HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

MIXED PERFORMANCES FROM

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY GOLFERS

While the Clackmannan county teams have had a tough time in the national competitions, finishing near the bottom of the 2014 Area team championship, individual golfers have fared slightly better.

SCOTT BORROWMAN (Dollar) started well with a high place finish in the Craigmillar Park  72 hole competition, then fell back with a couple of missed cuts in the Scottish stroke play and St Andrews Links Trophy.  

At the weekend he returned to the form that won the Order of Merit title in 2013 with a score of 285 (77, 72, 67, 69) to take fourth place in the Tennant Cup at Glasgow.   

His 36 hole aggregate of 136 (67, 69) was the best of the final day scores and had he not opened with a 77, then he would probably have won the event.

Alva's LAWRENCE ALLAN also had a good weekend at Glasgow, finishing 8^th equal and giving Wee County golfers two top ten placings. Prior to that, Lawrence made the cut at the prestigious St Andrews Links event, finishing in 38^th position with a score of 291 (72, 71, 73, 75)

Top senior golfer BOB STEWART (Tulliallan) has had the only national win so far for County golfers when he took the West of Scotland Seniors title by three shots at Cardross with an aggregate of 142 (71,71).   

A fifth place in the East of Scotland event has moved him up into the top ten in the Seniors Order of Merit.

PAUL LAWRIE FOUNDATION SCOTTISH SCHOOLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

  

While there were no good performances from local boy golfers, Dollar’s Eilidh Watson had a fourth place at Murrayshall last week with scores of 149 (75,74), taking the handicap prize and helping the Forth Valley Girls team to a win in the Girls' Team event by five shots over Aberdeen City.

JUNIOR GOLF DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE AT ALLOA

With a decline in numbers in some Junior Sections in Scotland, it is pleasing to see the developments at local level in Clackmannanshire. 

Most recent of these is at Alloa Golf Club where a five-week programme supported by Clubgolf has had great success.  

Masterminded by golf enthusiast Alan Didcock, helped by a group of volunteer coaches, the initiative drew to a close last week with a presentation of awards.  

Alan has been pleasantly surprised.

“The original group of youngsters who signed up have stayed the course and seem committed to taking their golf forward this summer," he said.

"Thanks must go to the support of the parents, but particularly the coaches who survived a substantial training programme, and gave their time willingly to enthuse the boys and girls.

"Hopefully these youngsters will take their game to higher levels and achieve some success for Alloa Golf Club in the future”

The pictures show the enthusiastic young golfers at Alloa.