Sport digest
GOLF DUNBLANE NEW
The second rounds of the Old Club Trophy qualifying and the Handicap Strokeplay Championship were played over Friday and Saturday.
Allan Cowie returned the best scratch score - a two over par 71 with 10 pars, birdies at 2, 13 and 15 and bogeys at 5, 8, 11, 14 and 18.
The First Class was won by Jim Crawford (4) on 68 highlighted by birdies at 6 and 15. Runner-up was Stuart Jackman (9) on 69. Three players then returned 70 but third place went to Allan Higgins (2) with a better inward half (bih), including birdies at 11 and 18, than Derek Cullen (9) who in turn had a bih than Callum Gordon (6).
Anthony Pilkington (12) won the Second Class with a steady round of 66. Four players then returned 67 but runner up was Ian Kenny (12) with a bih than Gary Aitken (14) who had a better last six than Robert Mackellar (13) with a bih than Sandy Mcdonald (15).
In the Third Class the winner was Geoffrey Seaman (17) on 66 highlighted by a birdie at 10. Runner up was Gerry Macfarlane (17) on 67 and six players then returned 67 but third place went to Nick Pascazio (17) with a bih than Allan Ross (22) who in turn had a bih than Alan Crockett (20), whose bl6 beat Harry Barton Snr (27), Thomas Mcghee (24) and Jordon Murray (19).
The top 16 scratch scores of 159 (better second round) qualify for the matchplay stages of the Old Club Trophy. The draw has been posted.
In the Multi Tee Medal on Wednesday, Charlie Linton returned a level par 69 to lift the scratch honours. Charlie had eight pars, five bogeys and five birdies at 8, 11, 14, 15 and 17.
The First Class was won by Harry Dougal (7) with an excellent 63 including birdies at 2, 6, 15 and 17. There were then three players on 65 but runner up was Allan Cowie (4) with a bih than Billy Wilson (12) who had bih than Craig Wilson (12).
David Vass (27) edged out two other players with a bl6 on 66 to win the Third Class. Runner up was Niall Erskine (18) with a bih than Rod Mccreath (21). Fourth place went to Stuart Kerr (17) on 67.
The club’s A team lost the opening match of the Stirlingshire Inter Club League against Falkirk Tryst by six matches to two at Falkirk.
Today (Wednesday) there will be the Monthly Midweek Multi Tee Medal. Friday and Saturday will be the RS Erskine Quaich sponsored by Erskine Eyecare (Optometrists).
Results: Second round of Old Club Trophy and Handicap Strokeplay (April 29-30) - Scratch Allan Cowie 71. First Class - 1 James Crawford 72 (4) 68; 2 Stuart Jackman 78 (9) 69; 3 Allan Higgins 72 (2) 70 bih; 4 Derek Cullen 79 (9) 70 bih.
Second Class - 1 Antony Pilkington 78 (12) 66; 2 Ian Kenny 79 (12) 67 bih; 3 Gary Aitken 81 (14) 67 bl6; 4 Robert Mackellar 80 (13) 67 bih. Third Class - 1 Geoffrey Seaman 83 (17) 66; 2 Gerry Macfarlane 84 (17) 67; 3 Nick Pascazio 86 (17) 69 bih; 4 Allan Ross 91 (22) 69 bih.
Medal (April 27): Scratch Charlie Linton 69. First Class - 1 Harry Dougal 70 (7) 63; 2 Allan Cowie 69 (4) 65 bih; 3 Billy Wilson 77 (12) 65 bih; 4 Craig Wilson 77 (12) 65. Second Class - 1 David Vass 93 (27) 66 bl6; 2 Niall Erskine 84 (18) 66 bih; 3 Rod Mccreath 87 (21) 66; 4 Stuart Kerr 84 (17) 67.
STIRLING
The 75 players playing on Friday enjoyed the best of the weekend conditions in sublime sunshine all day with only light winds. In comparison, the 145 Saturday players - with some late call offs - were dealt with stronger winds and afternoon tee times in persistent light rain.
Winners of Division 2 and 3 and best scratch score were all recorded on Friday.
Colin Griffin won the Queen Victoria Jubilee Vase - for players aged 55 or over.
In Division 2, Blair Mckay - with an excellent net 66 on Friday - made up one of the 32 qualifiers for the matchplay stages of the Nimmo Cup with the cut on a high 72 mark. Playing off 12 , Blair kept damage limitation to a minimum with nothing worse than a bogey on a card.
Level par after six holes with a birdie at 2 and a bogey at 3, dropped strokes came at the difficult 7th and 9th holes for an outward 38. After three consecutive bogeys from the 10th, Blair played the last six holes in one over par for an inward 40 to secure his place at the Annual Prizegiving Dinner in November.
