NEWS RELEASE
2009
October
| October 4th - RENFREWSHIRE
GOLFERS TAKE SCOTTISH TITLE |
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It was an exciting weekend for Renfrewshire
Golf Union's top golfers when they travelled to Crail Golf Course
to compete in the finals of the Scottish Area Team Championship.
First, their Saturday morning semi final
match against the North East was abandoned when gale force winds
made play impossible as balls were blown off greens. Then in the
rescheduled match on Sunday, they found themselves struggling to
survive with four matches evenly poised and current Scottish Mid-Amateur
champion Andrew Farmer from Kilmacolm GC four down at the turn against
Peterhead's Philip McLean. Andrew amazed everyone when he recorded
five consecutive 3s from the tenth and went on to win at the last
hole to give his team a narrow 3-2 victory.
Their opponents in the final were Dumbartonshire
and Bryan Adam (Paisley) and Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) set
the pattern for the afternoon with a convincing 6 and 5 win. Not
to be outdone, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) also won his singles
match 6 and 5 and the title was clinched when Matt Clark (Kilmacolm)
recorded a one up victory over Paul Betty. Ronnie Clark (Renfrew)
and Andrew Farmer agreed with their opponents to call their games
halved matches which allowed them to get back to the Crail clubhouse
to join the celebrations.
Team Captain, Murdo Carmichael, was delighted
with the victory especially with the spirit shown by the team in
the semi final when all seemed lost.
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Top row : Derek McGlynn (Team Manager),
Ronnie Clark, Andrew Farmer, Murdo Carmichael (Team Captain) and
Craig Watson. Bottom row : Bryan Adam, Michael Dailly, Matt Clark
and Gordon Stevenson
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September
| September 20th
- COUNTY TEAM MAKE THE FINALS |
| Renfrewshire
Golf Union stormed to the finals of the Scottish Area Team Championships
with a convincing victory over Clackmannanshire at Erskine Golf Club
in a match that they had to win.
There was little to choose between the
sides in the morning foursomes with all games going to the seventeenth
hole before being decided. Home player Ronnie Clark and Matt Clark
(Kilmacolm) put the first point on the board with a win over Jamie
Aitken and Ross Benvie. However, the experienced team of Andrew
Farmer (Kilmacolm) and East Renfrewshire's Craig Watson lost 2&1
to Scott Barrowman and Ian Ross. Current Stroke Play Champion Brian
Adam of Paisley and young Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) were left
to capture the all important point which they did in a close battle
with John Maxwell and Steven Horne
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Picture shows Michael
Dailly in action in his debut victory
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The afternoon singles started well with
Matt Clark recording a 4&3 win over Jamie Aitken. The second
game saw the "A Team" debut of Michael Dailly (Erskine)
who faced Scott Barrowman, the plus two golfer from Dollar who won
the Scottish Youths championship at Erskine in 2007. Michael fully
justified his selection with a 3&1 victory.
One more win was required for victory
and Andrew Farmer went part of the way recording birdies at the
fourteenth and sixteenth to square the match against John Maxwell.
It was Gordon Stevenson who clinched it with a 2 &1 win over
Ross Benvie.
In the other two matches Craig Watson
lost one down and Ronnie Clark won one up and joined their team
mates to open the champagne.
Renfrewshire now travel to Crail on 3rd
October to face North East and possibly Scottish Amateur Champion
David Law in the semi final
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August
| August 30th - RANFURLY
CASTLE TEAM WINS COUNTY CUP |
| All
22 clubs in the Renfrewshire Golf Union battled it out over the summer
months to decide who would contest the final at Erskine Golf Club.
The format is match play with the teams of four comprising different
handicap categories.
This year's competition finalists were
Renfrew Golf Club and Ranfurly Castle Golf Club and, for a change,
the contest took place in dry, if windy, conditions.
In the first game to finish, Robert Kinneson
of Renfrew won 3 and 2 against Ron Martin of Ranfurly Castle but
this early success was quickly cancelled out when the next two games
saw Ranfurly Castle's Scott McKay and John Houston record 4 and
3 and 5 and 3 victories against their respective opponents Alex
Aitkenhead and Alan Ferguson.
