Top show by Thomson

Apr 15 2009 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Wednesday

DESPITE it being the Easter holiday weekend, there was an excellent turn out of 192 players for the Stableford competition at Dunblane New on Saturday.

Past captain Willie Thomson (8) won the First Class on 38 points with a steady round of 13 pars, four bogeys and a single double bogey at 13.

Young Charlie Linton (7) was second on 37 points highlighted by birdies at the two par fives.

Four players then tied on 36 points but Colin Graham (5) took third place with the bih including birdies at 12 and 15 with Greens Convenor Hunter McKay (8) was fourth with a better last six holes than Stuart Kerr (7), who suffered with a bogey, bogey finish, and David Ivatt (8).

The Second Class saw an easy victory for Richard Goldsmith (14) on 41 points. Runner up, and obviously making a swift recovery from a recent operation, was John Young (13) on 38 points.

Three players then tied on 37 points but club chairman Joe Holden (15) took third place with the bih in a round highlighted by a birdie three at 5.

Playing partners Sandy McRorie (11) and Bob Reid (15) followed with Sandy edging fourth place with a better last six holes after Bob double bogeyed the last.

Playing in his second medal and winning for the second time Gordon Campbell (18) took the honours in the Third Class on 41 points despite dropping five shots in the first two holes.

Despite reducing his handicap by three already, a handicap review seems imminent!

Runner up was Martin Bell (25) on 39 points including a birdie three at 15. Andrew Thomson (20) was third on 38 points with John MacLeod (19) fourth on 36 points.

The draws for all KO competitions are now complete and members are encouraged to arrange and play their ties as soon as possible.

This Saturday is the Captain’s Prize Qualifier with the top 64 net scores proceeding to the match play stages.

The first midweek Medal of the season is on Wednesday, April 22.

Members are reminded the entry llsts for the Muirhead Memorial Trophy, Seniors Open, and the Belhaven Trophy, Senior Mixed Open, are now on the noticeboard's and there are only a few remaining spaces in both competitions.

Results: Stableford: First Class: 1 W Thomson h/c 8, points 38; 2 C Linton 7. 37; 3 C Graham 5, 36 bih; 4 H McKay 8, 36 BL6; Second Class: 1 R Goldsmith 14, 41; 2 John Young 13, 38; 3 J Holden 15, 37 bih; 4 A McRorie 11, 37 BL6; Third Class: 1 G Campbell 18. 41; 2 M Bell 25, 39; 3 A Thomson 20, 38; 4 J MacLeod 19. 36.

STIRLING SENIORS

STIRLING Golf Club senior team started the season in the Central and Lothians Retired Members League with an away match against a strong West Linton team.

In the first of the six games, the top pairing of David Smith (3) and Bruce Hunter (6), after a good front nine, ended up being defeated three andtwo by a West Linton pair of Alastair Grieves (5) and Peter McAuchran (7) who sank every putt under eight feet on what were very tricky greens.

The match was levelled after game two pairing of Ian Muir (7) and Duncan McCallum (7) won at the 18th against Paul Greenan (9) and Ross Buchan (9).

In game three, Tom Rose (10) and Jim Kerr (10) were held to a halved match after the West Linton pair of Clark Pearson (10) and Seniors Captain John Darling (10) fought back after being two down with four to play.

Archie Young (11) and Ian Cockshoot (13) gave the Stirling side the lead after a convincing six and four win against West Linton Golf Club vice captain Hugh Munro (11) and Jim McWilliams (11) which put Stirling ahead in the match by 2½-1½ after four games.

Ian Hume (15) and Graham Leisk (15) halved their match with John Coppard (14) and Andrew Donaldson (15) to guarantee Stirling at least an away point with only match six on the course.

Alan Taylor (16) and Ray Crockett (21) were playing Ian Archibald (15) and Adam Watson (16). Their three and two win gave Stirling the two league points and a four games to two away win which was in stark contrast to last year’s home defeat in the first match.

DUNBLANE NEW LADIES

THE weather was mixed for the 68 ladies who played in the Coronation Foursomes on April 7, with the earlier starters getting the best of the day.

The winners were Liz Rankin and Janice Stewart 36 points, 2 Nancy Lyons and Mary Thomson 33 bih, 3 Elizabeth Crayton and Bette Young with 33.

DOLLAR

LEADING returns from Saturday’s McMillan Cancer Medal were: Division One – 1 V Allan (5) 63; 2 S McPherson (5) 65; 3  K Christie (9) 65.

Division Two – 1 S Smith (26) 65; 2 J Roche (22) 66; 3 R Stewart (13) 66.

On Sunday, in the RNLI Medal, results were: Division One – 1 C Murray (6) 60; 2 J Robertson (10) 64; 3 A Moffat (6) 65.

Division Two – 1 D Brodie (16) 62; 2 A Cowie (14) 62; 3 R Hamilton (15) 62.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

SATURDAY was the Spring meeting and the first round of the Munro Medal.

In the A class it was very tight at the top, but Blair Carnegie managed to win after the count back with 78-11-67, 2 Ewan Cameron 75-8-67, 3 Trevor Kelly 70-3-67.

The B class winner and overall leader after the first round was Chris Whaley 81-15-66, 2 Robert McColl 81-14-67, 3 Alistair Smillie 86-17-69.

The second round will be played this coming Saturday.

WHITEMOSS

IN the Gents Stableford played on April 12, results were: Division One: Joe Patton (8) 34 points; Calum Mitchell (6) 32; Jim Williamson (13) 31 Ian Campbell (11) 31.

Division Two: Grant S Forbes (16) 36; Andrew McIntosh (17) 35; Ian Bews (16) 29; John Rice (19) 29. Division Three: Dougie McLean (22) 35; R Cargill (22) 31; Ron Millar (22) 31; Ian Scott (25) 30.