equally tough at Bathgate where members were easing themselves into the season with a Texas Scramble. Tees were shoved right back and the refuge that is the winter mats was replaced by preferred lies.

Members searched in vain to find a spot to place their ball. There is just no growth and the weather is forecast as worse this week so grass will be at a premium in the days to follow.

Maybe it’s a case for the mats to be reintroduced, because there was some pretty spectacular divot-taking as players tried to lift their balls in the air from the muddy fairways. Let’s not kill the courses before we even start.

Still, there was some good scoring and it is noticeable that each of the sides in the frame had at least one long hitter in their number. Long hitting is certainly needed at the moment.

1) S McClory, G Miller, I Cordner, T Sneddon 57.3

2)J Queen, S Todd, A Hamilton, D Whyte 59.7

3) N Younger, T Malcolm, C Meek, S Walker 59.8.

However, the Alliance lads did get a good day and two courses in great nick for their Championship at Gullane, on No2 and No3, last midweek.

And it was a great defence of his Uniroyal Trophy for the Greenburn pro, the long-hitting Scott Catlin, who ended the day in joint second behind Elie’s David Patrick. Patrick put together rounds of 70 and 61 despite an eye injury which left him ruing no fewer than five three-putts on his morning round on No2. He made up for it in the afternoon to win by three.

Scott had 69 and 65 for 134, matched by Merchant’s pro Neil Colquhoun and Haddington amateur Neil Bain.

Bain certainly was the man of the day with his rounds of 67 which gave him an almost unbelievable net 124, seven better than anyone else and just fantastic golf for a five-handicapper well into his fifth decade.

He took the joint second prize in the scratch, leaving the top cheque for handicap to Duddingston’s David Graham with a net 131 off his five handicap.

Meanwhile, in warmer climes Stephen Gallacher has continued his progress with his fifth consecutive cut in the European Tour and his best finish of the campaign.

He was joint 12th in Malaga in the Andalucian Open behind winner Louis Oosthuizen.

Stephen’s 270 total means that his last eight rounds have been 20 under par and the confidence is no doubt building in the big man.

His many supporters back home are sitting up and taking notice and many are asking when, if ever, did he last make five cuts in a row?

On to Madeira next where it coincides with the Masters at Augusta. With the current improving form it might well be that next season it is to Georgia that Gallacher is heading. Only time will tell.