GOLF — Strong Field Of 200 Compete For Gillen Trophy
GOUROCK Golf Club’s long-established Gillen Trophy open tournament attracted a strong entry with more than 200 players competing.
As well as the top players from the host club, a high number of visitors from the other Inverclyde clubs were in attendance as well as players from further afield.
The scoring was very competitive, as demonstrated by four players achieving a five under par nett 68 only for them to share third place — Paul Carroll, Alasdair Mackenzie, Greg Chamberlain ands Pat Cannon.
Richard Crawford from Largs had the advantage of being very familiar with the Gourock layout and he delivered a tremendous score of 82 less 16 for a nett 66. Richard demonstrated steady golf throughout his round, with his only glitch being a double bogey at the challenging 8th hole.
Richard took the runner-up spot, with Tommy Bolton from Gourock also delivering a nett 66 but defeating Richard on the basis of a better inward half score.
Tommy had a slight wobble with a treble bogey at the 9th but immediately got back on track with a birdie 3 at the 10th hole. He really steadied the ship with a run of five straight pars in the middle of the back nine and, despite a seven down the last, he took 1st prize with 82 less 16 – 66.
This was a great highlight for Tommy, a stalwart at Gourock Golf Club for many years.
Scoring was also of a high standard in the scratch section with 2020 Gourock Champion Steven Higgins as always to the fore.
Steven got off to a blistering start in his round bagging no less than four birdies in his first five holes. Unfortunately he frittered his score away somewhat with a handful of bogies but still returned a solid par 73.
Craig Thomson of Greenock also scored 73 with a round of 10 pars, four bogeys and four birdies. Topping the field, however, was local player Alasdair MacKenzie who continued his steady form this season with a magnificent gross 72.
Alasdair demonstrated his prowess on the long holes achieving three birdies at the four par-5 holes plus a birdie at the short 4th only to be partially offset by three bogies at 6th, 7th and 15th.
This was a great one-under par score from Alasdair, a very deserving winner of the scratch trophy.
The committee and members of Gourock Golf Club are grateful to Green Oak Funeral Services for their continued sponsorship of the event.
