Club Captain Bobby Roy congratulates Colin Martin on winning first prize in the Handicap section.

A large field of 156 contested Stirling’s premier open competition, the Festival Trophy. The 2008 and 2009 winner, Lindsay Blair from Grangemouth, completed a hat-trick of titles with an excellent four-under par 68. Lindsay’s score comprised birdies at 2, 4, 5, 11 and 14 and a solitary bogey at the short 10^th. He was challenged all the way by Michael Robertson from Alva who birdied the 14^th to move to three-under but bogeyed 16 and 17. His fine eagle at the last hole was not quite enough. Stevie McIvor made it a good day for Alva Golf Club by finishing 3^rd on 70. The top Stirling player was Ben Liddell who also finished on 70. Ben had a superb birdie, eagle, birdie start but his challenge faltered after an unfortunate double-bogey at the 11^th.

The handicap prize was won by the home club’s Colin Martin who shot a net 66, featuring birdies at 7, 13 and 17.  Despite a double-bogey at the 18^th, Colin was able to hold off Andy Cunningham from Braehead and Stirling’s Martin Masterson who both finished on 67. Andy’s excellent level-par back nine saw him take second prize on the better inward half. Another Stirling member, Mark Mitchell, finished 4^th on 68 despite a double bogey at the short 14^th.   

Mention must be made of Chris Goode who finished with a fantastic net score of 64 but sadly had to be disqualified for failing to sign his card.

Results

Scratch

68 – Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth)            

69 – Michael Robertson (Alva)

70 – Stevie McIvor (Alva), Ben Liddell (Stirling)

Handicap

66 – Colin Martin (Stirling -7)

67 – Andy Cunningham (Braehead – 8), Martin Masterson (Stirling – 9)

68 – Mark Mitchell (Stirling – 10)