With the result in the event of a draw
being decided on games up, Renfrew needed a six hole victory by
Roddie Gardner over Jack Snell and although Roddie recorded a victory
it was just one up and Ranfurly Castle is 2009 County Cup champions.
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Picture
shows Bill Gilmour, RGU President, Ron Martin, Jack Snell, Scott
McKay, John Houston and Erskine's Captain Fergus Platt
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Final results were.
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Ranfurly Castle
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Renfrew
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| Ron Martin |
3/2
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|
Robert Kinneston |
| Jack Snell |
1up
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|
Roddie Gardner |
| Scott McKay |
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4/3
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Alex Aitkenhead |
| John Houston |
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5/3
|
Alan Ferguson |
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| August 20th - MCGRENAGHAN
WINS IN THE RAIN |
| Despite
almost incessant rain, the Renfrewshire Golf Union County Match Play
semi finals and finals were played this week at Ranfurly Castle Golf
Club with the course remaining playable throughout thanks to the efforts
of the green staff.
Last year's champion, Michael Campbell
of Renfrew, came up against an in form Matthew Clark from Kilmacolm
in the first semi final. Both players had chances to take a strong
lead but, in the end, it went all the way with Matthew fighting
his way to the final at the nineteenth hole.
In the second semi final, it was a Cochrane
Castle battle between members Scott McGreneghan and David Lawson.
Scott seemed to cope better with the conditions and had a relatively
easy victory.
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Scott McGreneghan receives
his Trophy from Ranfurly Golf Club Captain, Douglas Martin
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In the final, the early holes were won
by Scott when Matthew's putter lost its magic and, by the turn,
he had built up a commanding lead as officials cleared the greens
of water. Matthew tried to stage a comeback when he reduced the
lead to three at the tenth but a lost ball at the next hole sealed
his fate and Scott held his nerve, playing great golf in dreadful
conditions, to end the match at the sixteenth.
Scott is only 22 and was beaten finalist
last year. With the County team still to be selected for the forthcoming
key match against Clackmannanshire at Erskine, he must surely
have drawn the attention of the selectors.
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August 9th - BRYAN ADAM IS COUNTY STROKE
PLAY CHAMPION
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A full field of 81 of the
top golfers in the Renfrewshire Golf Union area battled it out at
Ranfurly Castle Golf Club for the title of County Stroke Play Champion.
The greens were fast and the pin placements challenging but this
did not deter the leading competitors.
In the morning round, home
player Mark Robertson and Andrew Farmer (Kilmacolm GC) recorded
two under par scores of 68. David Ferguson (Paisley GC), Matt Clark
(Kilmacolm) and Bryan Adam (Paisley) kept themselves in contention
with scores of 69.
Mark Robertson was leading
the field in the second round as he approached the seventeenth but
a drive that looked good off the tee was not found and his long
walk back to play three off the tee meant the end of his challenge.
Andrew Farmer then recorded a great score of 70 for an aggregate
of 138 and with David Ferguson fading away and with Matt Clark and
Mark Robertson showing 140 on the scoreboard, only Bryan Adam could
spoil Andrew's day. And he did, with a great round of 68 for a total
of 137.
As the selectors consider
the team for the final match in the Area Team Championship, a recall
for Bryan, now playing off plus three, must be on the cards.
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Pictures
show RGU President Bill Gilmour, Bryan Adam and Douglas Martin,
Captain, Ranfurly Castle Golf Club
| Leading Scores: |
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| B Adam |
Paisley |
69
|
68
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137
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| A Farmer |
Kilmacolm |
68
|
70
|
138
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| M Clark |
Kilmacolm |
69
|
71
|
140
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| M Robertson |
Ranfurly Castle |
68
|
72
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140
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| August 2nd - RENFREWSHIRE'S
GOLFERS IN WITH A CHANCE |
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Last year, Renfrewshire Golf Union's A
Team made it through to the final of the Scottish Area Team Championship
and just failed to win the trophy which they last won in 2005. This
year, team captain Murdo Carmichael and team manager Derek McGlynn
are determined to go all the way and the season started well with
a solid win over Argyll & Bute.
