Golf: Bathgate on course to top league section

Jun 10 2011 West Lothian Courier

BATHGATE seem set to reach the final of the Linlithgowshire League despite defeat last Friday.

They lost by a point at Pumpherston, but could seal Section A victory tomorrow when they host Linlithgow while nearest rivals Deer Park and Pumpherston clash at Carmondean.

West Lothian are in pole position to join them in the forthcoming final, as they have a three-point advantage over closest rivals Greenburn, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with the Fauldhouse outfit.

Last Friday’s results were: Section A: Pumpherston 3.5 Bathgate 2.5, Linlithgow 6 Deer Park 0; Section B: Niddry Castle 0 Uphall 6, Harburn 3 West Lothian 3.

Andy Rothney has become the first local champion of the season, claiming the honours at Deer Park for a third successive year.

He held off the challenge of Alan McDonaugh in last Saturday’s final with a brilliant display, particularly of his short game, which gave him an unassailable seven-hole advantage ahead of the second round.

Runner-up Alan battled hard after the break but was unable to reduce the deficit below six, and the defending champion again clinched a 7&5 victory.

Deer Park’s second-class event had to be settled by an extra hole, which saw William Whitefield triumph over Derek Steele by holing from 45 yards for a birdie three at the 19th after a real nip-and-tuck encounter.

James Hooman enjoyed a resounding 6&5 win over Ryan Chapman in the third-class decider; while the seniors championship saw Bill Wilson beat Derek Carruthers in the first class and Robert Gilbert beat Ian Purvis in the second class.

In-form Jock McNee, who carded a 65 scratch in last week’s club open at Linlithgow, this time led qualifiers at the course with rounds of 68 and 72, his 140 aggregate leaving him five shots ahead of Michael Hunt in second.

At nearby West Lothian, Andrew Flinn pipped two former multiple champions, Paul Dick and Alan O’Neill, by a single shot to lead the 16 qualifiers into this week’s matchplay thanks to a score of 144.

Greenburn members were competing for two pieces of silverware last weekend, contesting the Jimmy Topping trophy and Joe Aitken memorial trophy.

John Rennie, back to something like the form he showed as a youngster, posted 68 (4) 64, winning on a countback from A Fairbairn (19); Neil McKinven (12) and James Johnston (two) were next placed on 66 net.

M Weir won the Joe Aitken memorial trophy with a super return of 79 (16) 63, two ahead of both Arthur McGill (15) and Steven Bleakley (seven) in joint-second.

Harburn’s latest Kirk Rosebowl qualifier was won by Ken Proctor with a return of 81 (14) 67, a shot ahead of runner-up Alex Burnett (seven).

Uphall’s fourth Midweek Spoon was won by S Grieve, who recovered from dropping three shots in the first few holes to post a marvellous score of 74 (12) 62. There was a three-player tie for second place, two shots back, involving M Rogers (18), D Pace (7) and S Wishart (12).

Scoring was not quite as low down at Winchburgh in the Niddry Castle June midweek medal, which was won by Gary Bertram.

His 83 (15) 68 total placed him a shot ahead of in-form Jack Norris (5) and two better off than Paul O’Brien (17) in third.

Saturday’s medal for lower handicappers went to John Pryde, whose 73 (6) 67 was a shot better than runner-up Stephen Rafferty (nine).

The shield for higher handicappers went to Alex Menzies (19) for his 65, which also gave him one-shot victory over second-placed David Sandilands (26).