Golf: Last hole eagle wins title

Jul 25 2012 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Wednesday

BRAEHEAD’S Allan Watson took his first Clackmannanshire County Championship last Saturday at Dollar over 36 holes.

After round one the leaders were home player Darren Hulston and reigning champ Lawrence Allan from Alva with 66, closely followed by Bobby Watson of Dollar and Allan Watson on 67s. In the second round Watson led with 68, followed by a five-way tie on 69. This meant that three players tied on aggregates of 135 and the title was decided on the better second round. Watson eagle two at the final hole proved crucial.

Lawrence Allan was second and Darren Hulston third.

Former Scottish boys champion Bobby Watson took the handicap prize on 132.

In the team event to decide the Clackmannanshire representative in the Scottish Club Championship Dollar led the way on 273, followed by Alva 281, Braehead 287, and Alloa 295.

Dollar’s Scott Borrowman was runner-up in the Newlands Trophy at Lanark with a four-round aggregate of 279, three shots behind the winner.

Five of the county’s best golfers are off to Royal Dornoch next week for the Scottish Amateur Championship: Scott Moffat from Braehead, Lawrence Allan, Jamie Aitken of Alloa, Darren Hulston and Scott Borrowman.

STIRLING

THE gents’ seniors team's defence of their CLRML title suffered a blow with a heavy defeat away to a strong, in-form Falkirk Carmuirs team. Stirling's final match is at home to Ratho Park and they will be looking to bounce back with a win to ensure a high finish in the league. The results of the individual games were: Ian Muir and Duncan McCallum won one up; Bruce Hunter and John Campbell lost 7 and 6; Archie Young and Ian Cockshoot lost 5 and 4; Willie Straub and Tom Johnson lost 6 and 5; John Davidson and Bobby Roy won 4 and 3; Hugh Mathie and Andrew McAllister lost 6 and 5.

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

ON SATURDAY the club finally got on to the summer greens after the bad weather.

Belhaven Medal: class A 1 Stuart Kerr 73-9-64, 2 Michael Smith 73-7-66 bih, 3 Robert Birrell 76-10-66 bih; class B 1 Jim McKenzie 83-15-68 bih, 2 Robert McColl 81-13-68, 3 Neil Kerr 85-15-70 bih.

DUNBLANE

THE weather relented on Saturday to allow a highly successful Captains’ Day to be played.

The fun competition of teams of four playing six holes foursomes, six holes greensomes and six holes Texas scramble was well supported with a field of 192.

Winners were Chris, Norrie and Jack Gater with David Ivatt on a score of 108.75 off their handicap of 6.25. Pipped by 0.25 and runners-up were Stuart and Alison Brown, Ian Smith and Terry Kettlewell on 109 off 14. In third place were Tommy and Sandra Green, Jim McIntyre and Owen Hutchison on 113 off 11.

There were prizes for nearest the pin for gents, ladies and juniors, straightest drive for gents and ladies and nearest the pin in two at the 4th and 8th holes.

The rains struck again last Wednesday, when the community day had to be cancelled. The day will now be run on Wednesday, August 22.

The Junior Ellis Trophy team defeated Strathendrick 3.5-2.5 at home on Sunday.

Entry sheets are available for the AG Kinnes Invitation Fourball on August 12 and the Observer Trophy open mixed foursomes on August 18. The entry sheets are on the junior notice board for the Junior Open on August 16 and the Monty Trophy on August 19.

DUNBLANE LADIES

LADIES’ Open greensomes, played July 8: handicap 1 Tricia Chillas and Jacky Farrell (Stirling) 81-13.2-67.8, 2 Elaine Langlands and terry Mullen (St Michaels) 83-13.8-69.2, 3 Sheila Durward (Dunblane) and Margaret Frame (Alloa) 82-12.2-69.8; scratch 1 Laura Walker and Stephanie Crolla (Muckhart) 73, 2 Catherine Simpson (Dunblane New) and Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 80.

Nearest the pin: silver Sheila Stuart (Turnhouse), bronze Elizabeth Todd (Swanston). Longest drive: silver Stephanie Crolla (Muckhart), bronze Gillian Downie (Lochwinnoch).

Infirmary Trophy, played July 18: silver 1 Miriam Wilson 84-13-71, 2 Jill Montgomery 90-18-72; bronze 1 Caroline Bell 108-32-76, 2 Elizabeth Rankin 103-32-76.

DOLLAR

THURSDAY, July 19, Nine Holes qualifier: division one 1 J McMillan 19, 2 B Miller 14, 3 D Borrowman 13; division two 1 A Millar 16, 2 G Johnston jnr 14, 3 D Brodie 14.

Sunday, Holiday Medal: division one 1 D Neil (7) 64, 2 V Allan (4) 65, 3 J McEwan (7) 65; division two 1 P Muss (13) 65, 2 R Cumming (14) 67, 3 J Cant (14) 68.

BRAEHEAD

JULY monthly medal: division one 1 G Carroll 77-10-67, 2 G Graham 76-8-68 acb, 3 G Kerr 77-9-68 ACB; division two 1 J Massa 77-15-62, 2 S Smith 84-18-66, 3 A McGuinness 83-16-67 acb; division three 1 G Chapman 86-22-64, 2 A McInally 91-26-65, 3 J Falconer 91-23-68 ACB; scratch S Matchett 75.

Juniors’ July medal: 1 S Beattie 70-4-66, 2 R McCallum 101-31-70, 3 J Harrison 86-16-70.

Braehead Seniors were soundly beaten 5-1 against Downfield. The weather forced the Senior Open to be postponed until Thursday, September 27.

Ladies’ Christine Sikora Trophy (outing at Pumpherston): 1 S Walker 76, 2 N Kerr 77, 3 I Gorman 78, 4 L Percy 78; gross S Walker 82.

Braehead Shield: 1 S Walker 71, 2 L Percy 74, 3 C Sikora 75; gross S Walker 77.