Blustery conditions for the 18 that played did not deter Dave Hackett who won the 2023 edition of the Morton Quaich returning a creditable gross score of three over fours while most of the field was struggling; no twos were returned.
1st Dave Hackett (16) – 59
2nd Cameron Bruce (18) – 62
3rd Gavin Mainds (3) – 66 and lowest gross
4th Ronnie Mann (12) – 67
Douglas Auld and John Pennycott played out a thrilling final of the Clark Trophy, the club’s handicap matchplay trophy dating back to 1912. After both players met trouble on the 2nd, John established a 4 hole advantage by the turn only for Douglas to mount a charge on the back nine to level the tie by the time they were on the 17th tee. After winning the 17th John found his approach shot to the 18th blocked by the large green side tree and extra holes seemed likely. However Douglas was unable to capitalise and John managed to win the hole and the match by a 2 hole margin. Congratulations to both players on a fine contest and to John for his winning performance.
After a wet and miserable morning the weather lifted to a bright afternoon for the 17 who played in the first of our summer charity support opens. Liam Bremner returned a superb 39 points to win by 3 clear points from a cluster of players on 36.
1st Liam Bremner (12) – 39 points
2nd Kerr Drummond (4) – 36 acb
3rd Graeme Crichton (15) – 36 acb
4th David Brookens (13) – 36 acb
2s – Liam Bremner @ 2, Nicol Auld & Gavin Mainds @ 4, Kerr Drummond @ 16.
7 played
1st Graeme Crichton (16) – 61
2nd Cameron Bruce (18) – 66
3rd David Morrison (10) – 67
Lowest Gross; Tom Paterson – 72
2s
David Morrison at the 7th
Dating from 1909 the Ballantyne is one of our oldest trophies and a popular medal format competition. This year drew a field of 20 and the recent dry spell gave the course, and the greens especially, enough sting to keep scoring respectable rather than spectacular. David Morrison continued his current fine form to win on level par by one shot from Stan Rainey.
1st David Morrison (10) – 63
2nd Stan Rainey (12) – 64 acb
3rd Gus MacLeod (12) – 64
4th Neil McKechnie (9) – 65
2s – Cameron Bruce at the 7th