Pumpherston in dramatic victory for Linlithgow league title

Jul 23 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

PUMPHERSTON have won the Karma Restaurant sponsored Linlithgowshire Summer League for the fourth consecutive year after a very tight final against Greenburn at a soggy Uphall.

In the top game Paul Drake, arguably the best amateur in the Lothians at the moment, faced Greenburn backmarker Gary Corrigan and the pair could not be separated — square after 18.

Pumpherston forged ahead at number two with Mark Timmins knowing just too much for David Cardwell.

Then Ross Burnside and Davy Fleming played out another tense square match before Tommy Leitch took out former Pumphy Champion John Gallagher to square things overall.

The sixth match was next to finish and the youngster of the Pumpherston side Andrew Loch held on to beat the experienced Scott Corrigan at the 17th.

All then on the fifth game and Greenburn's Pat Flynn held his nerve down the last to protect his one hole advantage against the steady Jim Cleghorn.

It was then up to the top two to go out again. Both Corrigan and Drake were short right of the first green in two.

Corrigan played first and left it some ten feet short while his opponent all but holed.

All on Corrigan and his effort failed to give the Pumpherston men an unprecedented fourth title in a row — and for the second year running at the first extra hole with Paul Drake having done the business in 2008 against Bathgate's Martin O'Hara.

There was other Linlithgowshire business on Sunday with the 1st Class Spring Handicap being replayed at Greenburn.

There was a bit of wind and rain during the day so CSS was up three on SSS to 73.

Top man, and by four shots, was the host club's Steven Rennie with a fine 72-5=67 from former Lothians Champion, Colin Swanston of Uphall.

Prizewinners: S Rennie (Greenburn) 72-5=67, CSwanston (Uphall) 73-2=71, J Hill (Shotts) 77-5=72, A Stevenson (Uphall) 77-4= 73, M Barrass (Deer Park) 78-5=73, D Fleming (Greenburn) 74 scr = 74, S McKechnie (Greenburn) 76-2=74.

Bathgate had its Norbury Trophy Open for higher handicappers on Saturday and it was local member Alex Gibson who won the day with a return of 79-12=67, two ahead of runner up P Montgomery (14).

The previous midweek the club's Wednesday Medal had been won by Ross Whitelaw with an 81-18=63, three ahead of second placed John McKie (4).

The same day there was continued good scoring at Uphall in their Midweek Spoon with K Clarke's 72-11=61 pipping Andy Stevenson (4) and Jim Kinniburgh(6) by a shot.

Greenburn's Wednesday Medal had Peter Lynch's 71-9=62 at the head of matters, three better M Brolly (11) in second spot. Here there was a grand 66 scratch for former Champion Gary Corrigan.

And in Saturday's Keane Cup it was Colin Fraser with the winning smile at the end for his 83-18=65, a shot better than runner up Derek Stark (13).

Nice to see too that other low handicap players at the club are in fine form. James Johnston got down to one handicap on Wednesday with a scratch 68 and on Saturday returned a scratch 69 — this latter got him third with his 68 net.

Good midweek scoring is almost obligatory just now it would appear and so it was at Harburn in their latest Kirk Rosebowl Qualifier.

Top man was Ron Wilson with a super 73-12=61, with David McColl (9) in second on 63 while joint third on 64 were Richard Burns (19) and Michael Whelan (13).

Jennifer Bryans continued her good season when she won the club's Cross Creek Spoon with a return of 75-4=71. Joint second were Sharon Porter and Macrina Crawford, both off sixteen and on 72 net.

More midweek magic at Winchburgh where the Robertson Stableford at Niddry Castle has been won by Stewart Getty on 42 points, one better than runner up Tom McCann with James Richardson third a further point back.

Saturday's Silver Goblet went to Steve Cherry (6) for his 68 net in tricky conditions. S Mackay (8) was second on 69 while M Brown (6) took third with 70 net.

And to round off the great scoring in midweek it took a wonderful 67-7=60 to win the Linlithgow July Strokeplay for Robert Fyfe.

Robert's return was four ahead of runner up Jock McNee (2). Great 66 scratch by the regular club team player though.