Stornoway Golf Club

September 1st 2007

ANDY MACDONALD, CLUB CHAMPION 2008

Stornoway Golf Club got the champion it deserved last Saturday when Andy MacDonald stamped his class all over a quality field, with as good a display of golf in terrible conditions as anyone has seen in recent years, to win by an incredible eighteen shots. As the most consistent player this season, with the finest scoring record of any golfer in the club, no-one could match his stunning consistency over four rounds this past fortnight. He didn’t just beat the field, he battered them into total submission. When he emerged from the locker room, after Saturday evening’s final round, to the cheers of the club, we knew we were in the presence of one of the finest golfers Stornoway has ever produced.

If conditions the previous week were tough, then spare a thought for anyone who played in the final round on Saturday afternoon. The weather was amongst some of the worst we have experienced this “summer”, and were it not for the importance of the event, and the stage it were at, then there would have been a good chance that the course would have been declared unplayable. It was that bad. Yet somehow Andy managed to put together a round of 75 ( at one stage being one under par, until conditions worsened ), and together with his morning score of 68 he could afford to relax coming down the home straight, his opposition having tried , but faltered , before him.

Andy has nothing to prove to anyone in the club, but the mark of a true champion, and a quality golfer, is that they always have something to prove to themselves. This was Andy, proving to anyone who needed reminding, that he is still one of the hardest hurdles they will have to overcome if they have any aspirations to claim any “major” title. Everyone knows that Andy sets very high standards on the course, and will seldom throw in a bad round (a bad round for him being anything outside the buffer zone); therefore to win any (scratch) competition he enters, you will have to play exceptionally well to beat him. When he plays well, then it will need to be very exceptional.

On Saturday Andy was exceptional, and no-one came close.

The club salutes not only a worthy champion, but the select few members who managed to complete the four rounds required to hold their heads high on Saturday evening. There should be certain kudos about finishing the four rounds, but we seem to be suffering from a degree of apathy amongst the rank and file of mid to high handicap golfers who fell badly by the wayside as the club championship progressed.

Here are the real heroes of the club this fortnight past, well done to them all : Andy Macdonald, Bryan Geddes, Norrie”O” MacDonald , David Black, David”Kiwi”MacLeod, Murdo”Hollo”MacLennan, Davie Gilmour, Jordan MacLean, Ken”TheLawyer”MacDonald, Stephen Moar, Jules Folkard, John Gillies, Allan”Biddley” Macleod, D.J.MacLeod, Murdo O’Brien & Sarath Shetty.

Next year I hope ( if I am spared and still writing the notes) to be told by the “Gazette” editor that they do not have enough room for such a list.

Runner-up was Brian Gedddes who cemented his status as one of the club’s top golfers with four excellent rounds in the 70’s to pip Norrie “Onions”, who finished third, by four shots.

In the Handicap section, Stephen Moar came from fourteen shots behind after rounds 1&2 to win. His incredible nett 65+66 on the last day catapulted him to top slot, edging out his winter league partner , David”Kiwi”MacLeod by a single shot.

The ladies LGU pendant was won on Saturday by Jane Nicolson with an excellent nett 65. Jane has been putting in both the time and the effort recently, and following her recent success in Harris, it certainly seems to be paying off. Jane has also won the local ( ladies) football league with the Roo, and my tip to “Tuff” is to get her involved with the mens’ side to provide a bit of stability. Congratulations on both Jane.

Last Wednesday’s Caledonian Medal qualifier was won by Jules Folkard with a solid nett 65. This was his third top finish this summer, and he will have been disappointed to have finished so poorly in the club championship, three days later, having started so well. The weather conditions alone will have massively affected his chances, but he made it round four times unlike some.

Friday saw some light relief in the form of the Tong Choir Texas Scramble. A great night was had by everyone who participated, and a sumptuous buffet was laid on by the choir, prior to the prize giving and raffle.

Winners on the night were the team of Marten James, Huw Lloyd and Murdo MacAulay , with Marten also claiming the nearest the pin prize on the 9th, whilst Andy MacDonald narrowly edged out Neil Rowlands for the long drive contest on his teams’ final hole.

Mens Caledonian Medal Stableford (29th August)

Jules Folkard 65 Nett

Arthur MacIntosh 67 Nett

Neil MacKenzie 68 Nett

Ladies LGU Pendant ( Saturday 1st September )

Jayne Nicolson 65 Nett Winner

Rita MacDonald 76 Nett Runner-Up

Club Championship( Saturday 1st September )

Scratch

Andy MacDonald 70 + 74 + 68 + 75 (287)

Bryan Geddes 77 + 78 + 73 + 77 (305)

Handicap