No junior joy joy for West Lothian youngsters in Scottish Boys’ Championships

Apr 21 2011 West Lothian Courier

THERE was to be no 2011 glory for West Lothian’s small crop of youngsters in the Scottish Boys’ Championship.

Reporting last week the two Bathgate lads Gaughan and Miller had progressed to round two.

Playing on the Tuesday were Blair Todd of Greenburn and he went down on the last green to Drumpellier’s Innes Ferguson while Ryan O’Connor of Uphall found it tough going against Dominic Dougan of Colville Park in Motherwell and it finished with a success for the Lanarkshire boy.

And there was to be no run for Greg Miller. Though he put up a sterling fight against Williamwood’s youngest ever Club Champion, Fraser Davren who had taken that title at age only 14, he went out at the first extra hole in round two.

So Louis Gaughan, the best prospect at the outset, was the only West Lothian left. He took out Greg Forrester of Balbirnie Park by 3/2 in his Tuesday round two encounter.

On the Wednesday he had a tougher prospect against Newbattle’s Lee Morgan, another scratch golfer, but came through, by a single hole.

Thursday morning in round four looked no more formidable a task for him against David Wilson, a one handicapper from the Troon Wellbeck club. And so it seemed as the Bathgate member took the opening two holes.

It was not to last, though, and Louis was unable to come to grips with his putting and in the end it was easy enough for the Ayrshire lad who won by 3/2. And we were to hear more of 16-year-old Wilson.

He went on to take his place against Dumfries and County’s Calum Johnston in Saturday’s final.

There it appeared just a game too far for the Troon boy who had made a name for himself with his fighting qualities before reaching the Championship match.

This time it just seemed all too much as he trailed Johnston by a massive eight holes after 15 of the Saturday morning’s first round.

He gamely took the 16th and 17th to be six behind at the break but lost another hole early on in the afternoon and was seven in arrears with only 14 remaining.

Wilson kept his head down, holed a few putts and incredibly had got it back to a single hole with three to go. He lost the short 16th (34th) and surely it was over now?

But no, again he came back and, into a stiff breeze closed with a couple of pars to square it.

Johnston could have won it at the 37th with a ten footer but the putt failed and when he overshot the green at the next with his approach Wilson was left with two putts from a yard to win the most incredible final.

A fantastic fightback and such a will to win shown by the Troon boy. Surely an example for all our up and coming prospective champions.

Things are getting busier on the local front.

At Greenburn there were events on both weekend days. On Saturday it was 12 handicap Phil Flannigan who won the McGlinchey Trophy with his super 64 net, two ahead of second placed Willie McGinty (15) and three better than third placed Steven Bell (9).

The following day the qualifying for the Hamilton Trophy was won on a countback after a tie on 64 between Martin McGhie (17) and Stephen Hendry (7). McGhie’s 33 net back nine won the day for him while Adam Stirrat was third on 65 net off his nine mark.

Harburn has had a couple of medal qualifiers recently with Phil Foster’s 76-12=64 taking the Scott top billing. from a triple tie in second place two shots behind involving Norrie Girdwood (11), Francis Barkey (7) and Christopher Curran (7).

Then in the midweek Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier it was Alistair Henderson with 73-6=67 who prevailed. Andrew Leitch (11) was second a shot back with Ralph Addison grabbing third on 92-23=69.

Ties seem to be the order of the week as over at Uphall there were three players vying for top spot in the club’s Midweek Sweep. Alex Young (18) came out on top when the cards were scrutinised for back nine performance over GK Innes (13) and B Muldoon (18). The pile-up had been on 65 net.

On Saturday there was a good entry for the club’s first monthly medal with the George Elliot Trophy up for grabs.

Here it was the stunning 61 net of 15 handicap Sandy Miller which carried the day from a four way tie in second spot on 64 net.

It comprised the efforts of Mark Proudfoot (6), Tom Mathieson (12), John Moffat (8) and Lawrie McFadyen (11).

Meanwhile at Winchburgh there was a decent turnout last Wednesday for the first Midweek Medal of the season at Niddry Castle.

Top man, though only after yet another countback was John Forbes (17) from J Jamieson (10). They both had 68 net returns.

Bathgate had another good day for its competition on Sunday when it was Karim Imadanyen (11) who came out of yet another tie, this time on 65 net, to win the club’s April Tankard.

Billy McCallum (5) lost out after the card scrutiny. Third place went to Frank Fealey jnr with his 80-13=67.

Stephen Gallacher had another good finish, a tied 11th place, in the Maybank Malaysian Open.

He had opened with two good sub par returns but it was a holding process over the final 36, no better than par, but nevertheless a nice cheque tucked away for in excess of £25,000.

The big man is off to China for this week’s business.