HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

SHOCKS IN CLACKMANNAN BOYS MATCH-PLAY

The Clackmannan county boys' match-play events have reached their finals, producing surprises as ever.

In  the first round over Alva, County stroke-play champion Rikky Alexander, trying to complete a double, lost to Brian McAdam,the 2011 junior match-play champion, who in turn fell in the semi-final at Tillicoultry to Braehead’s Scott Beattie. 

With Grant Murray winning through his tie against Gregor McEwan, an all-Braehead final will be played this week.

In the junior boys' event, Jonathan Clark (Tillicoultry) won through to the final against Jamie McEwan, while Ryan Blyth luckily reached the final without having to hit a golf shot.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS

SENIOR BOYS 

Grant Murray (Braehead) bt Gregor McEwan (Alloa) 4 and 3.

Scott Beattie (Braehead) bt Brian McAdam (Alloa) 4 and 3.

JUNIOR BOYS

Jonathan Clark (Tillicoultry) bt Jamie McEwan 7 and 6.

Ryan Blyth (Braehead) wo Ross Bundy (Tillicoultry) scr

NEW SENIOR KID ON THE BLOCK.

In the first top Scottish Seniors event of 2012 held over Powfoot Golf Course in the south of Scotland, Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart finished in 13^th position with rounds of 75 and 73. 

Experienced Braehead player Mike Rust showed much promise in his debut appearance, carding rounds of 78 and 74 to lie a bit further back, and give him considerable confidence for the next event where maybe he will get the better of Bob!. 

This is the Seniors' Spring Meeting, to be held at Montrose on May 24-25.

 WALES TRIP FOR SCOTT AND JAMIE

Following his fine sixth place finish recently at Crail, and showing great initiative, County team captain Jamie Aitken is off to Prestatyn in North Wales for the Welsh stroke play Championship which also includes Dollar’s Scott Borrowman in the 120 strong field.

The Championship links stretches to around 6,800 yards. The green fees are very reasonable at £25 mid week and, even better, the new members' subscription for 2012 is £295!

The Welsh event is held over 72 holes from May 25 to 27.

Meanwhile, Alva’s Lawrence Allan is in the field for the Scottish youths championship to be held at Ladybank this week.

 ALMOST TWENTY-TWENTY VISION FOR CALLUM

In the first PGA Optical Express event held at Dundonald recently, Tulliallan's Callum Macaulay came very close to a win. A best-of-the-day round just missed a win. In the closing stages, a birdie eluded Callum, and he had to settle for a four-man play-off in which unfortunately he missed out.

Callum is back to his happy hunting ground of Madeira this week. A few years ago he had an unbelievable last round of 64, and missed out on a win when a fellow competitor holed a putt on the last green.

Best of luck, Callum!

 LADIES GOLF IN CLACKMANNANSHIRE

  Only two of the local Ladies Golf Clubs took up invitations to the SLGA Foursomes event.  Tillicoultry Ladies (who did well in recent years) lost to Stirling in the first round of the event, and Braehead Ladies are now due to play Stirling in the second round. 

Assuming there is no restriction on entry, the total entry seems to be just 84 clubs out of the few hundred in Scotland. A rather small figure.

       COUNTY GOLF EVENTS COMING UP

This week

County Fours Final, Boys Match Play Finals--- 10^th May

County Summer Meetings 12-13: Braehead and Alloa (late entries 

                      Available)

Next week

Invitation (Sanny Todd) at Braehead 19^th

Mixed Open at Dollar    20^th