The opening round of the 2010 RGU Order of Merit (Blake Clark Trophy), was won by Brian Smith of Kilmacolm Golf Club with a level-par round of 70.

The competition, held in conjunction with the D C Miller (Handicap) Trophy, was supported by a good entry of over 110 and was played in tough conditions over Eastwood Golf Course on Saturday 3rd July. A combination of strong and blustery winds and a fiery course following the prolonged dry period led to some high scoring particularly by the visitors for whom CSS was 73, 3 shots above the regular SSS of 70.

Smith, a previous winner of the Quaich prior to the course alterations at Eastwood, compiled his round including two birdies at the par-5 holes (6th and 13th) and two bogeys at the tough par-4 14th and 18th.

Old Course Ranfurly was the venue for the Renfrewshire Golf Union 13 plus event. Both the course and the weather were in excellent shape but the scores suggested that the set up for the day had been demanding.

Home advantage appeared to be a strong advantage when Daniel McGarvey, a local member, recorded a net score of 70 (87-17) but this was quickly matched by Frank Ford from Renfrew Golf Club who went to the top of the leader board with the same net score of 70 (88-18) on the basis of the better inward half.

However, later in the day, another local member, Willie McGregor claimed the trophy with a net score of 68 (87-17)

Picture shows Willie receiving the trophy from Old Course Ranfurly Captain Gerry Graham

Whitecraigs Golf Course was the venue for the Renfrewshire Golf Union Championship for the 6 to 12 handicap range of golfers. Conditions were excellent - both course and weather - and low scoring was anticipated by the organizers. They were not disappointed!

As the day progressed, the net figure of 69 became a regular number on the scoreboard with N McKay (Erskine), R Phin (Renfrew), Kevin Barr (Ranfurly Castle) and A McDonald (Whinhill) all signing cards for that result.

However, Whinhill Golf Club members Peter Daly and Alan Hendry both went one better - Peter 74 less 6 and Alan 75 less 7 - to tie for the Championship. There was no play off with the Championship and cup going to Alan who had the better inward half. Peter had some consolation with the best gross on the day.

Kilmacolm Golf Club was, once again, the venue for the final stages of the Freedman Trophy - the Renfrewshire Golf Union Boys' Match Play Championship.

In excellent conditions, the first semi final was between Paul Reilly of Lochwinnoch and Andy MacLaughlan of Bonnyton, a regular member of the SGU Academy squad. Andy's experience showed through and he recorded a comfortable 3 and 2 win.

The second semi final was a hard fought affair with Paisley's Alex Ferguson eventually making his way to the final at the 21st hole having just survived a talented challenge from Greg Paterson - Ranfurly Castle.

In the final, Andy stamped his authority early in the game, winning the first three holes. However, Alex fought back to be only one down at the turn. Andy moved up a gear at that stage and two birdies saw him restore his three hole advantage and an eventual 4 and 3 victory.

Picture shows the finalists with Alex left and Andy right

There were almost perfect conditions at Renfrew Golf Club as the semi finalists in the Duncan Trophy gathered to do battle. The trophy - Renfrewshire Golf Union's Youth Match Play Championship - is competed for by the top sixteen qualifiers from the Stroke Play Championship and home advantage appeared to be a very positive factor.

First, the Stroke Play Champion, Alistair Lauder was beaten by Renfrew's Michael Campbell to give him a semi final place, then he was joined by two other Renfrew players - brothers Jordan and Darryn Grant - who had fought their way to semi final slots against tough opposition. The only non Renfrew Golf Club member was Gordon Reilly from Ranfurly Castle.

In the first semi final, Jordan Grant took an early lead over fellow member Michael Campbell going three up and looking comfortable. Although Michael fought back to narrow the lead, Jordan held on well and the game ended at the seventeenth hole with Jordan winning 2 and 1.

Brother Darryn used his home course advantage to good effect and was never in trouble against Gordon Reilly and his dominance resulted in a 5 and 4 victory.

So it was head to head for the brothers with Jordan the favourite having shown his form in recent weeks with a club record score over his home course. He repeated his flying start of the morning and was always in command of his game. Darryn tried to get back with some excellent golf reducing the deficit but in the end he had to shake hands on the seventeenth green to allow brother Jordan to collect the trophy.

Pictures are of the semi finalists - Darryn (left) and Jordan then Jordan with the trophy.

