ABOYNE GOLFER WINS MONTY'S MONTHLY MEDAL FINAL

SGU MEDIA RELEASE

 

Victorious 2010 Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie was the perfect host as club golfers from across Scotland savoured an unforgettable day at The Carrick on Loch Lomond for the final of Monty’s Monthly Medal on Monday (20 August).

The event, staged by the SGU for the second time to again raise thousands of pounds for the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation supporting the building of two new Maggie’s Centres in Aberdeen and Lanarkshire, proved a resounding success, with Aboyne golfer Paul Ironside returning north with the first prizes after carding an impressive 40 stableford points.

But it was a day when all 54 club golfers, representing 30 clubs at the final, were winners, each finalist enjoying the rare opportunity to play the 123-yard par-3 16th hole with Scotland’s eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner. Montgomerie also brought along a special guest – The Ryder Cup – with each player photographed on the tee with Monty and the iconic trophy before teeing off.

For many of those involved, it was a ‘dream come true’, with a superb 14 finalists rising to the challenge to ‘Beat Monty’ in the ‘Nearest the Pin Challenge’. The Ryder Cup hero, competing in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles this week, was hugely impressed with the standard of golf, especially from Ironside.

Playing off a 14-handicap, the Banchory resident triumphed by four points, with his clubmate Paul Duncan also collecting a prize in fourth place on 34 points (by virtue better inward half). 

The 32-year-old, who works at Bank of Scotland in Aberdeen, said: “It’s definitely my biggest win. The only other event I’ve won was the 'B' section club championship at Lothianburn a few years ago when I lived in Linlithgow.

“I had a very good day, thoroughly enjoyable. We had a heavy downpour early on, but apart from that the weather was fine.

“It’s a great competition and the finals day was fantastic for everyone. Colin was really good company and getting the photo opportunity with The Ryder Cup just topped it all off.”

 Just as the Aboyne club enjoyed double success at the prize giving, so too did Renfrew – runner-up on 36 points was Anne Hempsey with Martin Findlay third on 35.

Montgomerie, who took time out from his busy schedule to also stay for the post-event dinner and chat with all the players, was delighted with the SGU’s contribution to the competition and is keen to continue and grow an event which has generated excellent PR for the charity.

“It’s super that so many people could come together and enjoy themselves for a most worthy cause,” he said. “Thank you to everyone for participating. I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.

“There are over 500 golf clubs in Scotland and I think we can make this competition bigger and bigger.”

Turning to the 16th, he laughed: “I hit some good shots on the 16th... you hit a lot of better ones. Congratulations to you all!

“Finally, thanks also to Lynsey Knowles, my step daughter, and her cousin, Lauren Bryden, on behalf of the Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation, who run the charity so well full-time for me.”

While the day was memorable for all, it had extra meaning for an Iraq war veteran, Gary Shilliday. The Royal Marine, a 41-year-old from Torrance Park, was inspired to take up the game by Montgomerie. He has only been playing for two-and-a-half years, but has remarkably reached a handicap of +1.

Shilliday’s story continues... he was World Champion Kick Boxer in 1995 and also won the British title on nine occasions. “I think that has a lot to do with my good hand-eye co-ordination for golf,” he said.

“Monty is my golf hero. He’s the first golfer I saw who could hit the ball pin high every single time.

“I had a super time. Playing with Monty was the absolute highlight. I think I was nervous from about the ninth hole, thinking about the 16th. But he was brilliant, an absolute gentleman.

“I think the fact he was Ryder Cup captain, The Ryder Cup was there, he is my hero at golf and we had a chat down the hole made it so enjoyable.”

In the nearest the pin competition at the second hole, Iain Shirely, again of Renfrew, was triumphant, while Graeme Millar (Blair Atholl) won the longest drive at the 11th.

Congratulations to the following players who ‘Beat Monty’ at the 16th hole: David Bell (King James VI), Doug Bruce (Banchory), Iain Shirley (Renfrew), Neil Archibald (Piperdam Osprey) Chris Peffers (Kirkhill), Edwin Keith (Aboyne), Neil Paterson (Inverurie), Martin Fellowes (Kirkhill), John Ross Jnr (Renfrew), Barry Keenan (Playsport) , Paul Duncan (Aboyne), Garry Muir (Paisley), Andrew Cochran (Royal and Ancient) and Douglas Zuill (Royal and Ancient).

 

>> Click here for results and more information on Monty's Monthly Medal