Four Scratch Champions in two days...
If you have ever wondered whether having lessons actually worked or not, then being present at the Championship prize giving on Saturday night would have been all the convincing you would ever need.
The Club's 3 scratch champions for 2008, Neil Cunningham, Louise MacGregor and Junior Jamie Lynch, all work with Club Professional Stewart Craig on a regular basis honing their swings.
They all also took the time to thank Stewart during their acceptance speeches at the prize giving ceremony.
Stewart said "This has been a very satisfying weekend for me personally. I have worked with Louise and Jamie for 10 years and this is the pinnacle so far for both of them.
Neil and I have worked together over the past 2 years and I know how much it means to him to win the championship and how hard he has worked to achieve this milestone.
This all happened after Carmuirs member Ryan Campbell who I have also worked with for the last 8 years won the County Junior Scratch championship at Stirling Golf Club on Friday evening. So four scratch champions in 2 days is hard to beat in anyone's book."
Finals Day 2008
The Championship Finals day was held for the first time on a Saturday and the decision was rewarded by some fine dry weather. All the Championship finals were held on the 21st June, and our sincere thanks go to the referees and caddies who helped to give the day that little bit extra special feel about it. There was an excellent group of members who watched the finals, all supporting their own favourite to do well.
The final of the Gents Championship was played over 36 holes with Neil Cunningham winning 3/2 over Colin Mundie. In the early stages Colin had the upper hand but Neil came back and at the halfway stage had a one hole advantage over Colin.
In the morning round, Colin's drive at 17th came to rest under a branch which was hanging from a tree by the thinnest of tree bark, giving Colin no shot other than play side ways. His caddie Ian Murray (Greens Convenor) had a lot of explaining to do as to why the branch had not been cut down before the competition. The Branch has now been hacked off the tree – by greenstaff or perhaps Colin, we don't know. A little bit of fairness prevailed when the hole was halved in 5.
Neil Cunningham becomes Club Champion for the first time and our congratulations go to him on his achievement.
The Ladies Final was a repeat of the previous years with Louise MacGregor playing Margaret Tough. However the result this year was a reversal of last year with Louise winning 6/4. The turning point in the final came when Louise won the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th holes to go four up. Louise then birdied the 11th hole and won the 12th. Standing on the 13th Tee dormie 6, her Tee shot landed in the middle of the Green with Margaret's going left, finishing pin high in the light rough. All over we thought, but no - Margaret hit a lovely pitch and run shot that kept running straight into the hole for a birdie. Louise just missed her birdie, so it was onward to the 14th which Louise won with a par.
Our congratulations go to Louise MacGregor, who becomes Lady Champion for the 1st time.
The Junior Champion is Jamie Lynch who beat Stuart Milne in the final.
Jamie (pictured left with Captain Robert Cox) is a young golfer with a good future ahead of him – he is competing in the Scottish Golf Union's Junior Tour, which is an invitation tour open only to the best young golfers in the Country. Jamie was a member of the Stirlingshire Golf Union Boys team that finished 6th in the Scottish Boys Team Championship held recently at Kingsknowe Golf Club. Congratulations to Jamie on his win!
In the Handicap Finals, Graham Orr beat Scott Bryans in the Gents Championship, Heather Todd beat Helen Thomson in the Ladies Championship and Blair MacKay beat Craig Morrison in the Junior Championships – congratulations to them all!
2008 Winners Gallery
View the 2007 Winners Gallery >>>