PGA Super-60s event was four-ball, better-ball

IAN SMITH PAYS TRIBUTE TO “MISSING”
PARTNER SANDY PIRIE AT FOREST PINES

Retired Hazlehead professional Ian Smith has been greatly embarrassed by erroneous reports that he finished joint third in the PGA’s Super-60s tournament over the Forest Pines Golf Club’s tree-lined course at Broughton in North Lincolnshire recently.
Smith, pictured right, did finish joint third … he did collect a cash prize of £683 … but it was a four-ball, better-ball tournament and Ian had former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) as his partner.
“I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve come up to me, slapped my back, shaken my hand and said ‘Well done, Ian!’ I’ve had to say ‘Thanks very much but you should really be congratulating Sandy Pirie as well because his name – in fact none of the names of the amateurs concerned appeared in the reports,” said Ian.
“I played not badly but Sandy played very well indeed. I managed to score every so often but not nearly as often as Sandy did for our scores of 72 and 70 which was pretty good going over a par-73 course where, if you missed the fairway, it was a hack-out from the trees.”
Thorpeness pro Frank Hill and his eight-handicap partner Brian Underwood shot a better-ball 69 and 68 to tie with Gordon Gray, the retired Southerness club pro, and fellow Scot Marshall Douglas, playing off two, on 137. The Scots shot 65 and 72.
Although both pros received £1,125 each, there was a play-off for the title of PGA Super-60s champions and the English pair won with the aid of a stroke at the first extra hole.
The leading totals were:
137
Frank Hill (Thorpeness) and Brian Underwood (8) 69 68
Gordon Gray (Southerness, retired) and Marshall Douglas (2) 65 72.
+Hill and Underwood, receiving a stroke, won the play-off for the title at the first extra hole.
Both pros received £1,125.
142
Ian Smith (Hazlehead, retired) and Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 72 70.
Hugh Jackson (Donabate) and James Clynch 73 69.
Hedley Muscroft (Aloha) and Stuart Keanes 72 70.
The three pros received £683 each.