McLean, Stephen and Robb

(all 69) tie for Buckpool win

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Amateurs continue to dominate the North-east Alliance golf circuit with Scottish schoolboys champion Chris Robb (Inchmarlo), youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead) and Craig Stephen (Meldrum House) sharing the top spot on one-under-par 69 at Buckpool Golf Club, Buckie today.
McLean could have been on his own at the head of a field of 95 but he bogeyed the 18th after getting an eagle 2 at the 12th and birdies at the 16th and 17th.
Robb also birdied the 16th and 17th but parred the last for 33 home.
A double bogey 5 at the short 13th left Stephen, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, needing to get at least two birdies over the last five holes to match the clubhouse target, which he did at the 15th and 16.
The leading professional was Ian Bratton (Newburgh) in joint fourth place with Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy) on 70. Next Wednesday's competition is at Newburgh - a chance for Ian Bratton, over his home course, to put the amateurs in their place.
Leading Buckpool scores (par 70)
SCRATCH
69 P McLean (Peterhead), C Stephen (Meldrum House), C Robb (Inchmarlo).
70 I Bratton (Newburgh), B Ritchie (Inverallochy).
71 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), R Stewart (Cruden Bay), J Mooney (unatt), D Law (Hazlehead), S Finnie (Caledonian).
72 A K Pirie (Hazlehead).
73 B Sutherland (Duff House Royal), G Paterson (Northern), B Nicolson (Auchmill).
74 M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), F Bisset (Banchory), C Nelson (Mackenzie Club), R Hyland (Craibstone).
75 B Main (Murcar Links), C Dempster (Inchmarlo), J Nicolson (Auchmill), D Corkey (Murcar Links), S Pert (Huntly), A Bews (Murcar Links).
76 B Brooks (Meldrum House), D Clark (Duff House Royal), C Duffus (Kemnay), S Chalmers (Banchory).
HANDICAP
Class 1 - B Sutherland (Duff House Royal) (8) 65; B Ritchie (Inverallochy) (2) 68; C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8) 69; C Stephen (Meldrum House) (+1), A K Pirie (Hazlehead) (2), C Duffus (Kemnay) (6) 70.
Class 2 - B Lumsden (Northern) (14) 68; S Kennedy (Craibstone) (12) 70; N Parker (Murcar Links) (9), S Higgins (Royal Aberdeen) (10), M Brown (Craibstone) (16) 71; M Booth (Kemnay) (12), P Simpson (Aboyne) (13) 72.

BUCKPOOL SCORECARD. Par 70

OUT: 4-4-5-4-4-3-4-3-4--35. IN: 4-4-4-3-4-3-5-4-4--35

PHILIP McLEAN 69

OUT: 5-3-4-4-5-2-5-3-3--34. IN: 4-4-2-4-5-4-4-3-5--35.

CRAIG STEPHEN 69

OUT: 4-4-5-3-4-3-4-3-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-5-4-2-4-4-4--35.

CHRIS ROBB 69

OUT: 5-4-5-4-4-3--4-3-4--36. IN: 5-4-3-3-3-4-4-3-4--33.