THERE has been no shortage of memorable moments at Innellan Golf Club over the past fortnight, with outstanding scoring, closely fought competitions and another remarkable hole-in-one providing plenty of talking points.
The standout moment came from club captain Keith Torrance, who produced a shot he will never forget when he aced the fourth hole. Torrance struck a superb six-iron which flew directly into the cup, recording a spectacular hole-in-one and adding another memorable chapter to what has already been a successful season for the skipper.
Competition action remained intense throughout the period as the popular Wednesday Series continued to gather momentum.
In Week Five, Neil Ferguson continued his fine form to take victory with 19 points, finishing ahead of Duncan Lauder on 18 and Gordon Livingston on 16.
Week Six saw James Gallagher claim top spot with 19 points. Keith Torrance finished second on 18, while Neil Ferguson also posted 18 but lost out on countback. Ferguson now leads the overall Wednesday Series standings by a single point from Karen Mitchell, setting up an intriguing battle as the competition progresses.
The McGillivray Quaich produced some exceptional scoring, with captain Keith Torrance once again leading the way. His sensational score of 60 secured victory ahead of Graham McGillivray on 62 and Brian Emery on 63.
The ladies’ section also enjoyed two competitive weeks in their nine-hole Stableford competitions. Shonna Derrett claimed victory in the first event with 15 points, ahead of Margaret Lauder on 14 and Sandi Gemmell on 11.
The following week saw Katie Houston emerge victorious after carding 16 points. Shonna Derrett also scored 16 but was denied by countback, while Margaret Lauder finished third with 15 points.
The Saturday Series continued to deliver impressive scoring. In Week Five, Russell Lees and Scott Lauffer both returned outstanding rounds of 61, with Lees taking victory on countback. Shonna Derrett was third with a score of 65.
Week Six belonged to Andrew McLaughlin, whose remarkable 46-point haul, including two birdies, earned a convincing victory. Gordon Miller finished second with 41 points, while Margaret Lauder took third place on 36.
The highlight of the fortnight’s competitive programme was the Shaw Trophy, contested over two rounds and attracting a large field eager to claim one of the club’s most sought-after titles.
Round One saw Brian Emery take the lead with a score of 62, edging Andrew Rodger into second on countback after he matched the same score. Iain McKie was well placed in third on 64, while several others remained within striking distance heading into the final round.
Scott Lauffer produced the best score of Round Two with an impressive 64, followed by Iain McKie on 65 and Duncan Lauder on 66.
When the aggregate scores were calculated, the competition could hardly have been closer. Iain McKie, Andrew Rodger and Brian Emery all finished tied on 129. Following countback calculations, it was McKie who emerged victorious to claim the Shaw Trophy for the first time, with Rodger second and Emery third.
Full results
Wednesday Series – Week 5: 1, – Neil Ferguson (19); 2, – Duncan Lauder (18); 3, – Gordon Livingston (16).
Wednesday Series – Week 6: 1, – James Gallagher (19); 2, – Keith Torrance (18); 3, – Neil Ferguson (18, countback).
McGillivray Quaich: 1, – Keith Torrance (60); 2, – Graham McGillivray (62); 3, – Brian Emery (63).
Ladies Nine-Hole Stableford (Week 1): 1, – Shonna Derrett (15); 2, – Margaret Lauder (14); 3, – Sandi Gemmell (11).
Ladies Nine-Hole Stableford (Week 2): 1, – Katie Houston (16); 2, – Shonna Derrett (16, countback); 3, – Margaret Lauder (15).
Saturday Series – Week 5: 1, – Russell Lees (61); 2, – Scott Lauffer (61, countback); 3, – Shonna Derrett (65).
Saturday Series – Week 6: 1, – Andrew McLaughlin (46 points); 2, – Gordon Miller (41 points); 3, – Margaret Lauder (36 points).
Shaw Trophy – Round 1: 1, – Brian Emery (62); 2, – Andrew Rodger (62, countback); 3, – Iain McKie (64).
Shaw Trophy – Round 2: 1, – Scott Lauffer (64); 2, – Iain McKie (65); 3, – Duncan Lauder (66).
Shaw Trophy Overall: 1, – Iain McKie (129); 2, – Andrew Rodger (129); 3, – Brian Emery (129).
Club officials thanked all members who have supported competitions over the past two weeks and also paid tribute to the greenkeeping staff for maintaining the course in excellent condition. Members are encouraged to keep an eye on Masterscoreboard for details of upcoming competitions as another busy spell of golf lies ahead.
