CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS FROM HUGH HUNTER

SPRING DELIGHT FOR COUNTY GOLF.

  Last Saturday was one of the best days yet for playing golf, and luckily it coincided with the County Spring Meeting. The good weather attracted a considerable number of additions to the field, such that totals of 95 played in Division 1 and 80 in Division 2. ---- a very good entry for the six Clubs in Clackmannanshire.

  The leading scores were as follows.

  DIVISION 1     (Alloa)     CSS Home 72; CSS visitors 74.

1.     P McVittie (Alloa)  78-7=71   after count back.

        A Main (Alloa)       75-4=71

        G Kerr                     78-7=71.

  Best Scratch.     Ian Ross (Alloa)    73

 DIVISION 2       (Braehead)    CSS Home 69     CSS Visitors 72

1.    T Breen (Braehead)          86-20=66

2.    J Kane (Braehead)           85-18=67

3.    I Allardyce                       90-22=68

   Best scratch   P MacMichael, T Pargeter    83.

  The next County Meeting open to Division 1 and 2 golfers is the Summer Meeting to be held on the 11th May at Braehead.   Entry sheets are available in the local Clubs.

                            LOCALS FALL IN THE BATTLE TROPHY.

  Of the three local golfers competing in this Order of Merit event, only Dollar’s Scott Borrowman (77, 75) made the half way cut at Crail set at 157---- Alloa’s Jamie Aitken just missed by one shot with Dollar’s Darren Hulston a bit further back.

  In the third round Scott made up some ground on the leaders with a well compiled round of 70—helped by a good run of 3,2,3 over holes 8 to10--- that was eagle, eagle, birdie. In fact it was a run of 7 under par for 8 holes when he continued with 3 pars and two birdies. Pity he finished with two bogies---- the CSS was set at 76---- so it still meant a bit off the handicap. His three round total of 222 was now only two shots behind the leader.

  In round four he continued the good work returning a 71 which put him into 4th spot in the event with an aggregate of 293, two shots behind the winner Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie). Scott’s amateur world ranking is currently 553   (14th in Scotland)    

 BOB STARTS HIS SENIOR SEASON

  With considerable good golfing form from the winter Midland alliance, former Scottish Seniors Champion Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) will be looking forward to the two day South of Scotland Seniors Championship at Powfoot this week.  Also competing in the 100 plus field are Ian Peddie and Phil Dempsey (both Tulliallan).

     PROVAN SALVER

  The final matches of the Provan Salver series take place this weekend and the Clackmannan team travels to Burntisland to play Fife.   To take the 2013 title, Clackmannan have to beat Fife and rely on Perth and Kinross beating Angus.

   Selected for this match so far are Darren Hulston (Dollar-Captain) Scott Borrowman (Dollar) Jamie Aitken (Alloa) Ross Benvie, Allan Watson (Braehead) Steven Horne (Tulliallan) Steve McIvor (Alva)

   LOCAL FIXTURES COMING UP

  On Saturday 27th April the evergreen Waddell Shield at Tillicoultry takes place---- it’s a gents two ball foursome stroke play. On Sunday 28th April there is Mixed Open at Braehead, and the Buick Trophy at Alloa.  Late entries may be available---- contact the golf club.

   On the 30th April, the 2013 County Club Foursomes event will start at Tulliallan with a round one tie between Alva and Dollar.  On Thursday 2nd May, Braehead will play Tillicoultry. The winners go forward to play Tulliallan and Alloa respectively one week later.   Hopefully match secretaries of the six Clubs will be assembling their strongest teams for the event which is usually guaranteed to provide excitement to any spectators.

   Entries for the County Boys Championships close soon, so any boys interested should find the entry form in the Clubhouses.

   CALLUM BACK IN THE GROOVE

 Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay has had a difficult time this year on the European Tour, but it started to go right in the Spanish Open last week when he made the cut, and earned some 13,000 euros for a one over par aggregate (73,71,74,71) and a share of 27th place.   

Most important to him must have been a psychological boost to his golf as the summer approaches.  The next two European events are the big money ones in South Korea and China, so he is well down the waiting lists to enter….. he has entered a Challenge tour event in Madrid this week so hopefully he will retain and maybe improve his golfing form.