Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Craig and Greg get hands on the prizes
Big wins for local duo
Airdrie golfers Craig O’Hara and Greg Dalziel clinched victories in Lanarkshire competitions.
O’Hara, 16, won the boys’ championship before losing to Dalziel in the boys’ matchplay final.
Both events took place at Airdrie Golf Club with the condition of the course and greens at the venue praised by officials.
O’Hara struck two rounds of 72 to finish with a score of 144, beating Carluke’s Graeme Greer and Mount Ellen’s Scott Thomson by one stroke. Par for the course is 69. The handicap prize was won by Airdrie’s Cameron Kennedy who shot rounds of 72 and 65 for a score of 137. The top 10 were as follows: 1st, Craig O’Hara 72 72 ( 144); 2nd= Graeme Greer 74 71 (145); Scott Thomson 72 73 (145); 4th, Jonathan Torrance 71 75 ( 146); 5th, Mark McMillan 74 75 (149); 6th, Greg Dalziel 75 75 (150); 7th, Alexander Hay Lanark 83 68 (151); 8th, Aaron McGinlay 79 75 (154); 9th, Lewis Caddell 81 74 (155); 10th, Fraser Merriweather 83 73 (156).
It was noted that the course stood up remarkably well to the constant rain and the greens were great all day — vindicating Airdrie’s decision years ago to put in 18 USGA spec surfaces at a great cost.
In the matchplay final, Dalziel won a thrilling contest which went down to the very last putt.
Both boys started well and halved the first eight holes in par although O’Hara’s superb approach at the 180 yards par 3 eighth to four feet deserved a birdie but lipped out.
O’Hara contrived to lose a par at the ninth before Dalziel extended his lead at the 10th.
However, O’Hara refused to give in and levelled the match with victories at the 15th and 16th holes.
The 17th was halved and O’Hara proceeded to hit a tremendous drive on the last but was left frustrated when the ball bounced through the green.
Dalziel hit hybrid onto the green and managed to make par to ensure he collected the trophy.