Refreshing balance...
Congratulations go to Jane Pirie, who beat Agnes Martin on the 17th to win the Bremner Trophy which is the ladies handicap match play knockout competition. This was a close match and despite having her trolley die on her going up the 14th, Jane managed to hold on to win.
The 2021 Millport Golf Club ladies medal finals were played on Sunday 19 September. A warm and sunny day for the time of year, saw Davina McIntyre the runaway winner with a -1 net 71. Agnes Martin was the runner up on +4, with Jane Pirie in 3rd place on +7.
Thanks go to Nettie Farquharson, the ladies match and handicap secretary, for organising all the medals and competitions throughout the year.
The Queens Park Trophy which was presented to Millport Golf Club by the Hastie family was held on an overcast but warm Sunday on 29th August.
This a mixed pairs foursomes tournament and was well attended with 56 players travelling to the island from as far afield as Rochester in Kent for this annual event.
In a closely fought battle there were 3 net 70’s in 2nd place with the worthy winners, for the second time, Rona Young of Tarbert GC and Finlay Mckendrick of Millport with an incredible net 69. (Rona Young is pictured with Sponsors Douglas and Mary Fraser)
The Scratch was won by the longest serving still playing member of Millport GC Jim Macfarlane and Jane Pirie with a superb 84.
Many thanks firstly to all who participated in this successful day, to the organising and support team, the new catering team of Edward and Nicole and their staff, the greens staff , and a final special thank you to the sponsors, DR Fraser Joinery and the Hastie family for supporting this tournament and the club over many years.
Another glorious weekend of sunny weather at Millport Golf Club saw the playing of the John Stewart Memorial Trophy which is a 4 ball better ball competition, with a separate trophy for men and women. This year there were 20 gents and 8 ladies competing.
The playing reflected the good weather with low scoring all round. However, the clear winners with a magnificent -10 (58) were Craig Gordon and Tam Joyce. The ladies also had some great scores, with Kathryn McPhail and her partner winning the ladies event after a better inward half countback from Joanne Lowe and Sharron McGarrity with the same winning score as the gents of -10 (62).
John Stewart was one of the best golfers to play at Millport, and to this day jointly holds the record for most wins of the club championship with 7. He was also the first member of Millport to win the Cumbrae Cup. He represented the first team in many matches and was a stalwart of the Glasgow Fair Sweeps. Indeed in one year at the ‘Fair, John had a hole-in-one at the 12th on the Saturday. A feat in itself, only for him to repeat this on the Sunday – same hole, same club and same ball!
John passed away from Motor Neurone Disease in 1997. He is fondly remembered by all at the Club.
The weekend of 10-11 of July was Finals day at Millport Golf Club. The weather was warm and sunny and the course was in great condition. The golf was played to a high standard and in good spirits. Well done to all for making it a fantastic day of golf at Millport.
Result – Craig Pirie wins 6/4
A great game played to the highest of standards and in the best of spirits.
Craig started with a birdie at the first which set the standard for the rest of the day. A bogey free first 9 saw Craig take a 1-hole advantage into the morning back 9. Niall got it back to level at 16 but an errant drive on 17 and a bogey on the last from Niall, saw Craig take a 2-hole lead into the afternoon round.
The second round continued in the same high standard set earlier. Niall birdied the 2nd to take it back to 1. Craig then went on a run of 3s for the next 6 holes, which included 4 birdies in a row from 6 to 9. A quite tremendous run, but credit must be given to Niall who hung on with matching birdies at 8 and 9. All this meant Craig was now 4up going into the back 9. Sharing pars at 9 & 10, Niall flew the green at the short par 12th and could not get up and down. Craig was safely on and although his first put was 4 feet short, he confidently holed for par to go 5 up with 6 to play. The 13th saw Craigs drive end up in a divot, however he was able to punch the ball out to just short of the green. Niall was also short left in 2, and the hole was halved in 5s for Craig to go dormy 5up. On the 14th Niall’s approach came up short and with Craig sitting close in 2, Niall needed to hole his chip which he was unable to do.
Craig won the match 6/4 with a final score of approx. 3 under par for the holes played. This was a great game of golf and was played in the best of spirits. Craig has now won the Club Championships 6 times and is closing in on his father Les, who has the most with 7. Keeping it in the family, mum Jane should not go without mention as she has won the ladies championship once.
Craig was presented with the trophy by club captain Alex Haggerty.
Result – Sue Mitchell wins one up.
This years final was contested by two former winners of the Ladies Championship. Sue Mitchell won the first hole with a birdie three. The next 5 holes were won or drawn on par. It was a very tight match and at the 10th tee was all square. The standard of golf was excellent and it was an exciting match to spectate as the balls were often driven within a few feet of one another. Both girls held their nerve and it remained all square at the end of seventeenth hole. Jane and Sue had great drives down the last but Jane pulled her second shot to the left of the green and Sue found middle of green and succeeded in finishing the hole in regulation four winning the match one up.
Both players are to be congratulated on providing us with an exciting high standard golf match.
Result – John Sangster wins after 19
The final featured a closely matched pair in John Sangster and Stirling Howieson, playing off 14 & 13 handicaps respectively. Stirling raced to the turn in 38 shots, building a 4 up lead. John found his putting touch and incredibly won 6 holes in a row to be 2 up after 16. Stirling rallied and won the 16th and 18th holes with par figures, taking the match into extra holes.
John prevailed at the 19th with a solid par to lift the trophy for the first time. A brilliant match.
Result – Ann Gordon wins 3/2
Both contestants are relatively new to golf having joined our golf club only a couple of years ago. They have been golfing buddies and both their handicaps have been reducing steadily and the difference in handicaps was only one shot being given at the 10th hole.
Ann Gordon got off to a excellent start and was 5 up at the 10th hole. However, she then had lost balls at the 12th and 13th. Kathryn managed to reduce the deficit to two by end of the 15th hole but lost the sixteenth and the match making Ann Gordon the Winner 3 and 2.