West Lothian win Courier Trophy

Jul 7 2011 West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian have completed a great season by winning the Courier Trophy after a super week's golf at Linlithgow.

This comes just a week after they took the Linlithgowshire Summer League in a play-off final against Bathgate.

And it was Bathgate who were their first-round victims in the Courier. This was as tight as it had been in the league and the Bo'ness men squeezed through by a single hole over the two foursomes.

And it was to be every bit as tight in round two for them with the same squeaky close margin at the end against Greenburn though things were a bit easier in Sunday morning's semis against Harburn with a 7/5 victory putting them in the final.

There they were faced by the hosts Linlithgow, near neighbours and vying for local supremacy.

Linlithgow, too, had got through comfortably in the morning with a 5/4 success over Deer Park but, on paper at least, the handicaps suggested that the Bo'ness crew would be favourites.

Again, however, it was tight as a drum. Alan O'Neill of West Lothian replaced Michael Wilson to partner David Mason in the first game as Wilson was unavailable for the afternoon match and they were opposed by Andrew Corr and David Russell. The visitors did the business and finished three ahead.

Not so good for Bo'ness at the back where the homesters Stuart McMehen and Jim Simpson had built up a matching three hole advantage coming down the last against Ross Ewen and Myles Johnston. So all to play for.

After two huge drives it was all a bit of an anticlimax. West Lothian missed the green short while Linlithgow went big leaving them an awkward recovery.

In the end Bo'ness teased in a four footer for the hole, and yet another one hole win overall, and, of course, the Courier Trophy for the first time this century.

A word in the end for both the presentation of the Linlithgow course, absolutely superb all week, and for the sixth member of the winning team Revie Thomson, who had filled in on the Thursday night encounter.

Well done to the West Lothian Club – Champions of the Association 2011 without a doubt.

Still on Linlithgowshire business it looks as if Harburn are going to win this season's Seniors' League. They are two points ahead of the pack with only a visit to Binny and a home fixture against Greenburn to come.

Meanwhile Championships week has come and gone at the Binny Club and apart from a weather scare on the Tuesday evening things went very well.

Best return of the first qualifying day was the net 60 recorded by Douglas Craig (17) while on the second round it was Alan Pullen with an 88-25=63 which was best overall.

The following Sunday there was a runaway victory in the Championship final for Richard Drewett, the 2009 winner, who was far too good on the day for the luckless Neil Jarvis and closed his man out to the tune of 10/9.

In the Second Class event Dave Stewart beat the club greenkeeper Gordon Smith by 5/4 to take the title while in the Third Class it was Daryl Philp who triumphed coming back from a three hole deficit to beat Charlie Harding on the last green.

Then in the Ladies' event it was Joan Lysaght for the third time, Club Champion with a 5/4 success over Meg Ladler in their final.

In a really good game the Ladies' Handicap event went to Jan Miller (25) though it took two extra holes for her to overcome Fiona Mitchell (31).

The experienced David Bryans won Harburn's Captain's Trophy over thirty six holes at the weekend.

Net rounds of 65 and 68 off his five handicap gave him a two shot cushion over next placed Willie Cruickshanks.

And the latest Scott/Labinjoh Qualifier had Alan Carlyon at the head of matters with his 76-13=63, two better than joint runners up Ian Wilson (14) and James Watt (23).

At Bathgate there was a big turnout for their Summer Competition on Sunday and in the perfect conditions there was a stunning winning return of 78-16=62 from Andrew Fisher, two better than runner up S Lyon (11) and four ahead of third-placed Greg Lynn (3).

Scoring at Linlithgow for their July Medal on Saturday was top notch with Ian Lockhart coming out in first place with a grand 80-19=61 though only a shot ahead of runner up Peter Hunter (17).

There was a dream finish at Uphall for twelve handicap Tom Mathieson to win Saturday's Fr McFarlane Trophy.

Two birdies at the last two gave him a spectacular net 58 and a four shot win over a trio comprising L McFadyen (8), A McLaren (17) and S Macbride (4) in joint second.

Pumpherston had their Tam Murphy Quaich over both days at the weekend and it was the 130 net total of seven handicapper Stephen Cosgrove which carried the day for him.

His 69-7=62 had led on the first day. Billy Bishop took second place two shots behind the winner.

Niddry Castle's July Medal / Shield was played on Sunday with Jim Jamieson taking the former for his 77-10=67 while Steven Glover jnr (19) won the Shield coming out of a three man tie on 64 net with Ronald Caie (20) and Neil Sammels (19).

And there was another three man tie over at Bo'ness where, after a countback, Kevin McGowan (9) won Saturday's July Medal at the West Lothian Club from Paul Donnelly (12) and GJ Boot (11). They were all on the 66 net mark.