David Jackson - also on Friday - playing off 14, took second in Division 2 with a net 68 and Colin Griffin was third on 69 with a bih than Ben Reynolds but won the trophy on age qualification,
Leigh Statter maintained his good early season form to win Division 3 on net 67 by two strokes from Euan Davidson. Playing in the sunshine Leigh made birdie on 5 with bogeys at 4 and 8 and a double on 7 for 39. Still only seven over par through 15 holes he finished 7, 5, 5 for 44 points.
Euan Davidson was second and also qualifies for the Nimmo Cup while John Morrison was third on the bih.
Steven Lee, playing early Saturday morning won Division 1 by one stroke from John Maitland with a net 67. Steven - brother of former European Tour player Craig - made a fast start with birdies at 2 and 4. Bogeys came at 6, 7 and 9 for an outward 37.
A steady back nine of eight pars and a bogey at 13 added another 37 for two over par 74.
John Maitland was second on 69 and plus-two handicapper David Kernohan third on 70 - recording the best scratch score of the weekend with an excellent four under par 68. David also won the scratch sweep from David Oates and James Donaldson tied on 71.
Fraser Duff showed signs of a return on investment of winter lessons from Scott Borrowman with an front nine of 38 and finished strongly with par, birdie, par for 41 to also qualify for the Nimmo Cup
Results: Division 1 - 1 Steven Lee 74 (6) 68; 2 John Maitland 75 (6) 69; 3 equal David Kernohan 68 (+2) 70 bih and Fraser Duff 79 (9) 70.
Division 2 - 1 Blair Mackay 78 (12) 66 2 David Jackson 82 (14) 68; 3 Colin Griffin 84 (25) 69 bih (Queen Victoria Jubilee Vase winner). Division 3 - 1 Leigh Statter 83 (16) 67; 2 Euan Davidson 86 (17) 69; 4 John Morrison 87 (17) 70 bih.
Scratch - 1 David Kernohan 68; 2 David Oates 71 bih; 3 James Donaldson 71.
Sunday, May 1 saw a good turnout of 22 pairs to play in the Club Mixed Foursomes Stableford competition. This was also the club qualifier for the Scottish Mixed Championship. It turned out to be a successful day and the course was in great condition after the much needed rain the day before.
Winners were Steven Lee and Aileen Lee (16) 43 points BIH, 2 Graeme Buchanan and Mary Buchanan (24) 43 points, 3 Graeme Box and Janet Box (25) 39 points bih, 4 George Wilson and Mary Mccaig (37) 39 points.
All players are reminded preferred lies ceased on April 30.
This weekend players will compete in the Spring Meeting with members competing for the scratch medal and handicap prize. It’s also the May Medal with winners in each Division qualifying for the medal finals later in the year.
STIRLING LADIES
On Tuesday, April 26 there was a good turnout for the 18 hole Ladies Coronation Bowl qualifier. From a total of 23 players the following have qualified for the knock out stages of the Coronation Bowl - Mary Buchanan 72 bih, Di Davidson 72, Catriona Brown 75, Frances Mcmillan 76, Margaret Neilson 77, Helen Fallow 78, Alison Davidson 78 and Aileen Lee 78.
Good luck to everyone in the knock out stages taking place over the next few months.
A further 13 ladies took part in the Nine Hole Stableford. The winner was Lorna Donaldson with 20 points, second Irene Hughes with 20 points and third Anne Doherty 19 points.
At the Saturday Stableford (April 30) winner was Nancy Thomas with 31 points and second Frances Mcmillan on 29.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN
The continued settled weather has been a fine backdrop to the early season competitions, with the first midweek Stableford of the season being played last week and the first major honour of the season being decided.
Tony Jackson was the overall winner of the Spring Shield competition, returning a net 69 on Saturday to go with his net 66 in the first round a few weeks ago. His total of 135 shots was enough to win this first trophy of the season by a single shot with Graeme Cameron, Andrew Walker and Ian Houston all adrift by that single shot.
On the day during the second round, Colin Woods led the way in Division 1 with a net 65, narrowly beating Phil Reid on countback. Graeme Cameron was third with 66. In Division 2, Stephen Mcnally was top with a net 67 one ahead of Ian Grieve with Ian Houston a further shot back on 69.
Prior to that in the Seniors Nine Hole Stableford competition on Friday, Ian Ainsworth beat Ian Smith on countback after both returned 21 points. Douglas Gebbie was top of a group on 20 points in third place.
Before this the first midweek competition of the season was won by Ron Griffiths on 21 points with Douglas Gebbie and Graeme Cameron finishing second and third respectively, both on 19 points.