HUGE SUNDAY

It’s no wonder what little hair I have is grey !! Strathmore Juniors playing Bell Salver matches certainly puts you through the wringer. Oh plus times that by two. Strathmore 1 played Crieff 2 and Strathmore 2 played Kinross. Keegan led out the 12 and under and was 4 up and level par through 7. Ally was 2 up and never behind at the start. Saoirse playing match play for the very first time was 3 up at one point and Jessica was hitting it amazingly long off the tee and was also leading in her match. Keegan’s match changed first and he found himself dormie 3 down on the 16th tee. He won 16 when Nathan lost a ball, won 17 with the shot of the day, hitting a wedge to a couple of feet over a hump to a tight pin. Only 1 down going up 18, a halved hole was unfortunately not enough. Ally was ahead until the 16th but lost that then lost 17. Saoirse had gone behind but fought back to lead again and closed her match out 2&1 and Jessica who was always ahead closed out hers 3&2. For this young team it’s all a learning experience and there were loads of positives to take from today. Hopefully for the girls winning on their debuts in this format will give them loads of confidence. For the boys it’s concentrating on what they were doing so well to get ahead and using this to develop their games. 

Next up was the 13 and over team. Stuart led out the team and was 2 up after 3. Cameron Redden was 2 down coming up 7. Louis was 3 up on the same hole and Cameron Galloway was 2 up after 5. Stuart found himself 1 down coming up 18 but a halved hole was not enough. The on form Louis won his match 5&3 and it was down to the 2 Cameron’s. More grey hairs. Cameron Galloway who had been 4 up was 1 down on the 15th tee, Cameron Redden who had been 2 down was now 1 up and closed his match out on 17. Cameron Galloway got it back to all square and had to win 17 where he was giving his opponent a shot, hitting it into the bunker I thought “oh my golly gosh” , his opponent then proceeded to hit 2 balls into the right hand side rough. Finding his second ball things swung again. Cameron found the putting surface but his first putt ran 5ft past the hole, and trying to finish it off hit it 2ft past. By this time I could hardly watch but when he holed out I knew the team had done it. A good half up 18 secured the win.

Next week at home Strathmore 1 play North Inch and Strathmore 2 play Muckhart. A win for Strathmore 1 might make it possible to qualify for the semi finals and Strathmore 2 with today’s win and a draw at Crieff can definitely secure a place with a win. 

I am so proud of all our players and the progress they are making. Hard work and practice but more importantly playing is key. I also have to thank our coaching staff past and present. Gareth Couzens and Kathryn Imrie, who took over this year, are both responsible for the technical side and without the Centres support none of this would be possible. Can’t wait to see how far some of these youngsters can progress in golf. 

Came home to watch Bob McIntyre lift the Scottish Open. It’s not long ago he was a playing partner with past junior Captain Michael Brodie at Gleneagles in a Junior Ryder Cup match.