Excellent turn out for county golfers

Jan 20 2011 West Lothian Courier

THE Alliance lads got 2011 off to a good start at Gullane 3 on Wednesday of last week and there were almost a hundred of them taking advantage of the good conditions.

First man out, fourteen handicap Musselburgh member Bill Bonar, posted a net 60 that was not to be beaten all day and he picked up the John Glen Trophy for his pains.

He was three better in the handicap section than next placed Andy Wight from Glencorse still off two despite being nearer 70 than 60-years-old.

There was a tie in third which gave a place on 64 net to former Deer Park member Justin White (4) now playing out of the Harrison club at the Braids.

Scratch winner was Elie professional David Patrick, eleven threes and seven fours on his card for a 61, which saw him pipped by Bonar by the single stroke for the trophy.

And here, Greenburn's Scott Catlin took second with a 62 to keep himself well in the Order of Merit hunt, only a point behind leader Chris Morris with so much of the campaign still to run.

The lads were due out at the Braids for their annual Greensomes event yesterday (Wednesday) but my feeling is that frost might have been a hazard there for them.

Anyway next week they are at the Glen in North Berwick and that is seldom a fixture affected by the elements even when the rest of the country is suffering.

Certainly one local golfer who won't be stopped by the weather in the next few weeks unless, of course, he is suffering from heat stroke.

Stephen Gallacher is off to compete in four events in the Gulf to open his 2011 campaign.

His performances in 2010 will be a hard act for the big man to follow but he is up for the challenges ahead and with that elusive second tour victory very much in his sights.

There was a date for him just before he left, too, with the cream of Scots' amateur golf which assembled at Kingsfield Golf Centre in Linlithgow to get a few wrinkles from him on his habits and practices on Tour.

The Scottish Golf Union had set up the meeting but the Centre itself was shut — on a well deserved holiday — so Stephen and better half Helen had to fill in with three dozen bacon rolls for the troops before they got down to business.

There is an interview with Stephen about the time he spent with the young champions on the SGU site which is currently available.

I wish him well in his travels and endeavours which start with Abu Dhabi this week.