Last week's match was away to a Fife team
which included Scott Crichton, runner up in the Scottish Youths
and Peter Latimer fresh from a great performance at the Scottish
Amateur at Troon. The team selected was:
Matthew Clark, David Miller and Andrew Farmer - Kilmacolm
Ronnie Clark - Erskine
Craig Watson - East Renfrewshire
Gordon Stevenson - Whitecraig
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Picture of Matt Clark
examining a putt
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The day started badly with Matthew and
Ronnie Clark beaten 5 and 4 and things got worse when the pairing
of David Miller and Gordon Stevenson found themselves three down
after only six holes. The brave duo fought back and managed to
scrape a halved match. The final morning match saw Andrew Farmer
and Craig Watson face the top pairing of Scott Crichton and Peter
Latimer. This was a tight match all the way and it was only when
Craig drove the green at the par four sixteenth that Renfrewshire
looked to be in control and they won 3 and 1.
It was all to play for in the afternoon
singles. Craig Watson faced Michael Main who won convincingly
- 4 and 3. Then Matthew Clark again squared the match with a one
up win over James White of Lundin Links who is number three in
this year's Order of Merit.
Gordon Stevenson narrowly lost to Peter Latimer and David Miller
was unable to cope with an in form Scott Crichton losing 4 and
3. Needing two wins for a valuable away point, attention swung
to Andrew Farmer battling it out against Colin Martin, Fife's
Match Play Champion and Ronnie Clark against Scott Michie, Fife's
2008 Stroke Play Champion and a member of the host club Thornton.
Andrew was always in control and a birdie
at the thirteenth from a nigh impossible position knocked the
wind out of the sails of his opponent allowing him to coast to
a 3 and 2 victory. Could Ronnie Clark save a valuable away point?
Again it was the thirteenth which was the crucial hole with a
birdie from Ronnie taking him two up. This was reduced to one
at the sixteenth but a birdie at seventeen was enough for a 2
and 1 win.
The final qualifying match is at Erskine
Golf Club on 20th September and a win over Clackmannanshire will
be enough to see Renfrewshire through to the semi finals to be
played at Crail in October.
Results in Brief.
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FIFE
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Result
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Points
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RENFREWSHIRE
|
Result
|
Points
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J
White
C
Martin
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5&4
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1
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M
Clark
R
Clark
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-
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0
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S
Mitchie
M
Main
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A/S
|
½
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D
Miller
G
Stevenson
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A/S
|
½
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P
Latimer
S
Crichton
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-
|
0
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C
Watson
A
Farmer
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3&1
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1
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FIFE
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Result
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Points
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RENFREWSHIRE
|
Result
|
Points
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M
Main
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4&3
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1
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C
Watson
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-
|
0
|
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J
White
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A/S
|
½
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M
Clark
|
A/S
|
½
|
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P
Latimer
|
1
Up
|
1
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G
Stevenson
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-
|
0
|
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S
Crichton
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4&3
|
1
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D
Miller
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-
|
0
|
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C
Martin
|
-
|
0
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A
Farmer
|
3&2
|
1
|
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S
Michie
|
-
|
0
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R
Clark
|
2&1
|
1
|
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July
| July 5th - COCHRANE CASTLE
ARE CLUB TEAM CHAMPIONS |
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Cochrane Castle Golf Club was the venue
for the 2009 Renfrewshire Golf Union Club Team Championship at which
a three man team from all the clubs fought it out for a place in
the Scottish Championship to be held at Prestwick.
The winning team there will represent
Scotland in the European Championship. So there was a lot at stake
for all the competitors and this soon started to show through as
the scores came in.
Ricardo Scarafile tried to inspire his
Gourock team with a hole in one at the seventeenth but their combined
efforts were not good enough.
