Low number of West Lothian golfers make Lothian’s Championship cut

May 5 2011 West Lothian Courier

SATURDAY’S qualifying rounds for the Lothians Championship at windy Craigmillar Park and Lothianburn were not ones that too many of the West Lothian contingent amongst the entry will remember for long.

Only six of our number made it to the matchplay stages though a seventh, Alan Crawford of Deer Park, was not available to play in this week's knockout at Broomieknowe.

The solitary bright spot for locals on Saturday was the 67 at Craigmillar Park recorded by Harburn's Craig Galloway, a best of the day return which included an excellent return half of only 30 shots.

This allowed Craig comfortable qualification behind leader on the day, Dunbar's Stephen Simants, who lifted the Stuart Cup for his efforts.

Galloway made progress in Monday's first round of the matchplay too, with an impressive victory over Tom Caldwell of Silverknowes on the last green. The other bright spot was an equally good win for Linlithgow's Stuart McMehen, by 2/1, over a former runner-up in the event, Scott Walker of West Linton.

The other two out on Monday night from within the Linlithgowshire Association fell at the first hurdle, Greenburn's hardy campaigner, Brian Watson on the last green to Alan Anderson of Bruntsfield while West Lothian's Michael Wilson failed to carry the flag for the Bo'ness club, going out by 3/2 to four time winner of the Championship Stuart Smith of Duddingston.

That left us another two competitors due to compete on Tuesday and hoping to join Galloway and McMehen in Wednesday's last 16; Mark Timmins of Pumpherston, in against W Kerr of Craigielaw, and Uphall youngster Josh Renwick who was faced by Malcolm Campbell, the steady left-hander from Swanston New who lost in the final of last season's Champion of Champion's event.

On the local front club members continue to lap up the recent sunny and dry conditions to put in some impressive returns.

At Niddry Castle in their Nomination Pairs event, played in a stableford format, winners Colin Pritchard and Greg Stevenson amassed an almost obscene 87 points between them to triumph by no fewer than 10 points over runners up John Wardrop and John Pryde.

Then in the Winchburgh club's Taggart Shield it was Matthew McGowan at the head of matters with his 90-25=65, a shot ahead of joint second placed Kevin Doherty (21) and Douglas Burke (15).

And in a new event at the club just named the 36-hole scratch the winners in the three categories were Hugh Fraser (1st) with rounds of 72 and 68 for 140, Gordon Park (2nd) with 83 and 79 for 162 and Paul Towers (3rd) 92 and 87 for 179.

Bathgate had a good entry on Sunday for its Coronation Trophy and in the end it was Andrew Baxter with 71-4=67 who won the day despite an ugly double-bogey at the par-three seventeenth.

There was a trio in joint-second a shot behind Andrew comprising Scott McClory (scr) – the best scratch of the day – Paul Forrest (13) and C McGarry (16).

There was another low score in Uphall's Midweek Sweep at the head of matters, posted against the name of Brian Roarty (17).

Brian raced to the turn in 36 to totally belie his handicap and held it together on the inward stretch to record a super net 60, still only good enough for a single stroke win over Rab Frame (12) though.

At the weekend the troublesome wind raised scores a bit in the club's 2nd Monthly Medal for the Matt Wilson Trophy.

Here the 70-6=64 of Charlie Bavidge was good enough for top spot, by a shot over Stuart MacBride (4), the runner-up.

Harburn, too, has had some very good returns posted. The leaders in the most recent Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier were as follows:

C Thomas 78-16=62

C Stevens 86-20=66

S Murray 69-3=66

E Montgomery 82-16=66

And in the McInally Stableford at the weekend it took 42 points to head proceedings for I Dow with P Rafferty second on 39 — a point better than third placed Al Thomson.

At Carmondean Deer Park's Wednesday Medal was won by Magnus Deans (11) with a net 69, a shot ahead of the trio comprising Charlie Fisher (14), Bruce Rutherford (24) and Greg Rutherford(17).

And in the first Sunday Medal of the season at the country club it was Alistair McKay on top at the end with a fine net 67 off his 27 mark. Johan Wessels (18) and Craig McDonald (13) were joint runners up on 69 net.

The Pro's shop staff at Deer Park were wearing little smirks of satisfaction at the end of these two events, too, as four of the seven named leader in the week's competitions are currently receiving tuition from Sandy Strachan and his staff.