HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

TOP COUNTY EVENT THIS WEEKEND

   The highlight of the Clackmannan County Golf year is the 36 hole County Championship, and the 2013 event will be played at Alloa Golf Club this Sunday 28th July.  Dating from 1903, the event has had many winners who have gone on to make a mark in the game of golf.  Late entries are available this year, up to and including the day of the competition. The event is used as a qualifier for the Scottish Club Championship so there should be teams from each of the six Clubs.  Draw sheets are available in each of the local golf Clubs.

                            LOCALS HEAD TO BLAIRGOWRIE

  Next week, 256 hopefuls will compete for the Scottish Amateur title at Blairgowrie (Lansdowne)  Five of the County elite golfers will be competing, and hopefully theu will get a bit of support from their home Clubs.

 On Monday 29th, James Aitken (Alloa)  9.37, Scott Borrowman (Dollar)  11.09 and Lawrence Allan (Alva)  15.41 are all in action, and on Tuesday  its Darren Hulston (Dollar) 9.13 and Allan Watson (Braehead) 11.17.

                           COUNTY SENIORS IN ACTION

 Alyth was the venue for the Scottish Seniors Match Play Championship last week, and top local senior Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) qualified easily for the match play section following a 5th equal finish in the 36hole stroke play qualifying.  However, after winning his first round match, Bob went down to Richard Gray (Irvine) 2/1 in the second round.

   This week it’s the 36 hole Central Scotland Seniors event to be held at Kilmacolm and locals Bob Stewart, Phil Dempsey (both Tulliallan) plus Alloa’s Ray Barton are in action.

                                          LAWRENCE GOES DUTCH

  While many golfers were watching the thrilling golf at Muirfield, Alva’s Lawrence Allan was competing in the Dutch Junior Open at Toxandria Golf Club along with a small group of Scots.  In an International field that included competitors from Canada, Turkey and Thailand, Lawrence finished top of the Scots with a 5 over par score of 293 (73, 72, 75, 73) to finish in 25th position. 

The leaders were way out on their own at 11 under par 277. Home player Michael Kraaij won a play-off with English player Harry Casey.  Interesting that this Junior Open had an age limit of 23!

                              OTHER COUNTY EVENTS

  There is a Charity Scramble at Braehead on Saturday 27th July, and next week a Seniors Mixed Open scheduled at Alloa.