Club golfers battle it out for prestigious national title
TWO of the biggest club member competitions in the country reached a thrilling climax recently, proving that competitive club golf remains popular.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie’s Mike MacDonald and John Jack produced a better-ball score of 63 to storm to a four-shot win in the Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship final at Crail’s Craighead Links.
MacDonald, the club secretary, and Jack, the match and handicap secretary, dovetailed to perfection as the Highland club took the title for the first time, finishing four clear of the Turnhouse duo of Douglas Sime and Lindsay Gordon, who combined for a net 67.
Scratch player MacDonald, playing in his fourth final, attributed his team’s success to consistency from both players throughout.
“We gelled really well out there and it helped having a practice round to get to know the course. We were both in nearly every hole so we gave ourselves good chances, and I managed to knock in quite a few birdies. I’ve been to a few Captains and Secretaries finals so its nice to finally win one – it must be down to my partner John. We only just scraped through the regional final so probably weren’t expecting to win, but it’s great to be crowned champion of what is a great national event over a superb course.”
THRILLING
Brothers Campbell and John McIntosh, meanwhile, are the pride of Polmont Golf Club after they clinched a thrilling victory in the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship at the Roxburghe.
In Scotland’s biggest participation golf event, the siblings paired up to produce a seven-under par 65 in the better-ball format in the Grand Final to win by the narrowest of margins ahead of North East clubs Oldmeldrum and Cruden Bay, with all three teams on the same score.
The event is open to club members of all abilities across Scotland making it the country’s largest participation golf event.
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