HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR LAWRENCE

Although losing in the first round of the match play section, Alva’s Lawrence Allan can be well pleased with his golf performance at the British Boys Championship last week at Burnham and Berrow. From well over 200 boys, Lawrence made it to the match play stages with a two round score of 150—right on the cut mark.

In his first round over the Enmore Park course he opened with a double bogey 6, but steadied and with 4 birdies returned a one over par score of 72. In his second round, Lawrence dropped 4 shots in the first three holes and again steadied--- however a bogey, bogey finish for an aggregate of 150 gave him an anxious wait and it wasn’t till early evening that he was confirmed in the 64 qualifiers for the match play stages.  

It was a fine achievement—only 6 boys from the Scottish contingent of 21 made it through--- most of the current boys internationalists failed.  Incidentally the CSS of the Burnham and Berrow course went to 76 the first day! 

Regrettably Lawrence lost in the first round to Thomas Detry (Belgium) on the 18^th.  Last year Lawrence missed the cut by a fairly large amount—he has clearly moved forward and in 2012----his last year in boys golf---he can build on the experience he has built up

ALLOA JUNIORS MAKING THEIR MARK

It's one thing to have a good golf game on your local course, and another to take that game to a different course in a National Championship----- but that’s exactly what Alloa’s Beth Donoghue did last week in the Scottish Under 14’s Championships at Aberdour.  Starting with two par threes and then an ugly 4 over par 8, Beth steadied to go out in 42 and back in 41 for a scratch 83. She finished well up the field--- in fact the sixth best Scot in the field of 42.  Hopefully she will be motivated to take her golf game to a higher level in the months ahead, and maybe also others will follow her example.

Staying with Alloa juniors, the two Alloa entrants in the Highland Spring Junior Masters qualifying event held at Turnhouse finished well up the field—Gregor McEwan with 39 Stableford points finished 7^th and Brian McAdam with 36 points finished 17^th.

LOCAL GOLFERS UP FOR NATIONAL EVENTS

It's another busy week for Clackmannan golfers--- the County Autumn Meeting is at Braehead, and the last chance for some of the low handicap golfers to  strive for the aggregate trophies  ( Order of Merit and Harrower).  Late entries will probably be available.

The final Scottish Seniors Stroke Play event will be held at Elgin this week and the entry list contains four stalwarts from Tulliallan--- Bob Stewart, Phil Dempsey, Phil Mawhood, and Ian Peddie. Bob will be trying to regain the number one spot in the Seniors Order of Merit—at present he lies in second place, 30 points behind former Tulliallan member Fraser McCluskey. 

Finally in a small entry of 40 couples, Alloa will be represented by Margaret Frame and Hugh Hunter in the Scottish Mixed Fours to be held at Mortonhall in Edinburgh this weekend.