SOUTHERNESS JUNIOR JAMBOREE
On Friday 17 October 12 boys set off for a fun day to celebrate the end of the 2014 season. The weather was dull but warm with a slight breeze from the south west and the course in superb condition. It was gratifying to see that over 50% of the competitors were under 14 year’s of age with many playing the course for the first time. Scoring was very good with Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas), continuing his fine form of the second half of the season, Andrew Kennedy (D&G) and Mitchell Cowie (D&C) all returning scores in the buffer zone. All the younger boys played well including Cameron Gray (Kirkcudbright), Glen Irvine (D&G), Finlay Copeland (D&G), Daniel Irving (D&C), Corey Brown (D&C) and Ross Plant (Stranraer) and showed considerable promise for the future. The CSS was 71 and the prize-winners were: Scratch: Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas) 70 and Nathan Watson 81; Handicap: Andrew Kennedy (D&G) 76-7=69 and Mitchell Cowie 83-11=72. The fun prize-winners were longest drive, Nathan Watson, nearest the pin, Andrew Kennedy, best nett score at all the par 3’s, Glen Irvine.
This was also the last counting event for the two Order of Merit awards for the season. With his marvellous round of 70, Angus Bendall narrowly won the Under 16 Section from Nathan Watson and Rowan Marchbank (D&G). The Under 14 Section was won by Cameron Gray from Finlay Copeland and Mitchell Cowie.
ASSESSMENT DAY
This took the format of a stroke play competition to determine the coaching squads for the winter with PGA Professional Chris Robinson (Portpatrick) in attendance. The boys arrived at Brighouse Bay on Sunday 19 October to find very challenging conditions. The course was in very good condition but the weather of gale force winds from the south west with heavy showers forecast did not fill the players with confidence. And not one boy refused to go out, a credit to them all. This would test their golfing skills, the consistency of their swings, their characters and their performance under the pressure of adverse weather conditions. The winner was Alex Long (New Galloway), second William Squires (Kirkcudbright) and third Callan Harkness (Lochmaben) on the better inward half from Ross Whyte (Thornhill). Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) had the best scratch score of 81. The CSS was non-counting.
The Executive of the South of Scotland Golfers’ Association wish to thank Jim Dougal for his assistance and Gillespie Leisure for the use of the excellent facilities.