Double win for the Watsons
A FATHER and son combination grabbed the major titles at this year’s Dunaverty Championships.
Greg Watson took the overall championship, while his father Duncan Watson III won the Seniors’ Championship. Lee Mathieson scooped the handicap title.
Going into the final two rounds, both played last Saturday, Greg led by seven strokes from Mathieson and his father Duncan, with George MacMillan two strokes adrift.
MacMillan, after playing three holes, sportingly called a penalty on himself when he discovered that he had an extra club in his bag, incur- ring a four stroke penalty. Greg increased his lead by posting a gross 63 to move another seven strokes ahead. Duncan produced another steady round to take the Seniors’ Championship, played over three rounds, by 10 strokes.
In the final round the wind speed increased considerably making playing conditions even trickier, which changed positions in the handicap section dramatically.
Alex Roxburgh and Christian Ivan fell by the wayside, and Mathieson came through to take the handicap title.
Greg consolidated his lead with a steady 68 to win the Championship and carve his name on the champions’ board alongside his father, Duncan Watson III, grandfather Duncan Watson II, great grandfather Duncan Watson I, greatgreat uncle Alec Watson and great uncles uncles Sandy and Bobby.
In a moving speech he said that he was relieved and delighted to have won and was especially privileged to have been presented the trophy by his grandfather, who had been asked by club captain Alex Arkell to make the presentations.
Greg added he was also pleased to have made it a family double on the day.
Arkell paid tribute to greenkeepers David Scullion and Willy MacMillan for the immense amount of time and effort they had put in, in order to have the course in excellent condition after the severe winter weather played havoc with the greens.
Overall Results: Championship: 1 Greg Watson 61+69+63+68= 261; 2 Lee Mathieson 70+67+70+68=275; 3 Duncan Watson III 67+70+70+70=277;
4 George MacMillan 71+68+70+70=279; 5 Donald MacNeil 71+69+72+72=284.
Senior Championship: 1 Duncan Watson III 67+70+70=207; 2 David Irwin 73+73+71=217; 3 Donald Taylor 75+75+71=221.
Handicap Championship: 1 Lee Mathieson 65+62+65+63=255; 2 Duncan Watson III 62+65+65+65=257; 3 Alex Roxburgh 65+60+61+74=260; 4 Greg Watson 61+69+63+68=261; 5 Christian Ivan 59+66+64+73=262.