Surprise move in Scottish seniors match-play

Rodaks bows out at Newmachar even though

he would have been fourth qualifier

Last week’s North of Scotland Seniors Open winner and first round leader at Newmachar this week, Moffat’s George Rodaks had the fourth best 36-hole qualifying aggregate today – but surprisingly he has bowed out of the Scottish senior men’s amateur match-play golf championship.
Apparently the in-form 60-year-old Borders player, knew he had a prior commitment in Ireland later this week, which meant he could only play in the stroke-play qualifying rounds.
Which poses the question: Why did he bother entering the championship in the first place?
Rodaks had rounds of 72 and 80 for 152. That total was bettered by only three men – No 1 seed Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) with 76 and 73 for 149, and two men on 150, Gordon MacDonald (Callander) and Clydebank-born but Ireland-based Iain Stewart (Curragh).
MacDonbald scored 74 and 76, Iain Stewart 73 and 77.
MacDonald’s lower second round earned him the No 2 seed spot.

QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2x72). CSS 74 74.
149 Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) 76 73.
150 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 74 76, Iain Stewart (Curragh) 73 77.
153 David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 78 75, Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 77 76, David Downie (Kirriemuir) 76 77, Derek Murphy (Kinross) 75 78, David Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 75 78, Robert Jack (Liberton) 74 79.
154 Donald McCart (Sherwood Forest) 77 77, Andrew Campbell (Kinross) 77 77, Keith Bruce (Edzell) 75 79.
155 Sandy Fairweather (Caledonian) 78 77, Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 76 79.
156 Alex Ritchie (Bothwell Castle) 79 77, Stephen Ellis (Heritage GS) 76 80, Alistair Fiddes (Deeside) 76 80, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 73 83.
157 George Paterson (Northern) 81 76, Brian Christie (Wilton) 77 80.
158 Ronald MacLean (Hamilton) 79 79, Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross) 76 82.
159 David A Millar (St Andrews New) 78 81.
160 John Hamilton (Murcar Links) 80 80, Andrew Laird (Deeside) 79 81.
161 Alan Nelson (Banchory) 80 81.
162 Patrick Tomisson (Nairn 79 83.
163 Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 81 82.
164 Keith Hay (Westhill) 79 85.
165 John Broadfoot (Turnberry) 84 81, Keith Howie (West Kilbride) 80 85.
166 Bill Methven (Royal Aberdeen) 83 83.
Withdrew: 152 George Rodaks (Moffat) 72 80.
Non-qualifiers included:
167 Francis Clark (Royal Aberdeen) 83 84, John Russell (Monarch Dunes) 83 84.
169 Brian Grieve (King James VI) 85 84, Gordon Gray (Newmachar) 86 83.
172 John W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 87 85.
175 Colin Moir (Worksop) 85 90.

FIRST ROUND MATCH-PLAY DRAW
(10min intervals)
9.30am Bob Stewart v Bill Methven, Stephen Ellis v Alistair Fiddes, David Bunker v Andrew Laird.
10.0 Robert Jack v John Hamilton, David J Miller v Keith Hay, Sandy Fairweather v Brian Christie.
10.30 Sandy Pirie v Les Fowler, Keith Bruce v Ronald MacLean, Gordon MacDonald v Keith Howie.
11.0 Alex Ritchie v Ian Taylor, Derek Murphy v Alan Nelson, Donald McCart v David A Miller.
11.30 Iain Stewart v John Broadfoot, Michael Jenkins v George Paterson, David Downie v Patrick Tomisson.
12.0 Andrew Campbell v Robert Gill.
THURSDAY
Second round ties from 9.30am to 12 noon.
Quarter-finals at 1.30, 1.38, 1.46 & 1.54.
FRIDAY
Semi-finals at 9.30 & 9.45.
Final - 2.30