Golf: Alan wins Stirling champiosnhip

Jun 29 2011 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Wednesday

A NEW name was engraved on Stirling’s club championship trophy on Saturday when Alan Dryden beat three-times winner Iain Munro four and three.

The first round was a cagey affair, with both players struggling to recapture the form that had seen them through to the final. By the turn Alan had edged one hole ahead and he doubled his lead when Iain failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker at 10. Iain pulled a hole back at the 12th but slipped back to two behind at the next. The remaining five holes were halved.

In the afternoon Alan won the first hole and a birdie at the 4th stretched his lead to four. Iain pegged him back at the 8th but by the 11th Alan was five up. Iain birdied the 13th and 14th to reduce the gap but at the 15th he missed the green then hit his pitch beyond the hole and missed his par attempt. Alan to hit a solid putt to the edge of the hole to secure his first championship.

In the handicap championship Stewart Gillespie was four ahead of Scott Monteith at the turn. That was reduced to three at the 10th but Stewart won the 11th and closed out the match by halving the next four holes.

Alex Hogg won the senior championship, beating James McPherson three and one. James took a one-hole lead at the 11th but Alex turned the match around before James lost a ball at the 17th and had to concede the hole and the match.

The junior championship was won by last year’s beaten finalist Russell Stewart, who got the better of Matthew Tortolano.

The club thanked all Saturday’s finalists and the main sponsor Guardian Group.

STIRLING LADIES

THE ladies' championship final was contested between Vicki Stevenson and Elaine Allison. Vicki won the first three holes but Elaine reduced the deficit to two by birdieing the 9th. Vicki regained the lead and increased it to four at the 14th then finished the match to win by four and three. This is her fourth championship title.

In the handicap championship Catriona Brown played Lesley Campbell. Both started steadily but Lesley was three up at the turn. Catriona squared the match but ost out over the closing holes and Lesley won at the 18th two up.

Mairead Smith-Hume and Jean Bond were the finalists in the bronze championship. After going three down Mairead levelled the match at the turn. She then went on steadily to win by five and four.

DUNBLANE

SATURDAY was an opportunity for the senior membership to qualify for the matchplay stages of the seniors championships.

In the medal run alongside the qualifying the scratch honours went to Chris Gater on 73 and BIH than Neil Panton.

The first class was won by Tony Callaghan (10) on 66, with John Connolly (10) second with 67 and BL6 than Andy Thomson (9) and BIH than Jim Moore (10).

George Simpson (12) won the second class on 64 with Gavin Mason (12) second on 66. George Scott (12) edged into third place with BIH on 67 than Cameron MacVicar (12).

The third class saw victory for Stewart Wilson (23) on 64, despite his first drive disappearing into the gardens. Runner-up was George Thomson (17) on 66 and Alan Ross (16) took third place on 67 and BIH than Tony Harrild (18).

On Sunday 35 members enjoyed the Outing to Alyth.

Next Friday and Saturday is the monthly medal, with the Kippendavie gents’ open on Sunday. The open is fully subscribed.

BRUCEFIELDS

THE final qualifying round for this year's club championship took place last Saturday.

The qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the scratch trophy are M Duncan v S McManus, A Grant v T Stevenson, S McElholm v M Hill and B McIntyre v J Digney. The qualifiers for the handicap championship are on view at the club.

This weekends' competition is the Harris-Maitland Trophy.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

ON SATURDAY the club championship and Oliphant second round was played: A class 1 William Whitfield (7) 62 bih, 2 Garry Bowman (3) 62, 3 Stuart Benson jnr (12) 63 bih; B class 1 Tom Gallivan (13) 62, 2 Tony Jackson (19) 64, 3 Jack Gardner (21) 66 bih.

The trophy for the best scratch and best nett for the two rounds went to Garry Bowman.

DOLLAR

MALCOLM Sargent Cancer Medal, June 25: division one 1 V Allan (6) 66, 2 C Murray (6) 66, 3 A Clouston (9) 66; division two 1 C Inglis (19) 65, 2 R Stewart (14) 65, 3 G Marshall (15) 65.

McRobert (NPFA) Cup, June 26: division one 1 J Paterson (12) 64, 2 S Borrowman (+1) 66, 3 S Bonnar (11) 66; division two 1 D Cowie (15) 66, 2 P Muss (13) 66, 3 C Norman (15) 67.

Dollar ladies held their Jessie Lorimer round two on June 22: 1 O O’Sullivan (20) 69, 2 D Dunning (25) 70.

BRAEHEAD

THE gents played their Sir William Younger Open on June 25, when Braehead player Allan Watson lifted the scratch trophy with a 65, one stroke ahead of Lawrence Allan from Alva.

Handicap: up to 5 - 1 Chris McParland (5) 64; 2 Martin Robertson, Alva (2) 66 (2). 6-11 - Earl Smith, Glenbervie (11) 67; Grant Murray (6) 67.

Gean Trophy on Sunday: 1 Aaron Pirie and Anne Ferguson 69.5, 2 John Glass and Ann Parker 70.5; scratch Jim Syme and Christine Sikora 85.

Ladies’ stableford on June 22: 1 Isabel Gorman 33, 2 Sarah Walker 31, 3 Jane Short 30.

Senior leaderboard: 1 Eileen Skivington, 2 Doreen Skelton, 3 Anne Ferguson.

The seniors played The Dukes in the Caledonian League at home on June 22. It was a disappointing 3-3 draw with the league leaders, with three of the matches decided on the 18th.. The next match is at Downfield.

Friday’s Summer Sweep had a very good turnout. 1 Alan Okey 86-18-68, joint 2 Brian Christie 73-4-69 and John Williams 86-17-69.

Bill Abernethy Trophy: 1 Brian Christie, 2 Willie Blair, 3 Allan Malcolm.

On June 20 the juniors held their June medal: 1 Scott Beattie 70-6-64, 2 Ryan Walker 76-10-66, 3 Rikki Alexander 73-5-68.