Tricky weather conditions mastered by winning trio
Stewart Watt proved his game is still in top shape after retaining the Renfrewshire County Stroke Play Championship title.
The Renfrewshire Golf Union competition was held at The Old Course at Ranfurly Golf Club on Sunday, May 14.
The conditions for the event were cool and windy and with some tricky pin positions the overall scoring was on the high side, with a few exceptions.
A total of 74 elite county players started the event, played over two rounds, and in the first round there were only two scores under par.
Home course player Watt shot 68 while Kilmacolm’s Matthew Clark hit 69. They were followed on 70 by Andrew Farmer, of Kilmacolm, and Erskine’s Paul Wilson.
Alexander Ferguson of Paisley scored 71.
Conditions in the afternoon round were slightly more difficult with the wind increasing.
Watt added a level par 70 and with nobody able to match this, he had a winning total of 138 with his nearest challengers being Clark (73 for 142), Farmer (73 for 143) and Wilson (73 for 143) showing the younger RGU boys still have a lot to learn from their more senior players.
The leading 16 available qualifiers now go forward to compete in the Match Play Championship, again at The Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club.
After the qualifiers the semi-finals and final will be held this weekend on Sunday, May 21.
An RGU spokesperson said: “The full results of the event and the Match Play draw can be found on the
Renfrewshire Golf Union web site.
“The courtesy of The Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club given to the Renfrewshire Golf Union for the use of the course during the event was appreciated, and our thanks also to the greens staff for the way the course was presented for the event and to the catering and bar staff.”
Following in Watt’s footsteps, youngster Alexander Farmer recently retained the Caven Trophy.
Cochrane Castle Golf Club was the setting for RGU’s Boys and Youths Stroke Play Championship for 2023, and while the weather stayed dry the conditions were changeable due to the heavy cloud cover with intermittent sunshine.
The course as always was a test for those taking part, and with the recent spell of dry weather the course was playing well with firm ground and good run available. The greens were also in good condition, with the impressive scoring on the day reflecting the conditions.
The Caven Trophy competition is played over 18 holes and the handicap limit has increased to allow the younger Renfrewshire boys to experience competition at a higher level, which has resulted in increased entry numbers.
In the boys Caven Trophy, Farmer of Kilmacolm Golf Club was the winner with a gross score of 67, four under par to retain his County Stroke Championship title.
The lowest net score was by Lorne Rawson of Ranfurly Castle Golf Club, with a net score of 62 off a handicap of 18. Playing in the last match of the day, he edged out Erskine Golf Club’s Calum Graham who hit 63 - also off an 18 handicap.
The eight scratch qualifiers in the event go forward to the RGU Match Play
Championship for the Freedman Trophy, played as always over Kilmacolm Golf Club, and with Alexander the current boys champion at Kilmacolm he will start as favourite.
The eight qualifiers for the Freedman Trophy are: Alexander Farmer, Calum McClelland, Ethan Lang, Ross Anderson, Ashton Mckechan, Janie Ferguson, Tom Hepburn and Callum Watters.
The youths Menzies Trophy went to Elderslie Golf Club’s Rhys McIlroy, with a gross score of 73.
Kenan Ingram (Greenock) was runner up on 74.
The pair, together with Drew Cleaver (Fereneze) and Euan Urquhart (Paisley), have qualified for the Youths Match Play Championship for the Duncan Trophy, which as always will be played at Renfrew Golf Club.