Golf: Helensburgh scramble tournament winners’ new record

The format of the tournament always produces low scoring, with the teams made up of four players who all have attempts on each drive and three at all subsequent shots.

However no-one expected the score achieved by the winners. Their gross score was 13 under par and, with their team handicap applied, their winning score of 51.5 was the lowest score since the inception of the event.

The winning team consisted of Keith Baird, Alastair Cairns, and brothers Douglas and Andrew Willoughby.

The team in second place, consisting of Phil Armstrong, David Tolhurst, Ben Armstrong, and Joe Barton, would have fancied their chances when they signed their card for a net 54.3, only to find themselves almost three shots adrift thanks to the winners’ remarkable performance.

The team of Graham Proud, Jack Armstrong, Stevie Donald, and Craig Bonthrone came in third on net 56.2.

Meanwhile, the club’s ladies’ open tri-am competition, generously sponsored by The Ardardan Estate, attracted 37 teams from a number of golf clubs.

With a combined stableford score of 87 points, the local team of June Haggarty, Babs Robertson, and Gail Waddell were the winners of the Ardardan Vase and Milne Centenary Cup.

A team from Balfron Golf Club, featuring Eda Davey, Susan McKenzie, and Joan Walker, were second with 84 points, and a Milngavie team consisting of Sheena McDonald, Mhairi Adam, and Anna Telfer came third with 79 points.

The gents’ mixed singles stableford competition was played in wet weather with the greens showing surface water by mid afternoon.

Despite the tricky conditions Peter Haggarty, Helensburgh’s only scratch golfer, left everyone in his wake – his gross 66, helped by five birdies, gave him 39 points, two ahead of Craig Stirling and Gordon McGregor. The leading lady was Abby Stirling with 34 points.

The Helensburgh ladies’ team in the Harper Kennedy League, have notched up two more victories, the first at home against Dunblane by five matches to two.

They defeated Hilton Park by 4.5 matches to 2.5 on their own course.

Unbeaten in their four matches so far, they are in an excellent position to win the league but first have to overcome last year’s champions, Glenbervie.