The 2010 County Seniors Champion had a double advantage. First, he was playing at his own course, Renfrew Golf Club, and second he was actually the Tournament Convenor for Renfrewshire Golf Union and responsible for the administration of incoming scores.

Match Convenor, David Manderson, was out early and his score of 70 (84-14) went to the top of the leader board where it remained unchallenged for some time. As the day progressed, it became clear that the course was proving to be a challenge for the majority of the field of over a hundred. However, first Jim Fleming (Erskine) then Clark Billings (Gleddoch) handed in their cards to challenge the leader - both equalling the leading score.

At the end of the day, with no better scores recorded, it was up to the results computer to announce the Champion on the best inward half and it was David Manderson who took the trophy.

Picture shows David receiving his trophy from Renfrew GC Captain, Colin Pope

Full results:

55-59 1st C Billings Gleddoch 81-11=70
2nd J Sheppard Erskine 87-13=74 BIH
3rd G Stevenson Gleddoch 83- 9=74

60-64 1st P Nicholson Lochwinnoch 88-16=72
2nd W McMillan Fereneze 81- 7 =74
3rd I Cumming Eastwood 79- 5 =74

Renfrewshire Golf Union's "A" Team headed for Kinross as current Scottish Area Team Champions determined to defend their title. Under the new format, the first task was to qualify for the semi finals by recording one of the four best aggregate team scores over 36 holes over the Montgomery and Bruce courses.

As the day progressed, it seemed unlikely that this would be achieved with both Ronnie Clark and Gordon Stevenson struggling to record counting scores. However, two great rounds of 71 - 3 under par - by Kilmacolm's Andrew Farmer and an error free afternoon round of 70 from Matthew Clark from the same club saw Renfrewshire take third place and a place in the semi finals.

Murdo Carmichael, Team Captain, Matthew Clark, Andrew Farmer, Ronnie Clark, Craig Watson, Bryan Adam & Gordon Stevenson

Semi final opponents were Lothians, the largest area in Scotland and regular winners of the Championship. The opening foursomes saw Bryan Adam and Gordon Stevenson losing 2 and 1 but Matthew Clark continued to show his form with a convincing win - 6 and 4 - over Allyn Dick. Ronnie Clark also had a comfortable win and a halved match for Craig Watson meant that it was all down to Andrew Farmer who was battling it out with current Scottish Boys' Champion, Grant Forrest. Andrew won at the 17th and the stage was set for a battle against North East.

Unfortunately, this was the end of the bid to retain the trophy with the young team from Aberdeen and surrounding area winning four matches comfortably to take the trophy. The only bright spot in the final was the performance of Matthew Clark who faced David Law, current Scottish Match Play Champion and, having been up for most of the game, shook hands for a very creditable half after eighteen holes.

It was a brave performance from the team but the return of the trophy will have to wait until 2011.

In the first of the inter area matches, Renfrewshire Golf Union had a home match at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club with Glasgow Golf Union as their opponents.

In the first game, Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch) got the season off to a solid start with a 2 and 1 victory over Craig Anderson. Tom Binning then used home course knowledge to raise hopes of an easy victory. Elderslie's Alasdair McDougall, fresh from his solid run in the Scottish Boys', found himself 3 down with four to play and clawed his way back to all square going down the last. A hook and a lost ball saw off his challenge.

Jamie Savage from Cawder Golf Club, a rising star was just to good for Fraser Lauder (Paisley) who lost by one hole and, having started so well, Renfrewshire went behind when the usually reliable Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) had a serious off day against Pollock's Patrick O'Neill shaking hands at the 14th hole - it's a long way to the clubhouse from there! Again, local boy, Josh Bogle showed that knowing the course can be a key element when he recorded a 3 and 2 victory over Scott Wearing (Bishopriggs) and Scottish Internationalist, Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) then strode into a three hole lead after six holes and eventually won 2 and 1 despite a strong challenge from David Gallagher (Glasgow).

Josh Bogle in action

Leading by one game, convenors Graham McGee and Gary Havlin then bit finger nails as they watched last minute substitute, Andrew Cunningham, Boys' Champion at Ranfurly Castle, fight it out with Calum McLean (Cowglen) - a seasoned campaigner. In a game where there was never more than one hole in it, it was all square coming down the last. Both boys found the green and it was McLean who sank his putt for a birdie. A draw and only one point for Renfrewshire.

