The Shamash Trophy, the last 36 hole competition of the 2016 season, took place at Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club on Sunday 25 September on an autumnal day with winds rising to 25 mph from the west. The course was in superb condition and with the weather conditions provided a stern test for the 31 best golfers in South Area.
Liam Carruthers (Powfoot) and Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire County) set the early standard with 2 over par scores of 72. Liam was out in 38, three over par, but came back in 34, one under par, while Kyle was out in 36 and back in 36 with one birdie in each half. David Brodie (Newton Stewart) had halves of 37 and 34 for a, disappointing for him, total of 71. This was matched by Clark Riddick (Southerness) with an outward nine of one over par 36 and a level par back nine of 35
But Michael Grunwell (D&G) came in with a score of 66 to lead by 5 shots after the morning round. A magnificent round with two birdies in each half of 33 and no bogies. Other good scores in the morning were from Greig Blayney (Southerness) and Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) each with 72.
A 69 from Kyle McClung in the afternoon with 36 out and a two under 33 back nine gave him a total of 141, one over par, and a good score for the others to beat. Chris Corbett (D&G) also shot 69 with halves of 33 and 36 but his poorer morning round of 74 left him on a total of 143. Colin Hamilton (Stranraer) was out in 38 but a super back nine, when he really got the putter working, of 32, gave him a level par round of 70 and a similar total of 143.
Also finishing on 143 was David Brodie with a 72 to add to his morning’s 71 which ensured he did not finish in the prize list for probably the first time this year. Other good afternoon rounds were 71 from Iain Thomson (Powfoot) and Liam Carruthers (Powfoot) with 72. Michael Grunwell could not reproduce the fireworks of the morning and had only one birdie in his round of 74. It was a relieved Michael who found out that this was just enough to claim victory and the Shamash Trophy by one shot from Kyle.
There were two juniors in the field and they both acquitted themselves well. Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) shot a 72 in the morning with an 8 and a 7 at each of the two par 5’s and a 74 in the afternoon with no real disasters. Fourteen year old Sam Mitchell (Portpatrick) started nervously in the morning and scored 79 but showed the calibre of his shot making in the afternoon with a 74 to cut his handicap.
Individual Scores
140 M Grunwell (D&G) 66, 74
141 K McClung (Wigtownshire County) 72, 69
143 C Corbett (D&G) 74, 69
C Hamilton (Stranraer) 73, 70
D Brodie (Newton Stewart) 71, 72
144 L Carruthers (Powfoot) 72, 72
146 N Watson (Kirkcudbright) 72, 74
147 W Milby (Wigtownshire County) 74,73
S Henderson (Lochmaben) 73, 74
C Riddick (Southerness) 71, 76
148 I Thomson (Powfoot) 77, 71
G Blayney (Southerness) 72, 76
149 E Adamson (Portpatrick) 76, 73
150 C Scobie (Lochmaben) 76, 74
A Kerr (Crichton) 75, 75
152 G Corbett (D&G) 76, 76
N Hamilton (Powfoot) 73, 79
153 R Murray (Southerness) 80, 73
S Mitchell (Portpatrick) 79, 74
154 A Long (New Galloway)
157 G Coulter (Wigtownshire County) 77, 80
NR I Johnstone (Wigtownshire County) 75, NR
M Kirkwood (Kirkcudbright) 75, NR
M Kyle (D&C) 78, NR
M Cowie (Wigtownshire County) 79, NR
D Ritchie (Portpatrick) 79, NR
S McDowall (Stranraer) 79, NR
M McNae (Lochmaben) 79, NR
F McGarva (Portpatrick) 81, NR
G McDowell (Lochmaben)
J Paterson (Wigtownshire County)
J Caldwell (Portpatrick)
The photograph shows Michael Grunwell (D&G) being presented with the Shamash Trophy by Jim Burns, President of Scottish Golf Ltd.