The premier competition of the year attracted an entry of 77 of the area’s top golfers but only fifty four competitors arrived at Stranraer Golf Club on Sunday 18 August to find the course in immaculate condition but the overhead weather conditions far from ideal. The gale force winds from the north were gusting over 30mph and delivering frequent heavy squally showers. This would not be golf for the purist but the survival of the fittest. It was generally agreed that the player who made the fewest mistakes would be the winner. The key holes would be the fifth, off the high tee, the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth. A good, solid finish was required to post a good score.
In the morning round first out David Gladstone (Stranraer) set the early lead with a steady round of 76 with 2 birdies, 8 pars and 8 bogeys. Next to record a good score was sixteen year old Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick) with a five over par total of 75 with 1 birdie, 12 pars, 4 bogeys and a double bogey. Great shooting in atrocious conditions. Craig Smith (Dalbeattie) also shot a 75 with a consistent round of 2 birdies, 9 pars and 7 bogeys. There were a clutch of players on 77 including Powfoot members Duncan McNeill, Iain Thomson and Mike Grunwell and Martin McNae (Lochmaben) and Chris Corbett (D & G). There were only 10 scores below 80 and 8 No Returns. All to play for in the afternoon with any one capable of returning the winning score.
The rain relented in the afternoon but the wind got stronger. It was disappointing after the good weather in July that it should change for the worse on the day of the major competition of the year. And so the gladiators set off for the afternoon round full of hope but fearing the worst. Surprisingly, scoring did get better particularly from those with old heads on young shoulders. Craig Smith (Dalbeattie) couldn’t reproduce his form of the morning and returned to the clubhouse after a few holes but David Gladstone ( Stranraer) continued to play steadily till he came to the par three 11th where he took a seven and his dreams of glory evaporated. He finished with an 81 and a total of 157. Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick) was going well, even with a double bogey at the 2nd, until he too had a disaster at the 11th with a six and a seven at the par four last. Three bad holes but a score of 80 to take the clubhouse lead on 155. Next to show how the course should be played was David Brodie (Wigtown & Bladnoch) who was out in a one over par 36 only to drop 3 shots in the last three holes to finish with a 74 and a total of 154. This looked like the winning score when Martin McNae (Lochmaben), only one over par after 15 holes, took a treble bogey at the 16th and a bogey on 17th. He now needed a birdie up the last to win the championship outright. And he delivered to record a 76 and a winning total of 153 and become the South of Scotland Champion for 2014. The CSS for both rounds was 75 (reduction only) and only 28 of the 54 competitors completed the 36 holes.
Results:-
153 M McNae (Lochmaben) 77, 76
154 D Brodie (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 80, 74
155 M McCulloch (Portpatrick) 75, 80
157 D Gladstone (Stranraer) 76, 81
157 R Murray (Southerness) 81, 76
159 L Carruthers (Powfoot) 81, 78
159 C Corbett (D & G) 77, 82
159 C Bennewith (Newton Stewart) 82, 77
160 C Riddick (Southerness) 79. 81
161 M Grunwell (Powfoot) 77, 84
161 J Parker (Southerness) 86, 75
162 D McNeill (Powfoot) 77, 85
162 N Hamilton (Powfoot) 86, 76
162 J Graham (Lochmaben) 81, 81
164 D McConnachie (D & C) 83, 81
165 D King (Southerness) 84, 81
165 R Johnstone (D & C) 83, 82
166 S Whannell (Newton Stewart) 81, 85
167 I Thomson (Powfoot) 77, 90
168 R Brunton (Portpatrick) 83, 85
168 W Sloan (Stranraer) 84, 84
168 C Harkness (D & G) 85, 83
169 A Kerr (Crichton) 86, 83
169 A White (Newton Stewart) 84, 85
170 W Milby (Wigtownshire County) 80, 90
175 R Marchbank (D & G) 82, 93
176 B Scott (Lochmaben) 85, 91
177 C Finnie (Lockerbie) 84, 93