PERTHSHIRE PLAYERS' LEADING ROLES AT THE CASTLE COURSE

Graham Hesketh (Gleneagles Hotel), St Andrews Links Tryst CEO EuanLoudoun and Gordon Bannerman (Perthshire Advertiser) at The Castle Course, St Andres. Image by courtesy of Kenny Smith. By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Perthshire players scored a double whammy in the Scottish golf writers' and guests' golf championship over The Castle Course, St Andrews today. Gordon Bannerman (Perthshire Advertiser) and Graham Hesketh (Gleneagles Hotel), both making their debuts in the tournament, won the golf writers' and guests' top awards respectively. Bannerman, playing off 23 of a handicap, scored 34 Stableford points to win the Alex Fox Trophy by six points from St Andrews-based runner-up Malcolm Campbell who had 28pt off seven. Kevin Ferrie and Mike Aitken also scored 28pt but Campbell had the best inward half. Hesketh scored 35pt off 12 of a handicap to win the Bunkered Tankard as the leading guest, thanks to a better last three holes points score after he and Scottish PGA secretary Michael McDougall, playing off seven, had both finished with 35pt. Third was course designer Graeme Webster with 34pt off 10. Alison White of the R and A Golf Development staff at St Andrews won the leading female guest award with 32pt off six of a handicap. SLGA secretary Sheila Hartley was runner-up with 28pt off 12. Graham Hesketh also won the Belhaven Trophy as the player from any category with the most points. The John Letters (St Andrews) Team Challenge was won by Michael MacDougall, Jim White, Martin Dempster and Billy Sim with a best two from four points total of 68. They finished a point ahead of SGU president Gordon Murray, Graham Hesketh, Alison White and Kenny Smith. Third with 64 were Gordon Bannerman, Hugh Hunter and Sheila Hartley, playing as a team of three. The annual tournament's main sponsors were St Andrews Links Trust, John Letters (St Andrews), Callaway, Nike and the Scottish Golf Union.  LEADING POINTS TOTALS JOHN LETTERS TEAM CHALLENGE 68pt Michael McDougall, Jim White, Martin Dempster, Billy Sim. 67 Kenny Smith, Alison White, Gordon Murray, Graham Hesketh. 64 Gordon Bannerman, Hugh Hunter, Sheila Hartley. 63 Dave Edwards, Roy Murray, Jim Galbraith, Stewart McDougall. 62 Mike Aitken, Hamish Grey, Ron Cully, Graeme Webster. 59 Kevin Ferrie, Bill Lothian. 55 Michael Campbell, Jim Yule, Richard Wilkins, Robert Lang. GOLF WRITERS 34pt G Bannerman (23) 28 M Campbell (7) (better inward half), K Ferrie (9), M Aitken (15). 27 D Edwards.(16). 25 M Dempster (10). GUESTS 35 G Hesketh (12) (better last three holes), M MacDougall (7). 34 G Webster (10).. 33 B Sim (3). 32 J Galbraith (7) 31 R Murray (5) (better inward half), B Lothian (15). 30 H Hunter (10). 28 R Cully (19). 27 R Lang (11) 26 J Yule (15). 25 R Wilkins (9) (bih), K Smith (10). 24 J White (13). 23 H Grey (15).. 22 S McDougall (8). 19 G Murray (24). LADY GUESTS 32 Alison White (RandA) (6). 28 Sheila Harley (SLGA) (12).

Winners of the John Letters (St Andrews) Team Challenge at The Castle Courst - Billy Sim, Jim White, Scott Thomson (John Letters staff), Michael MacDougall. Image by courtesy of Kenny Smith.