Roy Nicolson Salver Result and Report by Eric.
Alan Black gets the event underway.
After the biblical rains of yesterday a better day today - although cold first thing - facilitated 35 Dun Whinny members to contest the Roy Nicolson salver this morning. Wonderfully the field included Mark, son of Roy, who did his late father proud, scoring 34 points with his dad’s name on his golf ball.
While the Golf Secretary said in his pre-event report ‘easier’ and ‘anyone can win’ being defending champion proved too much for Ken Marshall who apparently shares the same name as a twice champion of Dunblane as noticed by an eagle-eyed DW member. Things were never the same after the war! The head greenkeeper – warming to Ken’s comments - made some interesting pin placements, although there was a suggestion (subsequently rightly ridiculed) that one of these was actually cut on level ground: someone has obviously been drinking too much.
In a ‘the butler did it’ spoiler big Alan Black teed off first at 7 am and won the event with 39 points, including 2s on 13 and incredibly 17. You will all know actuaries, even when acting as assistant golf reporter, can foretell the future and it so happens I captured a picture of Alan on the first tee (above) at the top of his backswing! David Logie will give a written critique of the position at another time.
Mark Higham made a gallant effort, also on 39 points to only be pipped on the back 9. Hard luck Mark and a great effort. Ian Aitchison, initially thought to be AWOL after 3 hours 40 minutes with his partners (no naming and shaming but Alan Tarney and Fergus Hartley), hit his second to about 8” for a birdie on 18 (pic below) and 38 points. A score shared by the redoubtable Stewart Lockhart. Not to be outdone David McLeod chipped in from behind the front left bunker also for a birdie 3 at 18: some folk just love ‘playing to the crowd’.
Although Neil Lock tried to emulate with 15 pars, the most boring golf of the day was surely played by David Logie who hit every fairway and every green in regulation (except for being on in 2 at 7th and driving the ‘short’ 15th) but 2 putted 17 greens (the only aberration being a 3 putt at the 2nd) for a gross 67. In other ‘news’ Jonathan Fletcher discovered on a referee’s ruling that the loose stones on the course side of the path round the clubhouse at 18 are ‘in play’: at the time of writing I have no idea which hole Jonathan was actually playing to discover this but presume it to have been on the back 9. Christian Stewart had a nightmare start having amassed 5 points in the first 6 holes but added 30 in a dream last 12 for a very eventful round. A golf handicapper’s nightmare.
Congratulations to Alan on his victory: he was still smiling this morning after Hibs great performance at home mid-week in limiting Aston Villa to only 5 goals and, although this has to be kept secret, he plays the lesser known ‘Kirkland Por ivy’ golf balls, so embarrassing that another member supplied him - before commencement – of play today with 2 sleeves of proper Titleist Pro VI. I can only assume he played one of the new balls so you can thank me and buy me a drink later Alan. Incidentally Alan is the defending holder of the Muirfield Salver being played at Dundonald a week today. Good luck to everyone.
PS There is a ‘deep-fake’ picture of me (added below - ed, with equally fake ‘tracer’) supposedly playing my second at the first in running up a standard DW opening 7. My PR agent has contacted the (current) Captain and demanded he curtail this upsetting if not actually illegal activity.
Your assistant non-roving reporter (and actuary), Eric
Top scores as shown, full scores on www.scottishgolf.org.
Iain’s approach to the 18th with our non roving reporter not watching….
This Saturday, August 26th, is the date for this year’s Roy Nicolson Salver event. It is a stableford played over the yellow tees on the Queens and is one of our easier, and also most popular events.
In order to try to raise the standard of our reporting, which has dropped off recently, we have a guest reporter this week.… as one of only 6 past champions in this event, Eric Lambert has volunteered to write the report on this so please pass on any adventures, tall tales and amazing shots to him to be included (or not) in the story of the event.
Above all its a stableford, from yellow tees so get your entry in, anyone can win, as I proved last year :)
The draw as usual will appear here in due course, tee times are 7.30-9am and any specific requests, accompanied by a suitable bribe, should be submitted by Thursday.
Draft draw which will change so please check back on Friday evening.