HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

HEROIC PERFORMANCE BY CLACKMANNAN

While finishing ninth out of 16 in the Scottish men’s area team championship at the weekend at Blairgowrie and missing the qualifying mark by 15 shots may appear very ordinary, a closer examination of the performance by the Clackmannan County team shows that they really performed very well.

The 15-shot gap over 10 rounds averages 1.5 shots per round. And when you see that the smallest golfing area finished ahead of many larger zreas (including the Lothians: the largest), then the players can be reasonably satisfied with their performance.

In the individual event, County team captain Jamie Aitken (Alloa) led the Clackmannan players by example with 145 (73-72) to give him 19th equal position out of 96 players. Jamie finished ahead of six of the Scottish Golf Union’s 10-man Elite squad. Scott Borrowman finished one shot further back (146) ahead of Lawrence Allan (147). 

The event was won by home area, Perth and Kinross, who defeated defending champions Fife in the final.

 GOOD SCORING AT SUMMER MEETING.

Dollar’s Darren Hulston took the scratch prize with a 71 at the County A Division at Alloa, closely followed by Jamie Aitken (Alloa) with a 74.

R Birrell (Alva) led the way in the handicap event with 70 ahead of D A Graham (Alloa) 71.

In the Division 2 event at Braehead, W Ross (Braehead) and J Littlejohn (Alloa) both had 68s  with Jim losing out on the inward half.

The second group of qualifiers for the County match-play championship was obtained and the draw for the first round at Braehead on Monday, May 28 is:

5.15 R Alexander v R Benvie. 5.22 S Douglas v J Aitken. 5.30 A Watson v S Horne. 5.37 S Moffat v J Muir. 5.45 I Guthrie v D Hulston. 5.52 B Cousins v D Beaton. 6.00 P Shearer v M Robertson. 6.07 D Finlay v D Malloy.

The second round will be played over Dollar on Thursday, May 31

WEE COUNTY GOLFERS IN POSITION

 With the 2012 golfing season well underway, it is pleasing to see Clackmannan golfers featuring in the National Orders of Merit. Top placing goes to Alva’s Lawrence Allan who is sitting fourth in the boys’ Order of Merit.

He has great chances over the next two weeks in major events. This weekend he plays in the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour event over 72 holes at the Roxburghe course. The course can be stretched to well over 7000 yards which would be a huge test for the 54 young golfers. Maybe they will be sympathetically dealt with!

In the Men’s Order of Merit, Jamie Aitken is at 15; Lawrence Allan at 22 (equal) and Scott Borrowman at 27.  Jamie and Scott are off to the Welsh Stroke Play this weekend.

   Finally, in the Seniors’ Order of Merit, last year’s winner Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) sits at 11^th equal, and with Mike Rust he will be competing in the Scottish Seniors Open at Montrose this week.

GOLF FIXTURES COMING UP

May 26: Belhaven Trophy Open   Braehead

May 27: Alva Open

May 28: County Match Play Round 1 Braehead

May 29:  Seniors Open Dollar 

OI