HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

        COUNTY LEAGUE  FINISHING SOON

With only three matches left to play, the 2013 League result is fast approaching and it's Alloa who have one hand on the trophy, having won all four of their matches.   

Their nearest challenger is Braehead with three wins out of four.  All credit to the clubs and the organisers for ensuring the games are taking place.Match play is always a stimulating challenge.  

The September matches to be played are:

Tulliallan v Dollar

Tillicoultry v Braehead

 Alloa v Alva. 

  Alloa boys team who drew with Falkirk Carmuirs. Left to right: Gregor McEwan (capt), Lewis Clark, Bryce Clark, Greg Stone, Ross Logan, Jamie McEwan.

  AND A MATCH TO DECIDE THE BOYS LEAGUE.

 County Junior Golf has been going through a difficult time recently. Numbers have dropped and clubs have been unable to field teams to contest the boys' team event.  

However, with green shoots of recovery at Alloa, things might be changing, especially if it spreads to other golf clubs.   

Braehead is one club that has managed to keep a thriving boys' section. It's no surprise that both the county titles are held by Braehead juniors.

Thanks to new junior conveners at Alloa, the boys' section has managed to raise a team to play matches. Their first match was against Falkirk Golf Club (Carmuirs) which they managed to draw.   Arrangements are now in hand for an Alloa v Braehead junior match to decide the 2013 County Boys' League.

  GARY HARVEY INTER-COUNTY BOYS' MATCHES

The 2013 Gary Harvey Trophy will be played at Dunkeld this weekend, and contested by teams of eight representing Clackmannan, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross.  Each county plays one match on Saturday and two on the Sunday.

Selected to represent Clackmannan are:

Brian McAdam, Gregor McEwan, Jamie McEwan (all Alloa),   Rikky Alexander, Grant Murray, Jordan Struthers, Ryan Calder, Ryan Blyth (all Braehead).

MIDLANDS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

While the boys compete at Dunkeld, the men’s teams from the same counties will be competing at Braehead for the Midlands Team Championship, decided by stroke play.

  

GOOD TRY BY BRAEHEAD LADIES

Braehead Ladies reached the final stages of the 2013 Scottish Foursomes, played at Kirriemuir at the weekend. In windy conditions, they lost out to Turnhouse in the semi-final.  
In the other semi-final, Kilmarnock Barassie won against Deeside, and went on to beat Turnhouse in the final.

MIDLAND ALLIANCE

At Blairgowrie last week it was top senior golfer Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) who featured in the Midland Alliance prize list with a third equal scratch 73. Alloa’s Andy McLeod was also third equal in the handicap section with a net 71.

In the team event, Muckhart players featured in the top two teams, taking the second prize (scoring 59) with Tulliallan players Harry Salmond and Billy Bell.

 NO JOY FOR SCOTT IN THE SOUTH EAST

The last counting event for the 2013 Scottish Golf Union Order of merit took place at West Linton at the weekend, and confirmed Jack McDonald as the 2013 Order of Merit winner, taking the crown from Dollar’s Scott Borrowman.  

Opening with a good 70, Scott, the 2008 winner of the event, went the wrong way with rounds of  73 and 78, but a good closing round of 69 lifted him to tenth position, but still ten shots behind the winner Jack McDonald.

LOCAL  EVENTS

With the golf  season drawing to a close, there are only two events left and they are both at Tillicoultry - Invitation Texas Scramble on the 8th September and the Jubilee Mixed Open on the 15th.