International golfers travel to Dumbarton for competition

Jul 3 2009 by Marc McLean, Lennox Herald (main ed)

GOLFERS travelled from as far as Australia to compete in Dumbarton Golf Club’s recent open competition week.

Members from other clubs were invited to play the course in four different competitions, which started with the men’s open for the Gordon Shield on Saturday, June 13.

The starting sheet had been full for some time before the competition, a measure of just how popular this event has become.

One competitor came from Brisbane, Australia, but the shield was won by local man, Alan Prior, with a magnificent score of nett 64.

The following day the mixed open was staged and was again well attended. A variety of clubs were represented, with almost half of the field coming from outside Dumbarton.

The competition was won by local couple David Graham and Mo Buchanan, who had an excellent score of 65½, narrowly beating John Hutchison (Dumbarton) and Nancy McIntyre (VOL).

Lochgilphead man Andrew Swan won the seniors open on Tuesday, June 16, with an excellent score of nett 62.

Finally, the ladies held their invitation day on Thursday, June 18. This competition was won by Rona Agnew and her partner May McCreadie (Fereneze) with another superb score of nett 64.6.

Over the course of the week, 430 players took part in the competitions, 201 of whom were visitors.

Club captain John Stirling said: “The course is looking really good at the moment. Our greens staff have worked tirelessly over the winter months to improve the drainage situation at Dumbarton and this has paid off.

“Even after the deluge which brought Dumbarton to a halt last weekend, the course was still playable and the water drained away very quickly.”

John Fulton, from Beith, said “I love playing at Dumbarton. Being flat, the course is not as physically demanding as some hilly courses, but a superb test of golf skills. Golf is a game of the mind, and that’s what makes Dumbarton such fun to play.”

The full list of the prizewinners is as follows:

Gordon Shield – Saturday, June 13: Longest drive at 10th – I Swan, Dumbarton; nearest the hole at 11th – I Swan, Dumbarton; nearest the hole at 8th – S Munro, Dumbarton; nearest the hole at 4th – M McFarlane, Elderslie.

Handicap 10-20: 1st – A O'Malley, Buchanan C 66; 2nd – M Black, Dumbarton 66; 3rd – I Matthews, Dumbarton 66; 4th – P Smith, Dumbarton 66; 5th – DThomson, Dumbarton 66; 6th – J Cameron, Balmore 67.

Handicap 1-9: 1st – S Munro, Dumbarton 65, 2nd – I Swan, Dumbarton 66, 3rd – J Diamond, Dumbarton 67, 4th – E Jardine, Dumbarton 67, 5th – M Gannon, Dumbarton 67, 6th – P McElroy, Dumbarton 68. Scratch: 1st – C Carson, Innellan 69; 2nd – A McLean, Dumbarton 71, 3rd – A Campbell, Dumbarton 72; 4th – M Eyton, Dumbarton 72 Lowest nett score: A Prior, Dumbarton 64.

Open mixed foursomes – Sunday, June 14

Handicap: 1st – Mo Buchanan and David Graham (9.5) 65.5 (BiH), Dumbarton; 2nd – Nancy McIntyre & John Hutchison (21.5) 65.5, Vale of Leven & Dumbarton; 3rd – Bridie & Alistair McNaughton (22) 67, Hilton Park.

Scratch: 1st – Lorraine & Ian Campbell (3) 78, Cardross; 2nd – Fiona and Sandy Leitch (10.5) 79, Dumbarton.

Best outward half: Fiona Alexander, Bearsden, Joe McPhilemy, Dumbarton.

Best inward half: Margaret Nicolson, Dumbarton, John Nicolson, Dumbarton.

Gents longest drive: Handicap 1-9 – Iain MacCalman, Clober; Handicap 10-24 – Mark Gallagher, Vale of Leven.

Ladies longest drive: Handicap 1-20 – Diane Baldwin, Hilton Park; Handicap 21-30 – Jean Leitch, Vale of Leven.

Gents nearest pin at 4th – Bing Crosbie, Vale of Leven; ladies nearest pin at 11th – Jean Paton, Vale of Leven.

Lowest net score last three holes – Jean Paton Vale of Leven; Hugh Paton Vale of Leven.

Hidden Hole – Barbara & Joe Malloy, Dumbarton.

Seniors’ open – Sunday, June 16

Best nett score and winner of the Sons of the Rock Trophy – A Swan, Lochgilphead 75(13)62.

Group A – age 55-62

1st – R Collins, Dumbarton 75(11)64; 2nd – J Farrell, Gourock 81(15)66; 3rd – T McLean, Dumbarton 82(16)66; 4th – J McGrorry, Dumbarton 88(22)66; 5th – A McLean, Dumbarton 91(24)67. Best scratch – D Graham, Dumbarton 73.

Group B – Age 63-69

1st – J Nicolson, Dumbarton 80(13)67; 2nd – G McGhee, Erskine 72(5)67; 3rd H McWha, Dumbarton 87(18)69; 4th D Lindsay, Lenzie 87(17)70; 5th B Malcolm, Dumbarton 82(12)70. Best scratch – C Harrison 74.

Group C – Age 70+

1st – I Foggo, Dumbarton 85(22)63; 2nd – R W Ferguson, Cochrane Castle 73(8)65; 3 S Wilson, Port Glasgow 83(16)67; 4th – J Murray, Cardross 90(22)68; 5th H Gauslin, Dumbarton 79(11)68. Best scratch – A Mackay, Gourock 78.

Nearest the pin at 4th – R Sharp, Milngavie; nearest pin at 8th – A Hammond, Douglas Park; nearest pin at 11th – S Mercer – Largs; nearest pin at 18th – J Farrell, Gourock.