Millar’s genuine craft!

The day commenced with heavy overhead clouds threatening rain, however their was only the odd mizzle. The skies soon lightened and the sun appeared and stayed out for the remainder of the day.

The Captain saw off the early starters, wishing them to have a good round.

Jim Millar playing off twenty one moved into the lead through eleven and held on until he was overtaken with one to play after a couple of disasters but regaining his composure he regained the lead and victory up the last.

At halfway Ross Bennett (24) was leading by one point from Jim Millar (21). Stephen Penney (2) was another point behind, followed by Keith Clements (10) a further point behind. David Stirling (8) and Philip Graham (Scr) were also in contention a further point away.

Through thirteen Millar after pars at eleven and thirteen had moved into a two point lead from Bennett, who although parring twelve and thirteen failed to register at the Fort. Penney was still lying third another point behind. There was then a two point gap to Graham and Clements who were a point ahead of Stirling. Millar took a ‘ding’ at sixteen but still had a two point lead over Bennett with two to play.

Two points further back Stirling was moving up after a birdie at the Grove and joined P.Graham. Penney (‘ding’ at sixteen) was joined by Clements another point down. Millar who failed to score up the Grove also hit trouble at the penultimate hole when he failed to register.

Could he recover with one to play? Bennett seized this second opportunity and moved into a one point lead with a bogey. Stirling with three pars and a birdie had closed to within two points of Bennett. He was followed by Penney and Clements another point behind with Graham still in contention a further point down.

Could Bennett hold on up the last or would Millar regain his form or indeed could any of the other players in contention upset the front two. Alas Bennett ‘dinged’ the last and Millar regaining his composure finished with a bogey to win by one point and take the Captain’s Prize. Bennett finished runner-up.

Stirling (bogey), Graham (birdie), Penney (par) and Clements (par) all finished together a further point away and Stirling with a better back six took First Place in Division 1. P.Graham won the Gross Prize and Clements finished second in Division 1 with a better back nine.

In Division 2 at the turn Stephen Black (12) was one, two and three points ahead of Hugh Moore (13), Norman Nicholl (11) and Chris Nicholl (12) respectively. Through the Maple N.Nicholl was leading by one point from the other three players,. With two to play N.Nicholl was still leading by one point. Moore came second, one and two points clear of Black and C.Nicholl respectively. N.N icholl with a par, ‘ding’ finish won by one point from Black (birdie, ‘ding’). Moore (bogey, ‘ding’) and C.Nicholl (par, bogey) finished together another point behind.

At the turn in Division 3 Stuart Barker (17) was leading David McIlroy (18) by one point with James Logan (18) a further point behind. McIlroy with a birdie at thirteen led by one point from Barker with Logan another point behind. Up the Grove McIlroy increased his lead to two points over Barker who was joined by Logan. McIlroy came home bogey, double bogey and held on to win by one point from Logan (par. Double bogey). Barker (double bogey, bogey) was another point behind.

Division 4 had an exciting ending with three golfers finishinf together. Cecil McAleese (23) was leading at halfway by one point from David Cameron (24). John McFarland (20) was some four points further behind at this stage. Through thirteen Cameron had taken a three point lead over McAleese (‘ding’ at Arthurs Seat) with McFarland another point behind. A ‘ding’ up the Grove by Cameron enabled McAleese to move up to within one point of the leader. McFarland who was playing consistant golf joined McAleese with two to play. Cameron moved into a two point lead at the Lowlands with a bogey over McAleese (double bogey) and McFarland (bogey). Cameron with victory in sight ‘dinged’ the last and this enabled McAleese (bogey) and McFarland (bogey) to join him at the finish. McFarland with a better back nine took first place with Cameron (better back nine) second.

Results

Overall Winner: Jim Millar (21) 42 pts – Overall Runner-up – Ross Bennett (24) 41 pts -Division 1 – 1st. David Stirling (8) 40 pts (BB6) – 2nd. Keuth Clements (10) 40 pts (BB9) – Division 2: 1st. Norman Nicholl (11) 38 pts – 2nd. Stephen Black (12) 37 pts – Division 3: 1st. David McIlroy (18) 38 pts – 2nd. James Logan (18) 37 pts – Division 4: 1st. John McFarland (20) 38 pts (BB9) – 2nd. David Cameron (24) 38 pts (BB9) – Gross – Philip Graham (Scr) 40 pts – Seniors: Trevor Alexander (10) 38 pts. - Best Front Nine – Cecil McAleese – Best Back Nine – Gary Crabbe – Captain’s Prize Ladies Winner – June Irvine – Captain’s Prize Ladies Runner-up – Jean Bownes – Committee Prize – Paul Hughes – Past Captains – David Kilpatrick – Captains Guests – Victor Allen – Putting Competition – David King - Nearest Pin at 7th. - David A.McAleese – Longest Drive at 18th. - Alan Goodrich.