HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

LOCALS JUST MISS OUT AT THE AMATEUR

Some call it the British Amateur, but really it is THE Amateur, the most prestigious event in the amateur golf calendar. 

Two Clackmannan county locals made the long trip to South-east England to compete in the field of 288 elite golfers from all over the world.   

With only 64 qualifying for the match-play stages, Dollar’s Scott Borrowman just missed the qualifying cut of 147 with rounds of 78 and 71.   

Alva’s Lawrence Allan looked good with a first round of 73, but fell away in the second round with an 80, missing out by six shots.  The Scots contingent didn’t make much impression this year. Of the 30 who entered, only seven made the cut and they all lost in the early stages.

               BETTER LUCK FOR BOB STEWART

  Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart showed some good golfing form in the Scottish seniors championship held at Elie last week. Opening with an ordinary 76, Bob added two 71s to lift him into equal sixth place in the three-round event,  ten shots behind the winner and fourth best Scot in the field.

At present Bob is in eleventh place in the Senior Order of Merit. The points gained should lift him into the top ten, and give him some confidence for the rest of the season.

                            BORROWMAN BOUNCES BACK

The Tennant Cup, played over the courses of Glasgow Golf Club at Gailes and Killermont, resulted in a top finish for Scott Borrowman.  With rounds of 77, 73, 68 and 70, he finished in fitth equal place.  Since Scott is already in third place in the SGU Order of Merit, it seems pretty certain that he will be named in the Scotland six-man team to contest the European team championship in Denmark in early July.

Two rounds of 72 and 78 over Glasgow Gailes also ensured Alloa’s James Aitken played in the final 36 holes over Killermont in Glasgow.  Although his Sunday rounds of 73 and 75 didn’t lift him up the field, he must have been pleased to be in the company of many of the Scottish elite golfers.

 

        CONFIDENCE BOOST FOR CALLUM

With rounds of 69, 68, 74 and 69,  Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay finished the BMW International Open in Munich with an eight under par total - his best performance for some time - and  a share of 35th place. 

Three birdies in the last four holes must have been especially pleasing.  Just three weeks ago he looked very good with opening rounds of 68 and 66 in the Lyoness Open, but fell away in the final two rounds.  Just stringing together four very good rounds could do wonders for him. Callum certainly has the game to compete at the European level; it's just some consistency that eludes him.       

After being a reserve for the lucrative Irish Open this week at Carton House,  Maynooth, Callum now has a place in the field and a chance to build on last week’s good work.

 

                       LOCAL GOLF COMING UP

The County Mixed Fours is due this weekend, and hopefully all six Clubs will be represented for what is usually an enjoyable competition.  On the 29th June there is the William McLean Open at Braehead (handicaps 13-28)  and the Lamert Trophy at Tulliallan         (scr-12).   
There is also a Gents Open Scramble at Dollar.  Local golfers are urged to support these events. They entry fees are good value for money and travelling is minimal. Golfers should check for late entries to these events.

 On the National scene, the East of Scotland Amateur is being played over the weekend and next week is the Under-16s Scottish boys championship at Portlethen. Sadly no local (Clackmannan) boys are playing. Hopefully, they will be supporting the Boys Open at Braehead on July 3.