Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

BOB STEWART -- KING OF SCOTTISH

SENIOR GOLF

Thanks to an outstanding golf performance from Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart, a Wee County golfer has lifted another national title – the Scottish Seniors – to add to Scott Borrowman’s youths' title.

Over the 6,400yd Elgin course, Bob opened with a 77 to lie some distance down the field, but improved in the next two rounds of the 54-hole event.

Drawing on his experience as a Scottish hockey internationalist, and showing considerable determination, he improved by seven shots in round 2 with a 70 and went one better in the last round with a 69, which was the best round of the championship, giving him a total of 216 and a tie with another Stewart, Iain from Ireland.

In a sudden death play-off, bob triumphed at the first extra hole to be crowned the 2008 Seniors Champion of Scotland and the first from Clackmannanshire.

Bob, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved, on the 18th tee of his final round at Elgin, should now be a certainty for International representation for Scotland in two events, the European Seniors to be held at Bled in Slovenia and the Senior Home Internationals at Tenby in south west Wales at the beginning of October.

In doing this, he would become the second Clackmannanshire Senior Internationalist, the first being Michael Niven (Alloa) who gained his cap four years ago in Wales.

County Secretary and fellow Tulliallan member Tommy Johnson was quick to praise Bob’s performance “A great result both for Bob and Clackmannanshire”. Bob must now be feeling confident for the rest of the senior events including a new match-play championship.
Well done again, Bob!!

SCOTTISH STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Both Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) have entered the top stroke play event of the Scottish Amateur Golf Calendar. A field of 144 will contest the event over The Duke’s course in St Andrews and there is a considerable entry from outwith Scotland. All players play one round on Friday and one round on Saturday with the best 40 scores going forward to the final 36 holes on Sunday.

SCOTTISH BOYS UNDER 16 AND UNDER 14 YEARS CHAMPIONSHIPS.
The 2008 events will take place over the Glen golf course on the east side of North Berwick from the 8th till 11th July. Entries close next week on Thursday 5th June with handicap limits set as 7.4 for the Under 16’s and 28.4 for the under 14’s, although to be guaranteed a spot in the event lower handicaps will almost certainly be required. The County Golf Union will be organising transport for the Under 14’s event for any Junior golfer with a handicap of around 10. A small contingent of four competed last year, and there are hopes that there could be more this time.

COUNTY MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Following the Summer meeting, the field for the event is complete with the first two rounds taking place at Alva and Tulliallan next week, starting at 5.15 pm