Wednesday 5 August was the turn of Stranraer Golf Club to play host to the senior golfers of the region as the South Seniors Championship was battled out over the well prepared Creachmore links.
On a day when waterproof manufacturers were tested to the limit 25 brave souls ventured out on to the fairways in an endeavour to win the Senior title. The elements did none of them any favours and it is a testament to the skills of the green-staff that the course remained playable for the entirety of the day and credit to the courage of the participants that only seven failed to complete the course.
Scoring was reflected by the weather with only one player managing to meet the standard scratch of 72
Despite this the winner, the popular Tony Clark (D&C), returned a very commendable 76 which included a treble bogey seven at the tenth hole. This hole is a hurdle with which he has had challenges in previous visits over the years. Tony’s margin of victory was three shots over a former South Junior Champion, John Thomson (Kirkcudbright), who again finished second in a major South Championship, with the only other score under 80. Tony has now added the Senior title to his list of South achievements having been Area Champion back in 1980.
The day also includes a variety of other categories. Jim Arnott, Club President at Stranraer playing off 9 handicap, was the handicap winner with a net 72; fellow former South Junior Champion, Tom Carson (Lockerbie), showing he is still very competitive, was the scratch over 65 winner with clubmate Peter McGarrie taking the handicap award. In the Super Senior category Robert Wilson (Lockerbie) took the scratch prize and Stranraer veteran Fred Thomson secured the handicap award.
South President Duncan Moore in presenting the prizes congratulated all who had played and commended them on their powers of endurance. He looked forward to welcoming everyone, and hopefully a few more, to next year’s event in Dumfriesshire.
Results:
Champion 2015 Tony Clark (D & C) 76
Runner-up John Thomson (Kirkcudbright)
Handicap
1st Jim Arnott (Stranraer) 81-9=72
2nd Derek Ritchie (Portpatrick) 80-4=76
Over 65 Category
Scratch Tom Carson (Lockerbie) 85
Handicap Peter McGarrie (Lockerbie) 86-8=78
Over 70 Category
Scratch Bobby Wilson (Lockerbie) 93
Handicap Fred Thomson (Stranraer) 94-15=79
The CSS was +3(75) Reduction only
The photograph shows Duncan Moore, President, presenting Tony Clark (D&C) with the Senior Championship trophy.