First to head the leader board was the
team from Erskine Golf Club with Ronnie Clark (74), Gary Sheppard
(72) and Ian Gray (72) setting the aggregate of 218 as the target
for those still out on the course. For a long time it looked as
if this would be good enough but then the local team took advantage
of local knowledge with Kenny Fairbrother recording 76, Derek Anderson
a solid 73 and John Kinning securing the trophy by one shot with
a great round of 68, the lowest score of the day.
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Cochrane Castle Captain Alan Thomson,
John Kinning, Kenny Fairbrother, Derek Anderson and Billy Gilmour,
RGU President

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John Kinning, Kenny Fairbrother,
Derek Anderson and Kenny's daughter Linsey who just wanted to have
her photo taken!
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July 5th - Eastwood Quaich
Produces First Order Of Merit Results For 2009
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The Eastwood Quaich, the
opening round of the 2009 RGU Order of Merit (Blake Clark Trophy),
was won by Gregor Munro of Ranfurly Castle Golf Club with a one-under-par
round of 69.
The competition, held in conjunction with
the D C Miller Trophy, was supported by a superb entry of over 140
and was played in fine conditions over Eastwood Golf Course on Saturday
5th July. In spite of favourable conditions, in general the visitors
scores suggested they found the going tough, reflected in the visitor
CSS being 72, 2 shots above the regular SSS of 70.
Munros round comprised of four birdies
(4th, 6th, 12th and 13th), blotted by a bogey at the 5th and a potentially
costly double-bogey at the par-3 11th signature hole.
Munro was pushed all the way by Andrew
Farmer and Eastwood player Willie MacMillan who both returned 70,
and Murray Stewart and David Miller who both returned 72.
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Pictured, Eastwood Captain
Robert Aird and Quaich Winner, Gregor Munro
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June
|
June 28th - LOCAL GOLFER
WINS COUNTY HANDICAP TROPHY
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Caldwell Golf Club hosted
the Renfrewshire Golf Union 6-12 handicap Championship on a day
where early morning conditions were excellent for the competitors.
Gary Easton from Fereneze Golf Club set
an early target for the large field of 118 when, playing off a handicap
of 11, he got to the turn in 36. He leaked a few on the way back
but a card of 76 less 11 for a net 65 raised the eyebrows of those
still to tackle the demanding course.
Alan Proctor of Lochwinnoch looked to
be up for the challenge as did Martin McCulloch of Bonnyton but
both dropped shots toward the end and could only record 66 and 67
respectively for what became third and fourth places.
It took local golfer, George White, to
take the wind out of Gary's sails. George was one behind the leader
with three holes to play but a birdie two at the dangerous sixteenth
followed by solid pars at the two remaining holes saw him return
the same net score - 72 less 7 for 65 - as Gary. A complicated count
back resulted in George taking the trophy with what was the best
scratch score of the day.
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PICTURES SHOW GEORGE WHITE
WITH RGU PRESIDENT BILLY GILMOUR
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June 14th - BONNYTON
GOLFER TAKES HANDICAP TROPHY
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John Curley of Bonnyton Golf
Club was the winner of this year's Renfrewshire Golf Union's 13
plus handicap competition.
The event was held at Fereneze
Golf Club and local member James McNeill looked a certain winner
when, playing off 13, he reached the turn in 38 - net 31! However,
he could not sustain this form and had to settle for a final net
score of 64.
John recovered from a shaky
outward nine to record a back nine of 36 for a total of 81 less
17 - also a net 64. The better inward half meant that the trophy
will grace the trophy room at Bonnyton.
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Picture - Ian Storie,
Immediate Past President presents the trophy to John Curley of Bonnyton
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June 14th - ALEX FERGUSON
WINS FREEDMAN TROPHY
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This is not another piece
of silverware for the Old Trafford trophy room. Rather a great achievement
for a young golfer from Paisley Golf Club who is the 2009 Junior
Match Play Champion.
Alex was one down with one
to play in an exciting semi final against Gordon Reilly of |Lochwinnoch
at Kilmacolm Golf Club. He stayed in the match with a winning par
at the tough 18th and made the final with a birdie at the first
extra hole.
