NEWS OF WEE COUNTY GOLFERS' EXPLOITS

IT'S BEEN A SILVER WEEK FOR CLACKMANNAN BIG TWO

BY ROVING REPORTER HUGH HUNTER

It appears that last week’s golden week for Clackmannan County golf was no fluke, and the good work of Scott Borrowman and Callum Macaulay continued into their next events. The follow up is probably best described as a silver week due to a couple of near misses.
First up was Dollar’s Scott Borrowman. Playing in the Youths International against Ireland at West Waterford, Scott was the only team member to win both his foursomes and singles games. Playing with Lewis Kirton in the foursomes, he won his game by 5 and 3, and followed this with a singles win by 2 and 1, so playing a major part in the win for the Scottish Youths.
The Scottish youths stayed on for the Irish Youths Championship on the same course, and Scott gave the local star Seamus Power a run for his money. After three rounds, Scott was only one shot behind, and actually caught Seamus by the 12th, going one shot ahead. Water trouble at the 14th and an unplayable lie at the 16th let a relieved Seamus off the hook and left Scott in the runner-up spot three shots behind with a five-under-par score of 283 for the 72 holes.
Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay continues to churn out good scores in major golf events. His most recent trip to the East of Scotland Championship at Lundin Links this weekend resulted in the runner up spot behind Duncan Stewart after 72 holes.
Callum stamped his dominance on the event after the first two rounds, with a first round of 67, (best first round) and should have maintained a two shot lead at the close of play on Saturday. However, in awful weather, he dropped three shots over the last four holes to finish one behind the tournament leader Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) at two under par.
In the final two rounds, playing together, they clearly inspired each other. Tied after 54 holes, Duncan ran away with the title when he had a purple patch of six birdies in eight holes from the sixth, thanks to superb putting. Callum could not match Duncan’s final round of 64 and had to be content with second position and the Haig Salver (Callum on left, Duncan on right in Hugh Hunter's picture above).
With a couple of ranking events still to go before the Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick later this month, both Macaulay and Borrowman must be feeling confident of maintaining their good form – Callum is also trying for a spot in the Open Championship at Carnoustie by entering the qualifying event.
The recent good performances of both players are reflected in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club’s World Amateur Golf Rankings (and also the Scottish Golf rankings)—Callum moves up to 62nd spot (up 91 places) and is the fourth best Scot at present. Scott appears in the rankings for the first time in a rather lowly position, but his ranking almost certainly going to improve.

CENTRAL SCOTLAND SENIORS' TOURNAMENT
Last week's event at Stirling attracted a good entry including some Wee County golfers. Best of the locals was one-handicapper Tony Stafford (Alloa) who finished in sixth place with rounds of 76 and 73, five shots behind the winner John Fraser from the Royal Burgess club.
Other locals Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and Ray Barton (Alloa) finished a bit further down the field. Three other Scottish elite seniors’ events take place in July with the top players over all five events qualifying for finals at Blairgowrie at the end of August.

SCOTTISH BOYS UNDER-16s, UNDER-14s CHAMPIONSHIPS

The annual Championships for the younger age groups of boys (and under-14 girls) take place next week at the Brunston Castle Golf Course in Ayrshire. The Under 16s title is decided over three rounds, and Clackmannan county boys champion Grant Dowie (Alloa) will be testing his skills against 120 elite boy golfers, handicaps 6 or better) from both Scotland and abroad. The event is decided over three rounds of stroke play.
In the Under-14s age group, there are four locals competing, thanks to an initiative of the Clackmannan County Golf Union. President Sam Kinnaird explained: “Playing in National events can be difficult because of cost and finding suitable transport, and I am pleased that Clackmannan County will be running a minibus to take the County’s elite under-14s to the National Championship.”
Four locals will benefit from this arrangement (and there will even be a number of supporters travelling with the boys!) -- Lawrence Allan (Alva), Michael Barrett (Braehead), Jamie Pollock (Braehead) and Gary Chalmers (Dollar). They will join the field of 84 junior boys and 30 junior girls playing 18 holes for the titles