Winning Dollar Golf Club team (left to right) Charlie Murray, Gary Smith, Darren Hulston (team captain holding trophy), Gary Chalmers, Steven McPherson, Vic Allan and (extreme right) Sam Kinnaird, Clackmannan county president (image by courtesy of Hugh Hunter; click to enlarge).

Glory week for Dollar in Clackmannan fours

By HUGH HUNTER

Once again the Clackmannan county foursomes championship produced drama and tense finishes. This year it was the turn of Dollar Golf Club to come out on top - after a wait of 31 years from their last win!

Over the Alva lay-out, Darren Hulston’s team produced performances that eliminated home team Alva in the semi-final and snatched victory from Alloa in the final, both by the narrowest of margins.

Darren judged his pairings perfectly and it was over the closing holes that they showed some golfing class.

Semi-final heroes for the Dollar team had to be youngsters Gary Chalmers and Steven McPherson who secured enough holes up to give Darren and Gary the chance to take the match at the 18th hole.

They duly did this with a brilliant approach shot to 3ft at the 18th from Darren followed by Gary’s putt for a birdie 3.
In the final Dollar held a slight advantage after the first nine holes, then the Alloa team came strongly back. Over the last two holes it was the Dollar couples who held on to snatch a one-hole victory. Once again the youngsters finished ahead but the heroes this time were the (more senior) pairing of Vic Allan and Charlie Murray (Vic’N Chic!) who finished three holes ahead, thanks to a fine birdie on the last hole.
Over the two weeks of the event, the competitors and officials enjoyed the hospitality of Alva Golf Club - particularly Lorraine Laverty and her catering team who dished up steak pies and stovies after the golf - much appreciated on the cold evenings.
Results of closing stages
SEMI-FINAL

DOLLAR bt ALVA by one hole.

(Dollar names first)
Gary Chalmers & Steven McPherson bt Kevin McFarlane & Michael Robertson 3 holes
Vic Allan & Charlie Murray lost to Gregor Kennedy & Lawrence Allan 1 hole
Darren Hulston & Gary Smith lost to Steve McIvor & Allan Aitken 1 hole
FINAL

DOLLAR bt ALLOA by one hole

(Dollar names first)
Hulston & Smith lost to David Milloy and Scott Moffat 3 holes
Allan & Murray bt Scott Kerr & Craig White 3 holes
Chalmers & McPherson beat Jamie Aitken & Ian Ross 1 hole