His opponent in the final
was Jared Williams whose home club advantage had given him the edge
in his earlier rounds. Alex quickly established a three hole lead
with birdies at the first, fourth and fifth. He increased this to
four up before Jared struck back, winning three holes in a row to
be only one down. Alex retaliated with two birdies and was two up
when the finalists reached the par three seventeenth. Any hope of
extra holes for Jared disappeared as Alex sent a towering wedge
to three feet and to victory.
Alison Murray presented the
trophy on behalf of the family.
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June 14th - Caldwell
Fights Back To Win Duncan Trophy
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The final of the 2009 Duncan
Trophy (Renfrewshire Youth Match Play Championship) was contested
over Renfrew Golf Course on Sunday 15th June between home player
Jordan Grant and Jonny Caldwell of Greenock. Thundery skies threatened
to suspend play on a couple of occasions but thankfully the storms
managed to stay far enough away to allow play to continue uninterrupted,
and Caldwell emerged victorious after a late fightback.
In the morning semi-finals, Grant had
beaten Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) at the 20th hole and
Caldwell had defeated another home player and last years champion
Michael Campbell by a margin of 4&3.
In the afternoon final, the early holes
were halved in a mixture of pars, birdies and bogeys and it wasnt
until the short 7th that the deadlock was broken, where Caldwell
unusually pushed his tee shot over the boundary fence. Another Caldwell
lost ball at the long 9th saw Grant take a 2-up lead through the
turn, and only a great sand save from Caldwell at the short 10th
prevented him from losing further ground. A further string of shared
holes was broken at the 13th when Caldwell pulled one back, and
Grant missed an opportunity to stretch the lead back again at the
par-5 15th after two great strikes to 20 feet saw him subsequently
take three putts for a half. A Grant bogey at 16th saw the match
go all square and set up a thrilling finale. Caldwell seized his
opportunity with a tram-liner birdie at the 17th. This proved too
much for Grant to respond to, and the match was all over bar the
shouting.
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Finalists Jordan Grant
and Jonny Caldwell

Jonny Caldwell (Greenock)
recieves his Trophy from Bill Gilmour, President of RGU.
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| June
10th - LOCHWINNOCH GOLFER
SHOOTS 64 TO WIN SENIORS TITLE |
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Kilmacolm Golf Club hosted this year's
Renfrewshire Golf Union's Senior Championship. There are three age
categories and an overall winner who has recorded the best net score.
The large field enjoyed excellence both in terms of the weather
and the condition of the course and, once again, the competitors
showed that golf is not a sport where advancing years need to be
a problem.
The winner of the young seniors category
- 55 to 59 - was last year's runner up, Bobby Blackwood of Cochrane
Castle, who was out in an amazing 33 and was harbouring thoughts
of entering this year's Open at Turnberry until he ran up a ten
at the 13th hole and had to settle for a gross 76 - net 70. Alastair
Sharp of Renfrew and Douglas Martin of Ranfurly Castle also recorded
net 70 but had to settle for smaller cheques.
In the mid group - 60 to 64 - Douglas
Crawford of Lochwinnoch had his match secretary rushing to amend
his handicap when he birdied the first, went out in 37 and had a
two at the seventeenth to record a net 64 - 80 less 16. Graham McKee
of Erskine had set a challenging 72 less 5 for a net 67 early in
the day but, again, had to settle for second place. John Wilson
of Paisley was third.
In the over 65 age category, Bill McCorkell
from Greenock, the defending champion, took the trophy home again
with a net 66 leaving Peter Dickie of Ranfurly Castle and Tom Whyte
of Kilmacolm - both net 67 - to rue the missed putt that cost them
the winner's cheque.
The RGU Seniors Champion for 2009 is Douglas
Crawford.
The scratch prize, for those not appearing
in the net prize list, went to John Taylor of Paisley with a gross
73.
