Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

Team captain Ian Ross (left) receives the Clackmannan county mixed foursomes trophy on behalf of the winning Alloa team from county president Bill Abernethy (right). Image by Hugh Hunter.

MIXED FOURSOMES TRIUMPH FOR ALLOA

The Alloa Mixed fours team notched up an emphatic win by seven shots in the 2010 County mixed Foursomes Championship. County President Bill Abernethy was delighted that all six Clubs participated---- helped by changing to a handicap format with three out of four scores counting. Star players of the day were Alloa Team Captain Ian Ross partnered by Joanne McIntosh with both the best scratch and net scores from the 24 couples.
The winning net scores were as follows Moira McRae/Scott Moffat 74; Tracey Anne Whitelaw/Andrew Whitelaw 69; Joanne McIntosh/Ian Ross 67 ;Hazel Hume/Robert Hume 74 ½
Best three scores 210
Home club Braehead finished runner up with 217 ½; Tillicoultry and Tulliallan on 220 ½ ; Alva 224; Dollar 235.
Team captain Ian Ross was pleased with the result “ It was good for Alloa Golf Club to add the Mixed Fours title to the County Fours title won last month by the Men’s team”

BOYS' LEAGUE HOTS UP

The 2010 County Boys' League is shaping up to give an exciting finish. Four teams (Alloa, Braehead, Alva, Tillicoultry) are tied on 4 points each with Alloa holding a slight lead on game difference although the other three teams have a game in hand. Praise must go to the Dollar boys who are competing in the League but with a much less experienced team than the others---- the true spirit of golf.

BOB STEWART--- BEST OF THE COUNTY SENIORS

Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart is keeping up with the senior elite in Scotland this season. In the Scottish Senior Golfing Society events, Bob finished in 5th position at Kinross with a 36 hole score of 153 (75,78). In the Central Scotland seniors at Glenbervie, Bob started badly with an 80 but showed true form in the second round with a 69--- the only sub 70 round of the tournament----lifting him to 9th equal position. A bit further back were Phil Dempsey 156 (78,78) and George Kay 158 (78,80).
In the Senior Order of Merit played over the par 71 Pollok Golf course there will be strong competition in the 134 strong field for both the 2010 title and places in the Seniors International team. This event is staged over three rounds with a cut after two leaving the top 40 to contest the title.

WEE COUNTY GOLFERS SPREAD WINGS

It is pleasing to note that local golfers are having a go at upcoming National events. Alloa’s Jamie Aitken and Scott Moffat will be joined by Dollar’s Darren Hulston in the Scottish Amateur Golf Championship at Gullane at the end of July. It's now almost two years since Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) took the title at Carnoustie.
Alloa’s John Salmond and Dollar’s Gary Chalmers are going for the Scottish boys' stroke play title at Monifieth. Unfortunately, due to an international commitment, Alva’s Lawrence Allan misses the event. However, Lawrence is in the field for the Scottish Under 16’s at Auchterarder next week and the week after that the Alva course record holder is making a long journey to Princes golf course in Kent to compete in the English Under 16’s event.
Maybe he should be brushing up on his language skills---- he is drawn with a Swiss player at Auchterarder and a Spanish player at Princes!!

TILLICOULTRY LADIES SHOW THE WAY

Nice to have a good Ladies performance to report--- in the Scottish Ladies Club Foursomes tournament, Tillicoultry have progressed to the last sixteen from the original entry of over 70 Clubs. Represented by Eileen Perry, Morag Jamieson and Marjorie Crichton, from which a foursomes pair is selected, the Ladies progressed to the second round with a local win against Braehead followed by a good away win by 2/1 at Grangemouth. They now have another away tie against Strathmore to be completed by the 23rd July.

RETURN TO FORM BY CALLUM

Friends and supporters of Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay will be delighted to see his golfing form returning. In a qualifying round for the French Open, Callum returned a 36 hole score of 63,68 to snatch a place. In his brilliant 63, his inward nine contained four pars, four birdies and an eagle for a score of 30. The French Federation website reports about Callum “… qualifie après 1 trou de play off contre Victor Riu” --- maybe a slight dent in the” Entente Cordial” between France and Scotland.
Callum can now look forward to the Open de France played at the French National Golf course--- a 7,300 yard layout with a 607 par 5 hole, a prize fund of three million euros and a top prize of half a million euros.
Last week, Callum took in a Challenge Tour event at Tecina Golf in the Canary Islands where he did well to finish in 11th position with a ten under par score of 274 (70,67,68,69).
Hopefully the confidence is returning. Best of luck Callum!