Weather turns but golfers still enjoy sunny spells of form

Apr 22 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

THE weather has dipped a bit since the glorious few days we enjoyed last week and golfers were again shivering through weekend competitions.

There were even complaints of things drying up and there being little evidence of growth.

Greenburn had its Grove Trophy on Saturday and conditions were difficult enough to push the CSS up a couple on SSS. Winner was Craig Corrigan for his 77-10=67, a shot ahead of runner-up, the experienced Jim MacIntyre (8). Paul Hay and Willie Gibb, both 13 handicap, were joint third on 69 net.

It was the same story at Bo’ness for the West Lothian club’s Melville Bowl Qualifier with CSS up a couple.

Here David Laidlaw (3) came out of a three-way tie on 68 net to lead from Chris Snedden (5) and Eddie Mitchell (15). The cut was on 76 net for the 32 names going forward to the matchplay stages.

The previous Sunday it had been a junior, Ewan Craig, with the best return of the day in the Masters Flag, a 76-10= 66, but he was not entitled to take the prize.

Top spot instead went to Brian Purdie for his 75-8=67 after a tiebreak with Jim McMinn (6)

Over at Uphall Davy Pace’s 69-7=62 won him the Midweek Sweep from Neil Zelazny (11) by a single shot and it was the same score which carried the day in the club’s first Monthly Medal for the George Elliot Trophy on Sunday despite the dreich conditions at the outset.

Winner was G Jones (8) on a countback from G Dalton (11) with J McManus – in fine fettle it seems after his best scratch return last week – with a grand (and best of the day scratch) 65-2=63 in third place overall.

Niddry Castle suffered from the elements at the start of the month and the postponements meant that their competitive season opener was the April Medal/Shield.

The Medal for the lower handicappers went to John Pryde for his 72-6=66, and this was a shot inferior to the Shield winner John Forbes (19).

Then last Saturday it was a clear win for Danny Smith with 80-12=68, three ahead of a four-man pile-up in second spot comprising Alan Robertson (19), Alex Shanks (23), Colin Pritchard (16) and Brian Menzies (23).

Linlithgow are traditionally a week or so after the rest of the county before they open competitive channels for the membership.

On Saturday their Opening Day had Jim Graham on 77-11=66 leading home the lower handicappers while it was the same score off his 16 mark compiled by Roy S Webb which led in the higher handicap bracket.

There were also two good scores despite the chill at Shotts on Saturday. Alex McLeod (16) and Derek McKee (17) led the qualifiers for the club’s Provosts and Belhaven event on 64 net.

In midweek at Harburn it was Matthew Laird at the head of the qualifiers in the latest Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier. His 76-11=65 was three better than next placed R Houston (17) and G Thomson (8).

Stephen Gallacher continues to thrive on the European Tour. His top-40 showing in China last week was his sixth-consecutive cut made and we are fairly sure he has never done that in his career before.

His new-found steadiness is being carried on to Korea this week and after that there will, no doubt, be the worry of getting home through the flight disruption we are suffering in Europe.

Meanwhile, there only were only two medals at Binny Golf Club this week, as Sunday was taken up with New Members Day and a fun stableford competition.

Winner of the Seniors nine-hole medal was Jimmy Dee (43-7=36) and Seniors 18-hole medal was Norrie Simpson (79-10=69).

Gents medal winner this week was Dave Blogg (86-25=61) who saw his handicap cut by five strokes after that result.