Pictures are as described with RGU President
Bill Gilmour
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55 to 59 Category
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60 to 64 Category
& Overall Winner
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Over 65 Category
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Bobby Blackwood of Cochrane
Castle
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Douglas Crawford of Lochwinnoch
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Bill McCorkell of Greenock
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| June 7th - Scottish
Boys Area Team Championship
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The Scottish Boys Area Team
Championship was held at Ballumbie Castle on Sunday 7 June 2009
and Renfrewshire was represented by Andrew McLaughlin (Bonnyton),
Michael McLennan (Greenock, Whinhill), Philip Gordon (Paisley) and
James Binning (Ranfurly Castle).
The morning foursome started off brightly
in dry but breezy conditions. The pairing of Andrew McLaughlin and
Michael McLennan returned a very creditable 73. The pairing of Philip
Gordon and James Binning started off well, but encountered problems
after running up a 7 at a par 4 hole and struggled thereafter to
return on 81. Notwithstanding we were sitting only six shots behind
the leaders at lunch time.
The afternoon singles produced again mixed
results. Andrew McLaughlin from Bonnyton scored a magnificent 67
(2 under par) and was only pipped for the Niagra Cup (awarded to
the lowest score in the afternoon) by Jack Scott from North East
who also returned a 67, but had a better inward half. Philip Gordon
performed extremely well to return a 71. Unfortunately Michael McLennan
(81) and James Binning (84) meant that we eventually finished fifth
equal, some seven shots behind the eventual winners.
I am convinced that there was an opportunity
this year for us to win the competition, and it is disappointing
that we did not grasp that opportunity, but there is always next
year, when three out of our four team members will still be available
for selection.
Thanks to Kenny Morrison for all his help
and to our president, Bill Gilmour, for attending and supporting
the boys.
JAMES A HERALD
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May
| May 17th - Area
Team Championship |
| RENFREWSHIRE VICTORIOUS
IN FIRST GROUP FIXTURE |
|
Renfrewshire started the
2009 Area Team Championship with a victory against Argyll and Bute
at Renfrew on Sunday 17th May. The morning Foursomes pairings consisted
of Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm)/Ronnie Clark (Erskine), Andrew Farmer
(Kilmacolm)/Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) and Gordon Stevenson
(Whitecraigs)/David Miller (Kilmacolm). Both Clark/Clark and Farmer/Watson
posted convincing victories whilst Miller/Stevenson were beaten
by Argyll & Bute Champion George Reynolds who was paired with
Greg Watson. This gave Renfrewshire a narrow 2-1 lead through lunch.
In the blustery conditions
Argyll and Bute came out fighting in the afternoon singles. The
first three singles were closely fought with Matt Clark beating
Allan McKie 2&1, Craig Watson defeated 3&2 by Chris Carson
and Andrew Farmer beating Greg Watson 4&3 after winning 5 holes
in succession. This left Renfrewshire requiring a single point to
reach the magic score of 5 to secure a victory. In steps legend
Ronnie Clark who seven days previous won the McKinnon Wood Trophy
at Cawder. Ronnie was always in control of his
match where he won 5&4 against Graham Bolton who replaced Gordon
Lundie. Ex Renfrew member Les Pirie who now plays at Millport halved
against David Miller to gain Argyll and Butes last share of the
points. Gordon Stevenson sunk a last hole putt of 3 feet just as
the rain closed in to secure the 6 1/2 - 2 1/2 victory.
With this Victory Renfrewshire
top their league as Clackmananshire defeated Fife 5 1/2 - 3 1/2.
Renfrewshire's next match
is against Fife at Thornton on 2nd August.
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| May 17th - Boys
Team |
| RENFREWSHIRE BOYS
MAKE WINNING START |
|
It was a nail biting day for the Renfrewshire
management team of Jim Herald and Kenny Morrison as the boys met
a strong side from Dunbartonshire which included Dullater's Gary
Meechan who made the last sixteen at the Scottish Boys in recent
weeks.
The strong wind and Caldwell Golf Club's
tough layout made it a difficult test but the boys - some as young
as 14 years old - played high quality golf which was appreciated
by the spectators.
