FIRST WEEK OF THE SEASON AND STRATHMORE JUNIORS BECOME RECORD BREAKERS

Early start for Alex Simpson (the defending champion) teed off first at 8.24am and after finding the green side bunker played out and 2 putted for an opening bogey, he parred the 2nd then after a superb approach to 3 holed out for a birdie to go back to level par. The falling snow was starting to lie and with the temperature hovering at 0 it was decided to reduce the competition to 9 holes. All players completed their rounds and Alex who had played steady all the way round was declared Scratch Champion by an amazing 3 points and makes the record books by becoming the first player to secure back to back victories and be Under 14 Coaching Medal Champion for a 2nd time. What an achievement for a very talented young boy. Previous winners include Robert Watson, Callum McGuigan and Brad Bannerman. Cormac Sharpe finished 3rd = Scratch and Marcus Ryan 6th =.

Alex and Michael by becoming Under 14 and Under 18 Champions make Strathmore the 1st Club to hold both titles in the same year. 2 records achieved in the same day - I told you 2013 was going to be amazing and 1 week into the season it's already been done.

I cannot express how much this means to me personally as I have encouraged and spent a lot of time playing and competing with these juniors and seeing what they have done this week is time well spent !!!

I went back to Strathmore having already made arrangements to take Amy Mitchell out for her 3rd card for her handicap and was not surprised to see her turn up prepared and ready to go. After the customary warm up routine - exercise, short game, irons, woods and putting practise we were good to go.

Amy smashed her 1st drive 170yds short right of the bunker, hit a great wood 147yds then hit her 3rd into into the green side bunker, walking up she was unfazed and said it wasn't a problem and proceeded to hit the ball to 6ft and just missed the par. Her first par on a par 4 came on the 3rd, a decent drive down the left and a well struck wood drawing in from the right found the centre of the green and a confident putt with a tap in made an easy 4. Turning in 54 I knew Amy was on target for  a great score if she could hold her form and an easy 5 on 10 kept the momentum going, nerves jangled for me on 14 when she found the bunker with her 4th shot and was unlucky not to get out 1st time but from a harder position her next shot found the green. I was starting to look at what was required over the last few holes and knew things were becoming a bit tight and a good finish was required. Forgetting about a stableford adjustment on the 2nd I worked out Amy required 17 shots over the last 3 and I said her target was a 5-4-7 finish allowing her a spare shot. Amy didn't know what was required and hit a great drive down the right, she didn't connect great with her wood but proceeded to hit a superb 9 iron to 6ft and just missed the par but an easy 5 was secured. 17 was made easy with a great drive to the front of the green, a long putt to 8 foot and a 2 putt from there secured a solid 4. On the 18th tee I am thinking this is a long hole for an 11 year old but it became shorter with a great drive, a decent 2nd shot was followed by an amazing wood to the edge of the green. A great putt to 3 foot had me willing Amy to make a 5 and when she lipped out I was gutted for her but as many of you now know I am quite emotional and when she tapped in for a brilliant 6 I had a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. 106 gross and a handicap of not 36,35,34 but 33 !

What an amazing week !!!