Phil McLean wins NE Alliance by three shots with a 68 at Buckpool


 By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Peterhead's Phil McLean (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) won the £110 top scratch prize with a three-under-par 68 in frosty conditions for the North-east Golfers' Alliance at Buckpool Golf Club after Murcar Links, the original venue, was flooded in parts by heavy overnight rain on Monday-Tuesday.

 It is McLean's second win of the season but his first outright victory. He shared the pole position with Kevin Duncan in the opening competition of the season at Craibstone in September.

Deeside amateur Alan Gall played well to share second scratch place with professional John Duff (Newmachar) in  field of 63 players.

Former Scottish tennis champion and past Press and Journal Editor Harry Roulston made the long trip from Stonehaven worthwhile by winning the Class 1 handicap section with a net 67 off seven ... even with a 6 at the par-4 last hole.

He won with the better inward half of 35 after John Sunley (Northern) and David Lane (Deeside) also returned net 67s.

Class 2 also produced a tight finish with Mike Brown (Newburgh), playing off 17, pipping Mike Rogers (Kemnay) who also had a net 67. Brown had the better inward half.

Every prizewinner received £10 extra, thanks to a group of Alliance members chipping in for £150 sponsorship of this week's fixture

For 10 players in today's field at Buckpool it was a wasted day. They were disqualified for playing off wrong tees.

PRIZEWINNERS

SCRATCH

68 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC).

71 A Gall (Deeside), J Duff (Newmachar)

72 S Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)

75 L Murray (Paul Lawrie GC), K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC).

HANDICAP

Class 1 - H Roulston (Stonehaven) (7) bih, J Sunley (Northern) (8) bih, D Lane (Deeside) (9) 67; A Smith (Turriff) (4) 69; D Leslie (Bon Accord) (3) 70.

Class 2 - M Brown (Newburgh) (17) bih, M Rogers (Kemnay) (15) 67; R Duncan (Deeside) (12) bih, P Cheyne (Northern) (10) 68; J Forrest (Northern) (11) 70. 

ALL THE SCRATCH SCORES
Par 71
68 P McLean (Paul Lawrie GC)
71 A Gall (Deeside), J Duff (Newmachar)
72 S Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)
73 A Smith (Turriff), D Leslie (Bon Accord), K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC), L Murray (Paul Lawrie GC)
74 H Roulston (Stonehaven), D Brown (Kemnay)
75  J Sunley (Northern)
76 D Lane (Deeside)
77 G Esson (Portlethen), R Lamb (Newmachar), G Riley (Craibstone)
78 P Cheyne (Northern), A Campbell (Murcar Links), D Mackay (Hazlehead)
79 K Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC), C Cassie (Nigg Bay)
80 R Duncan (Deeside), J Duncan (Oldmeldrum), J Thomas (Craibstone), Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge).
81 J Forrest (Northern), J Murray (Banchory)
82 M Rogers (Kemnay), M Lawrie (Kemnay), P Low (Craibstone), G Milne (Newburgh), M Merchant (Newmachar)
84 G Chalmers (Alford), M Brown (Newburgh), S Davidson (Northern).
85 N Chisholm (Kemnay)
86 D Lawrie (Aboyne)
87 D Nelson (Aboyne), T Collie (Kemnay), R Brown (Newburgh)
88 W Skene (Deeside)
90 N K Parker (Murcar Links), D Booth (Tarland).
93 D Wright (Northern)

94 G Thom (Murcar Links).

Next NE Alliance competition at Royal Tarlair Golf Club, Macduff on Wednesday, January 21.