Lucky Man Ashcroft Tops The Bill At Fereneze Oasis

 

In what was a tremendous day for golf on the hill on an unusually calm day it was David Ashcroft who took most advantage carding a gross 80 nett 67 and the best score of the day. The card suggests some very steady golf with pars and bogeys all the way with the exception of a double at 7 (shock).

 

This is David's best competitive score since another 80 in September 2021 and this also matches his second best ever competitive score. This score will also mean that David's last 7 rounds will all feature as part of his 8 counting scores, a good example of how the handicap system will be bang on the money for a players current form. Good day for the Ashcroft boys with brother Lee captaining Partick Thistle to a win over Ayr Utd and a quarter final spot v holders Celtic at Firhill. 

 

Scratch Medal 

 

4 players broke par, Craig Coleman, Michael Hart Jnr, Callum Macaulay and Davie Miller. It was the Match & Membership Secretary who came out on top with a 3 under par 68 rounding off a good week that started with a Club Championship win, a Tuesday Medal 66 and a first medal win of the season. 

 

Not often a cold putter = 69 but that was the case for Callum Macaulay who's 3 birdies and solitary bogey at 10 added up to 2 under par. Craig Coleman and Michael Hart Jnr were a shot behind Callum, Michael losing out on the BIH. Bogey free round from Michael, 17 pars and a sole birdie at 8. 

 

First Class

 

Newly crowned over 60s champion Willie Elliott (can't believe my old football team mate is...well....old) tied with Jonathan Williamson on nett 68 but Jonathan claimed the medal courtesy of the better inward half. Impressive birdies at 13 and 15 helped with that but it could have been much better but for dropped shots at 16 & 17. Willie had an excellent gross 73 and nothing worse than nett par. This is Willie's best FerEx finish of the season and like David Ashcroft 6 of Willie's last 7 scores will be counting for handicap. Craig Coleman's excellent gross 70 which included 4 birdies and 3 bogeys added up to nett 69 and a BIH 3rd spot over Raymond King. 

 

Second Class 

 

David Ashcroft as the best score of the day also secured the 2nd Class medal, his 2nd of the year. George Morrison continued his fine form this season with a nett 68, George responded well to a poor start with back to back birdies at 4 and 5. Brian McWilliams secured 3rd, losing out to George on the BIH but pipping Alex Watson on the same measure. Impressively Brian had only one 6 on his card (guess where? the 3rd) other than that it was all 3s, 4s and 5s. Just a note on Alex who I had the pleasure of partnering today, playing off 10 he recorded 4 birdies on his front 9 and turned in gross 35, unfortunately let a few slip towards the end.

 

Speaking of playing partners, we also had one of my favourite members alongside Alex and I, Fraser Thomson. Been a few years since I last played with Fraser but I can't believe he now hits his driver without removing the headcover! 

 

Third Class 

 

Bob MacIntyre isn't the only Scottish lefty playing well...our very own Matt Carroll, something of a Tuesday Medal specialist last season took the 3rd Class prize today, 5 nett birdies and a nett eagle (at 6) contributed to a nett 70, the only player in 3rd class to break par nett. Despite a strong finish Stephen McCauley fell a shot short of Matt with nett 71 but that strong finish was enough to edge out Jim Pyke and Graeme Lester who also recorded nett 71s. 

 

Mikey Baillie said he was going to feature in my email tonight so I'll give him the satisfaction and say he had the 3rd Class medal in his hands but a 6/7 finish cost him the win...on the plus side he had a 2. 

 

FerEx

 

It looks like Simon Leonard's jet lag kicked in a week late but he still did enough today to remain atop the FerEx standings but 8 of the top 11 all made progress v Simon's lead. Vice Captain Clark Hill responded well to my taunts a few weeks ago saying his form had dropped off but a 10th and 14th in the last few events have him and his sparring partner Jim Coleman very much within striking distance. There's a bunched group then battling it out to get bonus points for the FerEx Final. George Morrison moves from 7th to 5th and despite 95 points Steven McKeown drops from 6th to 7th, again due to George's points tally this week. 

 

As ever those finishing in the top 5 make significant moves, Jonathan Williamson moves into the magical top 30 (24th from 53rd) and David Ashcroft moves from 85th to 37th. Richie Elrick remains in the final qualifying spot (30th) 

 

Analysis 

 

Something a wee bit different this week. Multiple Winners so far this season (FerEx only) 

 

Scratch 

 

Michael Hart Jnr 3 

Callum Macaulay 2

Josh Beatt 2

 

1st Class

 

Clark Hill 2 

 

2nd Class 

 

David Ashcroft 2

 

3rd Class 

 

None 

 

Participation was up almost 20% on the same event last year with 126 taking part versus 106 in 2024. Only 91 played in this event in 2023.