Neighbours triumph
Published 14 Oct 2010 09:00
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HELENSBURGH Golf Club’s hardy gents teed off in pleasant but challenging conditions in the first round of the Johnnie Walker Winter League, with all 96 competitors participating.
Over the years a feature of the annual joust is the bond which develops between regular partners who encourage one another to peak performances in all sorts of weather and in all conditions.
The loss of that special relationship and the need to find a new partner seldom promotes a winning formula.
But not so on Sunday. George Cairns and Euan Cameron each independently found themselves requiring a new partner.
Coincidentally they are also next door neighbours so they agreed to form a new coalition. Their 47 points not only proved to be among the best but their 26 points garnered in the return half proved to be the best and earned them the attractive hampers for the week.
Robert Prideaux and Hugh Orr were runners-up again by virtue of the better inward half as compared with Gordon English and Gavin McNaughtan.
The day also produced a new record when Dereck West pitched in for a two at the seventh and a record six points. This poses a problem for golf’s peculiar vocabulary.
In golfing language scores are identified by words such as par, birdie, eagle and albatross but no word exists to describe Dereck’s achievement.
That being so in Helensburgh Golf Club it will be identified in the future as a Westie.
Leading scores: 47PTS: George Cairns/Euan Cameron: Rob Prideaux/Hugh Orr: Gordon English/Gavin McNaughtan: 46PTS: Alan Armstrong/Brian Bruce: Mel Newton/Dougie Shearer: 45PTS: Steven Ford/John Sharp.
The winter league victory on Sunday completed a successful weekend for George Cairns on the day after he had taken top prize in the Fraser Hall organised 11 hole Stableford with 25 points. Ronnie McKay was runner-up with 24.
Helensburgh Seniors marked the end of their competition calendar with an end of season Stableford competition which attracted thirty seven competitors.
Their energetic and enthusiastic Convenor John Cleland took the opportunity to submit to them his annual report on what had been an outstandingly successful season culminating in a Ryder Cup type victory to regain the McIntyre Seniors League trophy.
He named gregarious Jack Myles as the epitome of the fighting spirit of the team to snatch victory in the last game of the last match of the last fixture in the season.
John acknowledged and thanked Fraser Hall for his encouragement and support including his sponsorship of the event.
Leading scores: 40PTS: Dave Smith (16): 39PTS: Bill Docherty (23): 38PTS: Jim McKillop (22): 36PTS: Nick Knox (23): Norman Roger (18): Jack Myles (19): 35PTS: John Ward (24): David Russell (10): Bob Berry (17).
Helensburgh ladies held a Stableford competition in aid of Cancer Relief. The winner was Carol Calder with 32 points playing off a handicap of 22.
Christine Henderson (32) was runner up with 31 points by virtue of a better inward half from Bobbie Latham (25).
This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 14 Oct 10
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