High winds equal high scores around county golf scene

Jul 22 2010 West Lothian Courier

ON the fairways and greens, there has been a drop in scoring as club players struggle to cope with the high winds and heavy showers of late.

At Uphall it was Ken Clarke at the top of the leaderboard for the Tennant Caledonian Trophy on Saturday with his 74-11=63, one ahead of Graeme Stevenson (5) and two better than third placed Lawrie McFadyen (11).

On the same day at Bathgate, Tom O’Hara jnr won his club’s Open for the Norbury Trophy with a fine return of 74-10=64, which defied the elements.

A few days earlier there had been a triumph over the course for the second time this month by Uphall’s Josh Renwick.

He had fired a 68 scratch to take the county boys’ under-18 title first time round.

This time he recorded a 69-4=65 to pip local hopes Ryan Boyle (2) and Chris Lamond (10) by a single stroke.

Louis Gaughan and young Ryan shared the best scratch with 68 apiece.

In the Old Cathie Trust Open it was former champion at the club, Jack Norris, who took top spot with his 72-6=66, a shot ahead of club-mate Neil McEwan (12) and two better than another Niddry player, John Pryde (5), in third spot.

Current champion Hugh Fraser won best scratch prize for his 70.

In the Open Mixed Greensomes for the Alan Lamont Trophy it was John Pryde (again) and R Sharp of the home club at the top with 63.4, with home players S Murray and A Leslie second placed on 66.6.

Best scratch prize went to the Bathgate pairing of Karen Burns and Graeme Bell for their 73.

On Sunday the Silver Goblet winner was Andy Anderson with 82-15=67, a shot ahead of runner-up Willie Watson (14).

John Pryde maintained his good form by recording the lowest gross round with a 73.

Mick Minister has had a couple of things to celebrate at Deer Park recently. He turned 50 – cause enough for celebration – but he also won his first event at the club after a long barren spell after his 39 points off an 11 handicap won him the recent Wednesday Stableford.

Steven Dowds (16) took second with 38, while Stephen Wilson (6) took third with 36 points.

Then in the club’s Magners Trophy and Hall of Fame event it was Craig Shaw (15) out in front with a 69, though victory for him came only after a countback from Brian Thomson (6).

Ian Stewart (24) was in third place while new scratch golfer George Sutherland kept up his good form by recording the low gross, a 73.

Up at Harburn the latest Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier was led by Gordon Paul with a stunning 67-5=62, no fewer than seven shots ahead of next placed Norrie Girdwood (11). John Codona was third qualifier with 76-6=70.

The Captain’s Trophy Round Two, which was also a Labinjoh Medal qualifier had Alan Fulton at the top at the end of the day with a return of 81-13=68 though this just pipped J Kerr (9) on a countback. Michael Cassaly’s 75-6=69 was good for third here.