Shetland Golf Club

Jordan wins Club Championship

Last week at Dale saw the Club Championship and Henry Gilbertson Cup take place with qualifying being played over 36 holes. The eight players with the lowest cumulative scores then qualify for the knockout competition to determine who would become the Club Champion for 2008.

The first round was played in blustery conditions with Stuart Fox showing how he can play with wind, leading the way with a score of 73, closely followed by Colin Bain (74), Jock Sim (76) and Jordan Leask (76). The second round was played in very similar conditions with the wind again being a major factor. Robbie Jamieson shot the best round of the day with a score of 72 with Alan Harcus also returning a good score of 73, however a disastrous first round 87 meant that he would fail to qualify for the one of the eight knockout places. Other good scores in the second round came from Ernie Smith (73) and Stuart Fox (74). The eight players with the lowest score over the two rounds were Stuart Fox, Jock Sim, Robbie Jamieson, Dougie McDonald, Jordan Leask, George Leask, Ernie Smith and Ross Chisholm. Unfortunately, Jock had to withdraw due to work commitments meaning that Colin Bain took his place in the last eight.

The eight players with the lowest handicap score over the two rounds go on to play for the Henry Gilbertson Cup which is also played in a knockout format. The lowest total over the two rounds came from Stuart Anderson with scores of net 75 and net 66. The other players qualifying to compete in the last eight were Arthur Williamson, John Jamieson, Graeme Sandison, Dougie Shearer, Dave McNicol, David Nicol and Chris Conboy.

In the quarter finals of the Club Championship, Colin Bain comfortably beat Stuart Fox with an inspired putting display, Jordan Leask overcame Ernie Smith, Dougie McDonald edged out George Leask and Robbie Jamieson squeezed past Ross Chisholm.

The semi finals saw Robbie up against Dougie with Jordan taking on Colin. Robbie found himself three holes down early on against Dougie but gradually clawed his way back in to the match. Robbie’s consistent play eventually saw him win the match 2 holes up with 1 to play.

The second semi was just as close with both players leading at one point, Jordan had held a comfortable three hole lead but Colin had fought back to lead by one hole going up the last, unfortunately he lost his ball going for the green on the eighteenth meaning that extra holes would be required. On the first hole Jordan did well to save par from the bunker but Colin three putted meaning that it was Jordan who would go through to play Robbie in the final. This was tough luck on Colin who also had the misfortune of losing a hole after he failed to replace his ball marker in the correct position.

The final took place on the same day with Robbie getting off to an awful start losing two balls on the first hole and finding the ditch on the second. Jordan was playing very steadily making it difficult for Robbie to find a way back into the game and Jordan eventually won the match on the fourteenth hole by a score of 6&4 to clinch his second consecutive club championship.

The quarter finals of the Henry Gilbertson Cup saw Stuart Anderson beat Chris Conboy 2&1, John Jamieson beat Dave McNicol 2&1, Arthur Williamson beat David Nicol 5&4 and Dougie Shearer got a walkover against an injured Graeme Sandison.

In the first semi final last year’s winner Arthur Williamson took on John Jamieson and was never behind in the game as he clinched the match 2 holes up after eighteen. The second semi was a much closer affair with Stuart Anderson and Dougie Shearer requiring extra holes to settle their match. Dougie had taken an early lead but three birdies in five holes gave Stuart the edge at half way, Dougie then won two holes on the back nine to square the match. There was some good golf from both players in the match so it was unfortunate that a mistake from Stuart on the second hole handed victory to Dougie.

In the final Dougie won the first two holes and this made it very difficult for Arthur to get back into the match. Dougie played steadily from there and eventually clinched the match on the sixteenth green with a score of 4&2 to win the Henry Gilbertson Cup.