Ernie wins final open but last games place goes to Anderson
WITH the season soon drawing to a close, golfers at Dale have been making the best of the late summer weather with the course still in excellent condition.
The final open competition of the year took place last Saturday with Ernie Smith lifting the LEF Shield after a play-off.
The conclusion of the summer league also needed a play-off after Ronnie Birnie and Chris Conboy tied on 20 points over the season. They still couldn’t be separated after 18 holes but it was Birnie who eventually triumphed when he birdied the third play-off hole.
Stuart Anderson won the Haig Whisky Trophy with a stableford score of 40 points, beating Michael Welsh to first place by virtue of a better back nine score. Third was Rab Duffin on 39 points with John Teale fourth on 38.
The JW Gray Trophy was won last Sunday by Alan Harcus with a score of 73 (net 68). Welsh was again in second place on net 69 and Stuart Anderson third on net 71.
The September medal was won by Dave McNicol with a score of 78 (net 67) as a result of having a better back nine than both Grant Wiseman and Ernie Smith.
The final open competition saw the LEF Open played last Saturday on a dry day with a strong southerly wind.
In the scratch section Ernie Smith and Michael Boxwell both returned scores of 74 meaning that a sudden death play-off would be required.
The players set off down the 10th with Boxwell finding the fairway but Smith pulled his tee shot slightly left, finding a good line in from the seventh fairway. Smith’s second shot saw him miss the green but he made up for it in spectacular fashion by chipping in to the hole with his third.
With Boxwell already having played three shots, this ensured that Smith took first place and the shield. Third was Stuart Fox with 75.
In the handicap section Ian Scott took first place with a score of 75 (net 67), beating Ian Pottinger’s 83 (also net 67) by virtue of a better back nine. One shot back in fourth was Dougie Shearer with a 77 (net 68). Magnus Leask was fourth with 78 (net 70) and Stuart Anderson fifth with 76 (net 71).
Other prizes on offer saw Stuart Fox win the longest drive on the 15th while Gary Wiseman was nearest the pin on the 12fth and Glenn Gilfillan was nearest the pin in two on the sixth.
The LEF Open was also the last qualifying event for next year’s island games team and with Alan Harcus, Jordan Leask and Tom Simpson already having enough points to qualify there was still one place up for grabs. Whalsay’s Stuart Anderson was lying fourth overall and a score of 76 gave him fifth place in the competition and enough points to qualify ahead of Ernie Smith by a single point.
Tomorrow at Dale sees the SOS Doubles competition and Sunday sees the Medal Winners’ Shield and the Scott Cup take place.
Players are also reminded that the end-of-season prizegiving will be held in Islesburgh on Saturday 4th October and tickets will be available in the clubhouse.