Elderslie Golf Club was the venue for the Abbeycare Foundation Caven and Menzies Trophies. This annual event is the Junior and Youth Stroke Play Championships played over 36 holes.

In the Caven Trophy - boys under 18 - Darren Jones from the home course set the morning pace with an excellent 71 and had a three shot cushion over his nearest rival at that point - Riccardo Dimurro from Greenock. The afternoon round changed everything quite dramatically. First, David Docherty from Bonnyton recorded 72 for an aggregate of 150 followed by Ranfurly Castle's Greg Paterson whose 74 also made a total of 150. Darren Jones slumped to 79 - also for the same total. What looked like a count back for the places was avoided when Josh Bogle, also from Ranfurly Castle, added the best score of the day - an almost flawless 70 - for a total of 146 and his first trophy of the season. County selectors were out on the course and there is little doubt that Josh and the other challengers will be hearing from them.

The first points in the under 14 Order of Merit were gained by Paul Dorrian of Greenock and Cochrane Castles' Colin Edgar.

Turning to the Menzies Trophy - youths up to age 23 - it was Alistair Lauder from Paisley and Renfrew's Jordan Grant who set the morning standard with scores of 70 and 72 respectively. The afternoon saw some excellent golf with three scores of 69 recorded by Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) to temporarily head the leader board on 143, Darryn Grant (Renfrew) for an aggregate of 145 and Bryan Robertson - also from Renfrew - whose excellent round was in marked contrast to his morning round of 89! The question was - would Alistair Lauder hold it together in the second round needing a score of 72 to take the trophy. Indeed he could and his aggregate of 142 over a tricky course was an excellent performance.

Josh Bogle with the Caven Trophy

The final two junior club champions, Jared Williams Kilmacolm and Alex Ferguson of Paisley battled it out on Sunday 25th April to win the Champion of Champions title. The game started with Alex scoring birdie at the par four 2nd hole to go one ahead but following his poor drive at the par five 3rd hole, Jared evened up the score with a par.

Over the next few holes both players played well but local knowledge took its toll and Alex was three up at the turn. At the long par four 10th, Jared fell foul of a root just inside the tree line and although he had a clear shot to the green had to take a penalty drop costing him the hole.

Although still playing some fine golf, four down after ten proved too big a hill to climb for Jared who eventually conceded the 14th for Alex to win 6 & 4.

Finalists Jared Williams and Alex Ferguson before the match.

Jared Williams recieves his runner up voucher from Sponsor, Ian Laing of Greenlaw Garage.

Alex with his Trophy presented by Paisley Club Captain Jim Crawford. Pictured on either side, Bill Gilmour RGU and Sponsor Ian Laing.

Jack, a Scottish Internationalist who recently won the first Junior tour event of the season, was the clear favourite but Alasdair shocked everyone by emerging victorious to move on to the third round.

The next victim of Alasdair's incredible performance was Greg Nicoll (Glenbervie) himself a county champion and in round 4, the challenge was from Cameron Kirkwood from Bearsden. Cameron was swept aside 7and 5 allowing Alasdair to have an early lunch before facing Angus Carrick from Douglas Park. Having been one down with two to play, Alasdair holed a 10-foot birdie putt to see off Carrick on the final green and set up a quarter-final tie against Craigielaw's Grant Forrest who is the current Scottish under 16 Champion.

The dream ended there with Grant, who plays off plus one, moving on to the semi final despite a plucky performance from the youngster. But it was a great week and with age on his side, we know that a Scottish title and international recognition cannot be far away.

RECORD ENTRY FROM RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION BOYS

With some courses in the area still clearing off the last of the snow and ice, entries have now closed for the first major golfing event of the season which is the Scottish Boys' Championship to be held at West Kilbride in the week commencing 5th April.

With a handicap limit of 5.4, a record number of Renfrewshire Golf Union's top junior golfers have been accepted - an amazing 31 players. The boys' winter coaching programme has been difficult but Ian Kennedy and George Boswell at Mearns Castle Academy have done everything possible to ensure that, despite the weather, the boys in the coaching squad are as ready as they can be for the Championship. On occasions, this has meant retrieving the practice balls by hand from deep snow!

The winter programme has included sessions on Fitness and Nutrition provided by Karyn Burns. This is a new feature of the coaching programme and the boys will benefit from this in the medium term.

A practice round at West Kilbride was organized for last weekend and the coaches and managers are confident that this will be a useful extra step in the preparations for the event and, indeed for the season ahead.