GOLF — Inverclyde Golf’s Club Champion Of Champions Event
Finalist Evan Conway of Port Glasgow Golf Club, left, and John Donald of Whinhill Golf Club, winner
WHINHILL Golf Club was the host for this year’s Inverclyde Golf Club Champion of Champions event.
It featured the 2018 club champions of Gourock Golf Club (Steven Higgins), Port Glasgow Golf Club (Evan Conway) and Whinhill Golf Club (John Donald). The club champion of Greenock Golf Club (David MacFarlane) was sadly unable to compete because of a long-term injury.
The revised format for the three available competitors (all former winners of the event) was a strokeplay semi-final followed on by an 18-hole matchplay final involving the two players with the lowest gross scores from the semi-final.
Unfortunately, both the semi-final and final were played on evenings with strong winds and frequent heavy showers.
The scoring was close in the semi-final, John leading on 70 with both Evan and Steven two shots further back. With identical back nine scores, the players had to be split courtesy of the best score for the last six holes which resulted in Evan advancing into the final.
John was never down in the final although the lead was never more than two holes with Evan bringing the match back to one hole on several occasions. John’s local knowledge was definitely a benefit especially in keeping out of the rough.
John birdied the 13th hole and followed that up with a solid par at the 14th to extend his lead to three up. With the 15th and 16th holes both halved, John was crowned Inverclyde Club Champion of Champions by the score of 3&2.
Inverclyde Golf thank Whinhill Golf Club for hosting the event.
The matches were played in an excellent sporting manner and mutual respect between the competitors was evident. All champions were tremendous ambassadors for their golf clubs.
