County players warm to the challenge as they produce form to win winter league

Jan 22 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

WEST Lothian put in a sterling performance to regain the Edinburgh and Fife Winter League title at a chilly Burntisland last Sunday.

And they managed this despite being four regulars short as Steven Armstrong, Keith Reilly and Graham Robertson were all unavailable and Harburn Champion Stuart Boyle was ill.

What a fight the lads put up, though, against nearest rivals Fife who seemed to have chosen the quirkiest of venues to maximise their chances.

All the West Lothian lads were determined to succeed but there were times it looked as if they had no chance against a home team who were fired-up for the contest.

James Ross was promoted to first match and came up with the goods in his match teasing in a four footer at the last to come through by the narrowest of margins against Scott Michie.

But Robert Carson was totally out of form and went down heavily in the second match though Paul Heggie gave West Lothian the lead again against the experienced Brian Erskine.

Tom Caldwell, however, lost to Michael Main and it was back to level pegging.

Dalmahoy's David Marshall, in what proved to be a pivotal encounter, led early against Colin Steffen but was, alarmingly, three behind and almost out of the picture by the 14th green.

The former Greenburn golfer rallied magnificently, though, and took the 15th before he won the last two to gain a vital half point.

But Mark Timmins, square on the last tee, uncharacteristically, drove out of bounds to let Lawrie Clark put Fife ahead by a half point.

Then youth had its day for the local county.

Jordyn Rhind, of Uphall, was in top form to hammer Jordan McColl who, to this point, had been undefeated in the winter's campaign.

This put West Lothian ahead and it was cemented by Tom Blennerhassett who, one behind Alex Moir at the 14th hung in to squeeze through at the last.

He had had a fantastic up and down at the 15th to square and, suitably buoyed, holed a 15 footer to take the next for the lead that was to see him through.

And the rejoicing started when Allyn Dick also finished strongly to beat Scottish Amateur quarter finalist Scott Stewart-Cation at the penultimate hole after winning three in a row from the 15th.

It mattered little that rear gunner Kevin Messer lost out to Colin Martin as West had their 5.5 points and the title yet again.

The one outstanding match — against East at Harburn — will now no longer be played.

And the first Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance of 2009 was played last week with a hundred players out at Gullane 3.

Things have not changed since 2008, however, as David Patrick of Elie continued his dominance with top spot to lift the John Glen Trophy with a grand six birdie 63 to beat former European Tour stalwart Andy Oldcorn of King's Acre by a single shot. Andy was left ruing his two consecutive bogeys at the 13th and 14th.

There was a real pile up in third place with seven players on 67 including Bathgate's Stuart Callan.

And in the handicap stakes there were a couple of familiar names to West Lothian golfers at the head of matters.

Hinton Bootland of Duddingston who I know has many friends in this area was top along with former Deer Park golfer Justin White who now plays his golf at the Braid Hills' club Harrison. The lads tied on a net 64 total.

In the Seniors, Niddry Castle veteran, the always reliable John Wardrope, took a piece of the prize in what was a five way tie.

The guys were due back in East Lothian this week at the much sterner test that is Craigielaw.

Stephen Gallacher got his 2009 European Tour sortie off to a more than decent start with a top twenty finish at Abu Dhabi at the weekend.

An ordinary opening round of 74 and a steady but not spectacular 71 to close sandwiched two great rounds of 66 and 65 — this latter 131 beaten only by eventual winner Paul Casey.

These middle scores show that Stephen must be holing a few putts and augur well for a season that might just see the big man release more of that fantastic potential he still has.

Many of us are hoping so.