Golf returns

Stirling Eighteen year-old Thomas Preston shot a career best three over par 75, an amazing 12 under par net 60, in the May Medal and is leading qualifier for the matchplay stages of the Nimmo Cup. Only one over par after 14 holes, including birdies at the 6th and 8th, the score was on for the magic 59 but a double bogey at Cotton’s Fancy derailed him before three steady closing pars completed the inward nine of 39. Thomas had his handicap reduced by three strokes to 12. The CSS was 72 on Friday and 71 on Saturday with 32 qualifiers on 71 or better with some players on 71 losing out on the better inward half. The draw has been posted in the locker room. Ian Spiers made another appearance on the leaderboard taking second place in Class 3 on net 65 with Andrew Hislop third on net 66. Past captain Andy Aitken won Class 2 on net 68 pipping Neil McKinlay on the bih. Andy had five threes including birdies at the 2nd and 16th in nines of 39/39. Trevor Boyd was third on 69 beating John Kilgannon on the bih. Andrew Wilson was the only Friday player in the leaders winning Class 1 with a one under par 71 (net 66). His only dropped shot was at the 10th. Stewart McLellan maintained his good form for second and Ewan Robertson edged A McLaren on the bih for third. Results: Class 1 - 1 Andrew Wilson 71 (5) 66 Medal Finals qualifier; 2 Stewart McLennan 71 (4) 67; 3 Ewan Robertson 73 (5) 68 bih. Class 2 - 1 Andrew Aitken 78 (10) 68 bih Medal Finals qualifier; 2 Neil McKinlay 80 (12) 68 medal finals qualifier; 3 Trevor Boyd 80 (11) 69 bih. Class 3 - 1 Thomas Preston 75 (15) 60 Medal Finals qualifier; 2 Ian Spiers 81 (16) 65; 3 Andrew Hislop 82 (16) 66. Entries for the Wilson Salver (Open Gents Greensomes) on Sunday, May 27 are filling up fast. Entry fee is £20 per couple with four fantastic handicap prizes including first prize of £250 and trophy and a £100 scratch prize. Enter online at www.stirlinggolfclub.com/ visitor-information/2018-sgc-opens-page. Entries are also being accepted online from both visitors and members for the Open Mixed Greensomes on Sunday, June 3 at £15 per couple. Tee-times available from 9.30am2.30pm at www.brsgolf.com/stirling/visitor_ home.php. Congratulations to Barry Sullivan who had his first hole in one at the awe inspiring 9th hole playing over the bay on the Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry. This weekend is the Spring Meeting, which includes the first round of the Infirmary Cup (best net agg. of Spring and Autumn Meetings), the scratch medal and handicap prize. The leading eight net scores qualify for the matchplay stages of the King George V Trophy with Richard D Park defending and Laim Haldane defending the Scratch Medal. Braehead Results: Tuesday, May 1 (Stableford): Div 1 - 1 W Park 38pts acb; 2 J McNeil 38pts; 3 D Dick 37pts acb. Div 2 - 1 S Samuel 38pts; 2 J Cairns 37pts acb; 3 J Reid 37pts acb. Div 3 - 1 M Tetlow 43pts; 2 W Burns 39pts; 3 S Williams 37pts acb. Well done to Dave Gibson for his hole in one at the 6th. Saturday, May 5 (Belhaven four man team event): Best two scores from the better ball combined - 1 J Young, B Dick, P Aitkinson and M McGovern (net 125); 2 C Gray, J Reid, A Gray and T Cole (net 128 acb); 3 P Ainsworth, A Hume, L Clark and M Newton (net 128); 4 G Kerr, R White, D Hulston and M Walker (net 129). Best scratch: A Green, L Jennings, A Pirie and A Hughes (141). Sunday, May 6 (William Rodgers Cup)L: 1 Andy MacDonald 82 (19) 63 acb; 2 Alan McLaughlan 84 (21) 63; 3 William McArthur 75 (9) 66 acb; 4 Darrel Tough 92 (26) 66. Scratch J Muir 76. The CCGU spring meeting is at Braehead on Satjurday, May 12. For late entries call Braehead GC on 01259 722078. As there is course maintenance ongoing, there are no midweek comps are on but the course is open for casual golf. All welcome. Bridge of Allan The summer weather eventually arrived last weekend and this led to some great scoring. In Friday’s Senior Gents Nine-Hole Stableford two players returned excellent 21 point totals, however on a countback Brian Paterson just managed to pip Alan Beaton. Third place on 18 points was Thomas Herbert. On Saturday the gents played in the third monthly medal of the season which was also combined with the second round of the Spring Shield. Winner of the medal on the day was Andrew Walker with a fine net 62 with Martin Baird claiming second on 65. Kevin Allan also returned net 65 however just lost out on a countback and was third. Special mention also to Stuart McLachlan who scooped the double twos pot with the sole two of the day. Winner of the Spring Shield with a two round combined total of 129 was Ian Houston. Ian can now look forward to receiving his trophy at the year-end prize giving. Dollar Results: Extra Medal (Saturday, May 5) - Div 1: 1 Charlie Murray 73 (8) 65; 2 Neil Ronald 77 (12) 65; 3 David Borrowman 76 (10) 66. Div 2: 1 Brian Miller 76 (14) 62; 2 David Stewart 85 (20) 65; 3 Angus MacLean 79 (13) 66. Belhaven Qualifying (Sunday, May 6) - Div 1: 1 Steven McPherson 69 (5) 64; 2 Davie Cowie 78 (12) 66; 3 Kenneth Christie 74 (8) 66. Div 2: 1 John Summerscales 80 (15) 65; 2 Terry Young 87 (21) 66; 3 James Malloy 83 (16) 67. Dollar Ladies May Medal (Wednesday, May 2) - Silver: 1 Elan Borrowman 91 (14) 77; 2 Ashley Leitch 98 (19) 79; 3 Maria Symington 103 (18) 85. Bronze: 1 Catherine Macdonald 104 (36) 68; 2 Carol Caren 101 (24) 77; 3 Di Dunning 100 (22) 78. Dunblane New Results: Monthly Medal May 4-5) - Scratch 1 C Nuist 71, First Class - 1 AY Wilson 75 (11) 64; 2 PJ Anderson 76 (10) 66 bih; 3 A Higgins 73 )70| 66; 4 V O’Holloran 72 (5) 67 bih. Second Class - 1 A Wilson 81 (16) 65l 2 S Taylor 80 (12) 68l; 3 F MacLean 80 (12) 68; 4 S Hamilton 82 (13) 69bih. Third Class - 1 G Milne 92 (25) 67 bih; 2 A Dow 85 (18) 67; P. Castle 86 (17) 69 bih; 4 R LYONS 87 (18) 69.