Buchanan Comes Out On Top In Debut Competitive Season
I think a few had a look at the weather and decided to give today a miss, dropping from around the mid 140s yesterday to 107 today, that's about 18% down on the same event last year. We've all been spoiled by the weather, it probably wasn't worse today than a typical week but we've been so used to shorts and sunscreen the last few weeks. I suspect the brollies and waterproofs will be a regular feature for the next few weeks....Kevin and the team won't be complaining too much!
Anyway to the golf...
Of the 107 that played
- 76 finished
- 7 broke par
- 2 under nett was the best score,
- 6 players tying on that number with only 1 other player finishing nett under and a further 2 on nett level.
I suspect the PCC may creep up but that's just my best guess...like everyone else I have no idea how that works!
Scratch Medal
I mentioned a week or so ago that there's been some success over the last few years for members in the Captain or Vice Captain position and Clark Hill reinforced that today, winning the Scratch and First Class medal with an excellent gross 71. A front 9 of 7 pars and 2 birdies was offset by a back 9 of pars and 2 birdies and a 1 shot victory over his Hawkhead childhood buddy Ian McMillan who showed a welcome return to form after what by Ian's standards has been a slow start to this campaign. Like Clark, Ian had 2 birdies but 1 more birdie for 72. 3 players finished on 74, Mark Addie and Andrew Duncan matching club champion Richie Elrick on that number.
First Class
No real surprise on a day of relatively high scoring that a few of the players above featured prominently in First Class. Clark took 1st place with Mark taking second, losing out to Clark on the BIH. Robert Devlin took 3rd courtesy of his BIH versus Andrew Duncan who both finished on nett +1 (72). A much better back 9 if 38 v 43 going out helped Robert to 3rd spot.
Second Class
Nice to see Chris Keay succeed in Second Class having not long ago competing in Third Class most weeks. And he more than competed today being one of the six players who finished with nett 69 alongside his fellow 2nd class competitors Thomas McFlynn and Willie Moffat. Chris highlight was a birdie at 9, that coming after a poor start to his round where he was +3 nett after 4. Thomas's card didn't have much in the way of nett pars so must have been entertaining to watch, lots of nett birdies (and one nett eagle) and 5 nett bogeys and a double bogey. Willie had 2 halves of 40 which included a birdie 3 at 9 and a birdie 2 at 14, doubles at 11 and 16 which both ranked harder than they normally do today, helped by Willie's doubles no doubt!
Chris beat Tom on the BIH who beat Willie also on the BIH.
Third Class
Best overall score of the day based on the BIH was Graeme Buchanan, that despite back to back quadruple and triple bogies at 6 & 7 and a triple bogey at 11 but again like Chris some great resilience in there too, there were also net eagles at 3, 16 and 17. In fact Graeme was nett 6 under for the last 4 to secure a 2 shot victory in 3rd class over Robbie Gallagher. Graeme has only just sorted a handicap and thrown himself into competition, I'm sure todays score will see hm come down a shot or 2. Robbie couldn't find the same finish as Graeme so had to settle for second, fairly solid stuff all round from Robbie for nett 71. 3 under nett for the last 5 was good enough for Derek Harte to sneak 3rd by 1 shot.
FerEx
Clark Hill moves to the top of the standings from 4th place. That's an 18th, 3rd and 2nd for Clark so a very strong start to the season. Muir McCluskey Jr moves from 3rd to 2nd. Last weeks leader Scott Speirs drops from 3rd to 1st. Matt Carroll remains in the top 4. The top 4 shuffled places and Raymond King became the new entrant in the top 5 moving there from 11th. Raymond is trending in the right direction with a 30th, 20th and now 17th place finish. Graeme Buchanan playing his first event jumps straight to 14th. Other notables are inaugural FerEx winner Anand Poddar moving into the top 10 (9th) from 20th, George Morrison, 26th to 12th and Mark Addie 45th to 16th.
Victory Shield Qualifiers
Players in Positions 1-8 nett have qualified for the Victory Shield. The 8 that will join them will be decided at Medal No.3 on Saturday June 7th.
| 1 | Graeme Buchanan |
| 2 | Clark Hill |
| 3 | Christopher Keay |
| 4 | Thomas P McFlynn |
| 5 | Mark Addie |
| 6 | William Moffat |
| 7 | Andrew Bonham |
| 8 | Anand K Poddar |
Senior Club Championship Qualifiers
I'll publish these separately this week and give everyone a chance to review before completing the draw.