Youngsters Fraser Lauder and David Slack
were first and second out and played great golf but both were narrowly
beaten - David by the last putt on the last green. Next result in
was the defeat of Josh Bogle and the team was faced with winning
the remaining games to avoid defeat.
The tide turned when Andrew McLachlan
of Bonnyton - last year's Scottish Junior Champion of Champions
- recorded an emphatic victory over Gary Meechan and Stewart Watt,
the fifteen year old from Old Ranfurly, raised hopes of a team victory
with a 3 and 2 win. The length of his drives drew admiring gasps
from the spectators.
Michael McLennan - Greenock Whinhill and
Gavin Hay - Whitecraigs both won their matches leaving Philip Gordon
of Paisley as the last player out on the course and the pressure
on him to get, at least, a half to ensure a winning start to the
season.
Philip was having a tough game against
David Gallagher with never more than one hole in it. He was one
up playing the seventeenth but missed the fairway with his second
at the testing par five. A great recovery shot to 20 feet was enough
to half the hole and to ensure that Renfrewshire took full points.
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| May 3rd - Caven
& Menzies Trophies |
| PLAYOFFS DECIDE BOYS' AND
YOUTH WINNERS |
|
Port Glasgow was the venue for this year's
Renfrewshire Golf Union Boys and Youth Stroke Play Championships.
Bob Hope once said that Scotland is the only place where one can
experience all four seasons in one day and this was the perfect
example of that quote. The young players had wind, rain, hailstones
and sunshine as they battled both the elements and the very testing
course which was in excellent condition so early in the season.
Scoring was high in the morning rounds.
In the boys' section, fighting for the Caven Trophy, Michael McLennan
of Greenock set the pace with a great 72 and home player, Craig
Hill, used home advantage to record a 74. Great scores for the youngsters.
In the youth section, Jordan Grant of
Renfrew looked favourite for the Menzies Trophy when he returned
a card for 72, two shots ahead of Sam Binning from Ranfurly Castle.
The afternoon rounds saw a change of fortunes
for two boys from Whitecraigs Golf Club. Gavin Hay had shot 79 in
the morning but had a great round of 70 in the afternoon for a total
of 149. Not to be outdone, his fellow club member, Andrew Brass,
having recorded 77 in the morning, added a fine 72 to equal the
aggregate of 149. Craig Hill and Michael McLennan missed out by
one shot.
It was a similar story for the youths.
Jordan could manage only a 76 for 148 while Sam Binning held his
game together for a creditable 71 to set the target of 145. Cochrane
Castle's Scott McGrenaghan needed a 70 to match that target and
he equalled the best score of the day to do just that.
Two play offs were required to decide
the winner. In the Caven Trophy, the two boys started nervously
sharing six putts on the first green. After the designated three
holes, the players were tied and it was not until the fifth that
Gavin scrambled a great up and down leaving Andrew with a difficult
chip to keep in the match. It ran beyond the hole and Gavin became
the Boys' Stroke Play Champion for 2009.
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Caven Winner Gavin Hay

Menzies Winner Sam Binning
Trophies were presented
by Jim McGlynn, Captain of Port Glasgow Golf Club and Bill Gilmour,
President of Renfrewshire Golf Union.
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In the youth play off, only the designated
three holes were required. Sam Binning got his par at the tough
first par three to go one shot ahead, both players got a par four
at the second and at the third, Scott took three putts leaving Sam
with the luxury of two putts for the title.
Full Scores Were
|
Caven
Gavin Hay 79 + 70
149
A Brass 77 + 72 149
Craig Hill 74 + 76 150
M McLennan 72 + 78 150
Gordon Reilly 77 + 75 152
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Menzies
Scott McGrenaghan 75
+ 70 145
Sam Binnings 74 + 71 145
Chris Conroy 77 + 70 147
Jordan Grant 72 + 76 148
Mark Scanlan 76 + 74 150
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April
| April
30th - Junior
Champion of Champions |
| DARRYN DOES
IT AGAIN |
|
Last season, young Darryn Grant became
only the fourth player in history to retain the Freedman Trophy.
