HELENSBURGH Golf Club’s Tennent’s Winter League got under way on Sunday at the second time of asking after bad weather put paid to the scheduled first round of the 2018 tournament.

Beneath blue skies and in glorious sunshine, which combined to help present the course in superb conditions, the bumper field of no fewer than 96 competitors produced some excellent golf – none more so than the winning pair of Martyn Lawrie (16 handicap) and Gordon McConnell (18 handicap), who finished top thanks to a magnificent 49 points.

In second place, following a countback in the clubhouse, were Ian Porter (12) and Dougie Stewart (28) with a very respectable 46 points.

The podium on the day was completed by Chris Stewart (15) and Tommy Tynan (11), who also made the most of the benign playing conditions to record a score of 46 points.

The average score on the day was 38.38 points, with the competitors playing off a 7/8 handicap.

An excellent day was enjoyed by all, both on the course and afterwards in the clubhouse, with the new caterer, Gordon Wallace, very successfully covering his first Winter League outing.

The cancelled opening round of the competition has been rescheduled for Sunday, November 25, which will complete all the seven Sundays scheduled for this winter’s tournament.