Golf returns
BRIDGE OF ALLAN
The settled spring conditions brought another weekend of good scoring in the gents competitions this last weekend.
Martin Baird set a stunning standard by returning 24 points in the Senior Gents Nine Hole Stableford on Friday. Bob Buchanan’s 21 points would have been good enough to win on most other weeks but was only good enough to take second place with Alastair Redpath coming third with 20 points.
Saturday saw the playing of the Spring Meeting, an 18 hole Stableford competition. Alistair Smillie led the way in Division 1 with 38 points, followed by Hugh Dent and Brian Park who returned 36 and 35 points respectively.
Willie Fernie topped Division 2 with 42 points which ended up four clear of Paul Davidson’s 38 points in second place. Rhys Park took third spot on 37 points.
STIRLING
Playing on Friday, David Sinclair returned a tremendous score of seven up against the course in the Victory Cup Bogey competition.
David - receiving a stroke a hole - made a flying start to go five up after six holes and he held that at the turn with a further gain at the 9th at a loss at the 7th. Seven halved holes and gains at 14 and 18 made a two up inward nine.
Nearest challenger on Friday was Graham Oxburgh on 4up.
Gus Mckean - playing on Saturday - was four up after nine with wins at 1, 4, 5, 7 and 8 with a solitary loss at the 9th with a double bogey. Further gains came at 10, 15, 17 and 18 with only one hole loss in the back nine at the 16th.
His score of 3up on the back nine was good enough to claim the Victory Cup on the better inward half to beat a large field of 240 players.
Craig Higgins was four up in Division 2 and Ross Evans three up for third.
Gordon Nicol beat David Ivatt, Scott Craig, David Lyon and Eddie Cramb on the better inward half (bih) with all players on three up, the latter making history in parring all four par threes for the first time.
Campbell Robertson won Division 1 on four up in halfs of two up to beat Fraser O’rourke on the bih. Campbell won six holes with the only losses at the par threes 6 and 10.
Fraser was three up after nine with wins at 5, 6, 7 and 9 but only added one up on the back nine. Jim Anderson and Scott Monteith were third and fourth - both on three up, Jim with a late run winning 15, 16 and17.
Results: Division 1 - 1 Campbell Robertson (9) four up bih; 2 Fraser O’rourke (8) four up; 3 Jim Anderson (7) three up; 4 Scott Monteith (8) three up. Division 2 - 1 Gus Mckean (14) seven up Victory Cup Winner; 2 Craig Higgins (12) four up; 3 Ross Evans (12) three up. Division 3 - 1 David Sinclair (18) seven up; 2 Graham Oxburgh (25) four up; 3 Gordon Nicol (25) three up bih.
This weekend players will compete for
The Chalmers Cup (Stableford). Players should pick up their ball if they can’t score better than a net bogey (1pt) the marker enters as a slash - in gross score. This helps speed of play for the field. Handicaps adjustments are based on points not gross scores.
The Wilson Salver - Open Gents Greensomes -is open to visitors and members and is on Sunday, May 15, tee times from 7.30am to 2pm.
Six handicap prizes from £300 to £100 and two scratch prizes are available. Entry fee is £30 per couple and no pairing will receive more than 18 strokes. Entries via the link https://www.stirlinggolfclub. com/2022-sgc-opens.
STIRLING LADIES
Thirty-five ladies took part in two competitions on Tuesday, April 12.
Twenty-six ladies competed in the 18 Hole Stableford and the winner was Anne Thomson with 40 points, second Ann Mackenzie 37 points and third Wendy Donaldson with 34 points. Nancy Thomas recorded a two on the 10th hole.
Nine ladies took part in the Nine Hole Stableford. The winner was Elizabeth Guthrie with 18 points, second Jean Logan 17 and third Aileen Lee with 15s.
On Saturday, April 16, five ladies took part in the Saturday 18 Hole Stableford. The winner was Frances Oxburgh with 34 points, second was Frances Mcmillan 31 points and third Janet Brown 26 points.
DUNBLANE NEW
Despite it being Easter weekend there was a big entry for the first qualifying round of the Old Club Trophy and the Handicap Stroke Play Championship over Friday and Saturday.
Best scratch score was a one over par 70 from Craig Mcgann with a bih, including birdies at 12 and 18, than Allan Higgins.
First Class was won by Jason Balman (8) on 65 including birdies at 1, 4 and 6. Allan Higgins (3) secured second place on 67 and third place went to Neil Mackenzie (10) on 68 and a bih than Gordon Foster (9) who unfortunately bogeyed 17.
Two players returned 66 in the Second Class but Campbell Geddes (14) took first place with a better last six (bl6), including a birdie at 16, than Hal Mills (16). There were then three players on 67 with third place going to Ian Docherty (16) with bih than Ian Reid (16), who had an eagle three at 18 but suffered from an ugly nine at 16 but still had a bih than John Currie (13) who birdied 18 but had a double bogey at 16.
In the Third Class James Brown (29) had his best round for a long time winning with a 61. Runner up was Jordan Murray (21), third place went to Harry Barton Snr (29) on 65 and bih than Brendon Connolly (19).
In the Monthly Midweek Medal on Wednesday the best scratch score was a 73 from James Mcintyre with birdies at 14, 15 and 16.
Cameron Ferguson (5) won the First Class on 64 and a bih including birdies at 11, 12 and 15, than Kevin Farthing (10).
Third place went to Kenny Gibson (10) on 66.
The Second Class winner was Stuart Reid (17) on 61 highlighted by birdies at 4, 16 and 18. Runner up was Tom Casey (24) on 65 with Niall Erskine (19) third on 66.
There will be a Multi Tee Stableford today (Wednesday) and on Friday and Saturday, the qualifying for the Clapperton Trophy takes place with the best 64 net scores going forward to match play.
Players are reminded the entries for the various knockout competitions in gents, family and mixed foursomes and the Louis Pope Fourball will close this week.
Results: Old Club Trophy and Strokeplay Championship qualifying round one (April 15 and 16): Scratch Craig Mcgann 70 bih.
First Class - 1 Jason Balmain 73 (8) 65; 2 Allan Higgins 70 (3) 67; 3 Neil Mackenzie 78 (10) 68 bl6; 4 Gordon Foster 77 (9) 68.
Second Class - 1 Campbell Geddes 80 (14) 66 bl6; 2 Hal Mills 82 (16) 66; 3 Ian Docherty 83 (16) 67 bih; 4 Ian Reid 83 (16) 67 bih. Third Class - 1 James Brown 90 (29) 61; 2 Jordan Murray 85 (21) 64; 3 Harry Barton Snr 94 (29) 65 bih; 4 Brendon Connolly 84 (19) 65.
Monthly Midweek Medal (April 13): Scratch James Mcintyre 73. First Class - 1 Cameron Ferguson 69 (5) 64 bih; 2 Kevin Farthing 74 (10) 64; 3 Kenny Gibson 76 (10) 66. Second Class - 1 Stuart Reid 78 (17) 61; 2 Tom Casey 89 (24) 65; 3 Niall Erskine 85 (19) 66.