GOLF — Inverclyde’s Top Players Battle It Out In Champion Of Champions EventsINVERCLYDE Golf Champion of Champions events have been taking place over the summer.
The events featured the lady, gent, junior and veteran champions, from the 2017 season, of all four golf clubs in the Inverclyde Golf association — Gourock, Greenock, Port Glasgow and Whinhill.
The final of the Ladies’ Champion of Champions competition was contested at Gourock between Maureen Woodhead of Gourock Golf Club and Linda McDougall of Greenock Golf Club, both of whom have won their club championships multiple times and are former winners of this event.
The contest was a close one with Maureen having a slender advantage most of the way round, before a monster putt from Linda on the last hole took the match into extra holes. The first extra hole was halved in pars before a birdie at the second extra hole gave Maureen the victory.
The Gents’ Champions event, hosted at Port Glasgow, was contested by Paul Dorrian (Greenock G.C.), Jim Docherty (Port Glasgow G.C.) and Jamie Sinnamon (Whinhill G.C.) with young Joshua Greer from Gourock Golf Club unable to play. The revised format for the three competitors was strokeplay (scratch) in the morning with the two best scratch scores advancing to the matchplay (scratch) afternoon final.
Paul led the scoring in the morning with an excellent scratch score of 69 with Jamie just edging out Jim (a multiple Inverclyde champion) for a place in the final, courtesy of the better back nine, with an unfortunate break at the 13th costing Jim several shots. Paul took control of the final from the get-go and despite Jamie’s best and brave efforts in keeping on Paul’s heels and never letting the score get away from him, Paul finished the match on the 14th green, with a birdie 3, to win by 5&4.
From left, Nicky Rodger, Port Glasgow Golf Club Captain, Niall Gallacher, winner, Kenan Ingram, beaten finalist, and Robert Ingram, Port Glasgow Golf Club Junior Convenor
The Junior Champions event, hosted at Port Glasgow, was contested by Niall Gallacher (Gourock G.C.), Patrick McCartney (Greenock G.C.), Kenan Ingram (Port Glasgow G.C.) and Aaron McCue (Whinhill G.C.). Kenan was drawn against Aaron and won by the score of 3&2 (to reach his second Inverclyde Junior Champion of Champions final in a row) and Niall defeated Patrick 5&4.
In the final Niall found himself one down after seven holes but then went three under par for the next seven holes to gain a four-hole advantage with four holes to go. Kenan fought bravely to win both the 15th and 16th, however Niall closed out the victory by the score of 2&1 when both boys had 4s at the 17th hole. This victory will hopefully have made up for the bad luck Niall had last year when he had to pull out after sustaining an injury the day before the event.
The Veterans’ title is decided by an 18-hole strokeplay round (with the best nett score being declared the winner) and was contested at Port Glasgow between Colin Erskine (Gourock G.C.), Alex Roy (Greenock G.C.), Hugh McGivern (Port Glasgow G.C.) and Jamie Black (Whinhill G.C.).
This contest proved to be the closest of them all as a birdie 2 at the 18th hole from Alex matched Colin’s nett score of 74 and, with identical nett scores for the back nine holes, title went to Alex, pictured, courtesy of a better nett score over the last six holes.
Inverclyde Golf thank Gourock Golf Club for hosting the Ladies’ event and Port Glasgow Golf Club (in particular Gordon Foster and Robert Ingram) for hosting the Gent, Junior and Veteran events. Both golf courses were presented in excellent condition for the competitors. The events were blessed with some excellent golf by some great golfers, young and old.
All matches were played in an excellent sporting manner; mutual respect between all competitors was evident. All champions were tremendous ambassadors for their golf clubs.