This is awarded by Renfrewshire Golf Union as the Boys' Match Play
Championship. He added this to the Boys' Stroke Play Championship
- the Freedman Trophy - and finished off a great season by becoming
Junior Champion at his home course, Renfrew Golf Club.
The opening event for the boys this season
is the Greenlaw Garage Champion of Champions which was held, as
always, at Paisley Golf Club. The event is a Match Play format and
allows the Junior Champions of all the Renfrewshire Golf Union clubs
to compete to determine the overall Champion.
Darryn showed that he was again up for
the challenge with solid victories in the opening rounds before
he met Gordon Reilly of Lochwinnoch in the first semi final. He
was two up at the turn and with a birdie at sixteen to rescue a
half from Gordon's late challenge, he saw him off with another birdie
at the 17th to win 3 and 1.
In the other semi final one of the favourites,
Sam Binning of Ranfurly Castle Golf Club met Stewart Watt of the
neighbouring course, The Old Course Ranfurly. It was a tight match,
all square at the turn, before Sam sealed a 3 and 2 victory with
birdies at the 12th and 16th.
The final looked like being a one sided
affair as Sam's putter decided to have an off day and he fell behind
in the early holes to be three down after eight holes. He then won
the 9th, 10th and 12th holes to level the match. Darryn responded
with a birdie and fourteen and a further birdie at the 16th was
enough to see him add Champion of Champions to the many successes
from last year - a great match and a worthy winner.
|

Finalists - Sam Binning & Darryn
Grant

Winner Darryn Grant
with Past President Ian Walker
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|
January
|
January 15th -
|
| SGU NAMES
NINE RENFREWSHIRE AREA GOLFERS FOR ACADEMY SQUAD |
|
Nine young golfers from the Renfrewshire
Golf Union area have received confirmation that they have been included
in the Scottish Golf Union's Academy Programme. For five of them,
it is the first year of inclusion and marks the "promotion"
from the Renfrewshire coaching programme. Coaching Convenor, Jim
Herald, says that he is delighted that so many boys have made the
Scottish squad which, he says, is a tribute to the work done by
Adam Hunter and Stephen McAllister at Mearns Castle Golf Academy.
The man overseeing the youth programme is Scottish Golf Union junior
coach Spencer Henderson. His task, with the various areas' input,
is to identify promising young players in Scotland. They are then
fast-tracked into the governing body's development programme and
receive support from the Scottish Institute of Sport. "Everything
is designed for the individual," explained Henderson. "As
well as golf coaching they receive lifestyle and nutritional advice,
a strength and conditioning programme and learn about psychology"
The boys selected are:
Year 1
Andrew Cunningham (15) - Ranfurly Castle
Tom Binning (15) - Ranfurly Castle
David Slack (14) - Gourock
Jordan Higgins (14) - East Renfrewshire
Joshua Bogle (15) - Ranfurly Castle
Year 2
Fraser Lauder (14) - Paisley
Year 3
Jamie Binning (17) - Ranfurly Castle
Andrew McLachlan (17) - Bonnyton
Year 4
Sam Binning (18) - Ranfurly Castle
|
|

J.Bogle, S.Binning,
D.Slack, J.Binning, T.Binning, F.Lauder and A.Cunningham

|
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Ranfurly Boys -
J.Bogle, S.Binning, T.Binning, J.Binning, and A.Cunningham
|
|
Mike McCabe is Junior Convenor at Ranfurly
Castle Golf Club which has had five boys selected. He said that
the club has been involved in providing local coaching for some
years with a dozen members qualified at level one. This, and the
involvement of the club professional, has resulted in Newton Shield
success for the boys' team and the selection of the boys for both
Area and Scottish training. Three of the boys are brothers and Sam
Binning has already made his mark with appearances in the Scottish
Boys' team and a runner up spot in the 2008 Scottish Boys' Stroke
Play.
We wish the boys all the best as they
strive for International honours.
|
Renfrewshire
Golf Union
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