HOME COURSE PRO PAUL WARDELL WINS EAST ALLIANCE

By ALAN GREENSHIELDS
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance secretary/treasurer
E-mail: secretary.eesga@talktalk.net
The East Alliance headed to Whitekirk on Wednesday for the second last outing of the season and 95 players fought it out on a course playing its full length due to overnight and early morning rainfall.
Host club professional Paul Wardell was the only player to break par on the day and his solid round of one-under-par 71 won him the Paterson Medal on a better inward half countback.
It was a brave display by Paul who nearly called off playing due to a bug rendering him less than 100% fit. His last minute decision to play paid dividends.
Paul's inward nine held off the net 71 from Glenbervie one-handicpper Richard Johnston.

Whitekirk also secured a share of the second place handicap prize through senior player David Jeffrey with a 79 less seven.
Ian Taylor of Royal Burgess took the other share of second handicap with a net 72 off one.
Scratch prizes were closely fought - Paul Wardell securing the top prize with his 71, Sean McGarvey of Glencorse securing second place with a 72 and six players sharing third with 73s - professionals Stuart Callan (Bathgate), Scott Catlin (Greenburn) and Alan Reid (West Lothian), plus amateurs Derek Fish (Glenbervie), Colin Fraser (Peebles) and Jamie Morris (Peebles).
Trainee Prize was shared by Terry Mathieson (Dunbar) and Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) with 74s.
Senior Prize was shared on net 74 by David McKean (Cardrona), playing off six, and Stuart Wardlaw, playing off 10.
The Scratch Order of Merit now has a new leader. While the top five are made up of the same players, they are now headed by Scott Catlin of Greenburn with 534 points. Previous leader Chris Morris of Kingsknowe drops to 2nd place with 517 points.
3rd Mike Thomson (Torwoodlee) 507.5, 4th Stuart Callan (Bathgate) 491.5, 5th Andy Marshall (Houston DR) 487

The Handicap Order of Merit leader Justin White (Harrison) extended his lead and was the only player in the top 5 to secure points this week. The order is unchanged -
1st Justin White 133.5, 2nd Stuart Brown (Glencourse) 111, 3rd Graeme Johnston (Glenbervie) 103.5, 4th George Wither (Lothianburn) 95, 5th Alan Young (Lochend) 94
In two weeks, the East Alliance head south of the border to Goswick, Northumberland for their final outing of the season when the 60 qualifiers for the East Championships at Gullane on 23rd March will be decided.
PRIZEWINNERS
Paterson Medal at Whitekirk
Overall Winner: Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 71
LEADING SCRATCH
1st £100 Wardell, Paul (Whitekirk) 71
2nd £80 McGarvey, Sean (Glencorse) 72
T3rd £20 Callan, Stuart (Bathgate) 73
T3rd £20 Catlin, Scott (Greenburn) 73
T3rd £20 Fish, Derek (Glenbervie) 73
T3rd £20 Fraser, Colin (Peebles) 73
T3rd £20 Morris, Jamie (Peebles) 73
T3rd £20 Reid, Alan (West Lothian) 73
LEADING HANDICAP
(voucher prizes)
1st £100 Johnston, Richard (Glenbervie) 71
T2nd £80 Jeffrey, David (Whitekirk) 72
T2nd £60 Taylor, Ian (Royal Burgess) 72
T4th £40 Black, George (Torwoodlee) 73
T4th £20 White, Justin (Harrison, Braids) 73
TRAINEE PRIZE
£10 Mathieson, Terry (Dunbar) 74
£10 Wood, Daniel (Eyemouth) 74
SENIOR PRIZE
£10 McKean, David (Cardrona) 74
£10 Wardlaw, Stuart (Harburn) 74