Gallacher grabs magical 10th championship title
A FAMILIAR winner holed the top spot at this year’s Machrihanish Ladies Championship. Ann Gallacher held the top prize for an impressive 10th time following Saturday’s final round.
Over three rounds of the nine-hole Pans course, she successfully fought back from a first round deficit to win by nine shots from six-time winner Catherine Dobbie and Myra Speirings-Hendrie, who both shared second spot.
Gallacher shot 83 in round one which was second best to Dobbie’s 82. However, scores of 81 and a terrific 78 saw her fight back and open up a big lead on her suitors to eventually win by nine shots.
Catherine Dobbie followed up her initial 82 with a solid 84 to leave her just two shots down going into the final round, but she could not close the gap on Gallacher who finished very strongly.
Myra Speirings-Hendrie finished joint second with Dobbie, a strong achievement after having to battle back from a first round 91.
She followed that dissapointing opening with a magical 81 in the second round and, to prove that was no flash in the pan, she repeated the feat in the final round on Saturday.
Linda Wallace was fourth on 260, finishing with a fine 83 in the final round.
The handicap section of the championship was divided into two divisions for the first time.
The groupings of Silver (handicaps 20 and under) and Bronze (handicap 21 and above) allow all players entering the championship an opportunity to win a handicap prize.
Spierings-Hendrie’s terrific pair of 81-1962’s saw her become the first winner of the Silver category trophy with a cumulative total of 196 (72+62+62).
The Bronze category trophy was a closer affair, with Tarbert’s Seona Martin taking the title (66+68+69) = 203. The Pro shop’s own Margaret Robertson was runner-up on 205.