Douglas Lowe displays the Alex Fox Trophy as Scottish golf writers' champion for 2010 and the Belhaven Trophy as the scorer of most Stableford points over all at the event at Mar Hall Hotel golf course near Erskine Bridge, in the background of this picture by courtesy of Carol Fell. Douglas also won the team event in conjuncton with Stewart McDougall and Ron Cully.

TRIPLE WHAMMY BY DOUGLAS LOWE AT


GOLF WRITERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Herald sports writer Douglas Lowe scored a triple whammy at the frost-abbreviated Scottish golf writers and guests' golf championship at Mar Hall Hotel golf course near Bishopton, Glasgow today.
Frost delayed the start of the scheduled 18-hole competition from 9.30 to 11am and play was only possible on holes 10 to 18th at that time. Because some of the competitors faced a long haul home to the North and North-east of Scotland and a prizegiving lunch had been arranged, it was decided to cut the tournament to nine holes.
Lowe, despite a knee injury, regained the Alex Fox Trophy as the leading golf writer with a Stableford score of 17pt off a handicap of 12.
"I have won the trophy before but it was so long ago that Nick Rodger must have still been in short trousers," said Douglas who had 2pt to spare from Fergus Bisset (Golf Monthly), playing off 2, and twice past champion Mike Aitken (The Scotsman), playing off 15.
Aitken shaded second place with a better last six-hole points count.
Lowe's prizes included a free tee time for four at any of the Gleneagles Hotel golf courses, midweek or weekend.
Lowe's total of 17pt was higher than anyone achieved in the male and female women guests' categories, which earned him the Belhaven Trophy for overall supremacy.
Just to cap the "wounded warrior's" day, Douglas figured in the winning team of Stewart McDougall (DB Sports) and Ronnie Cully (Evening Times) whose 32pt (best two from three scores to count) saw them triumph by a single point from Scottish international Claire Hargan (SLGA), Mike Aitken (The Scotsman) and Dave Edwards (Press and Journal).
Former Northern Open champion Peter Smith, Mike Woodcock (St Andrews Links Trust) and Sheila Hartley (SLGA) took third place on 29, beating Fergus Bisset (Golf Monthly), Michael Gannon (Aberdeen Press and Journal) and golf course designer Graeme Webster from Inverurie on a tie-breaking countback.
Mike Woodcock, playing of 12, pipped eight-handicapper Stewart McDougall for the Bunkered Trophy as the leading male guest. They both finished with 15pt. Mike had the better last six holes' points total. He won a free tee time for four at The Duke's Course, St Andrews.
Graeme Webster, playing off 10, finished third in the male guest category with 14pt, the same total as SGU Press and Marketing Officer Ross Duncan (5). Webster had the best last three-hole points total.
SLGA Tournament Officer Claire Hargan, a one-handicap member at Mortonhall, won the Leading Lady Guests' section with 16pt, one ahead of Ranfurly Castle's Carol Fell (10) and two clear of Sheila Hartley (SLGA).

LEADING RESULTS

GOLF WRITERS' CHAMPIONSHIP (Alex Fox Trophy)
17pt Douglas Lowe (Herald) (12), winner also of Belhaven Trophy for the best points total overall.
15pt Mike Aitken (The Scotsman) (15) (better last six holes), Fergus Bisset (Golf Monthly) (2).
14pt Dave Edwards (The Press and Journal) (16) (better last six holes), Kevin Ferrie (Herald) (9).
13pt Nick Rodger (DB Sports) (18).
10pt Michael Gannon (The Press and Journal) (14).
7pt Jim Black (Daily Record) (26).
6pt Bryce Ritchie (Bunkered) (7), Michael McEwan (Scottish Club Golfer) (24).

MALE GUESTS (Bunkered Trophy)
15pt Mike Woodcock (St Andrews Links Trust) (12) (better last six holes), Stewart McDougall (DB Sports) (8).
14pt Graeme Webster (Golf Course Designer) (10) (better last three holes), Ross Duncan (SGU Marketing and Press Officer) (5).
11pt Ronnie Cully (Evening Times Sports Desk) (19) (better last six holes), Alan Webster (Campbell Dallas Financial Services) (10).
10pt Peter Smith (senior professional) (+2, off back tees).
8pt Michael MacDougall (Scottish PGA) (7).

LADY GUESTS
16pt Claire Hargan (SLGA) (1).
15pt Carol Fell (Ranfurly Castle) (10).
14pt Sheila Hartley (SLGA) (12).

TEAM EVENT
Best two from three scores to count
32pt Stewart McDougall, Douglas Lowe and Ronnie Cully.
31pt Dave Edwards, Mike Aitken and Claire Hargan.
29pt Peter Smith, Sheila Hartley and Mike Woodcock.

*Michael Gannon, Fergus Bisset and Graeme Webster also had a team score of 29pt but were placed fourth on a comparison of the last six holes of the team's discarded score.

THE ORGANISERS WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PRIZE LIST.