Looking Back on Kemnay

The Scottish Seniors at Kemnay was certainly different but by the time it was finished, most people would have claimed to have enjoyed it.  It began with very disappointing conditions, grey and wet but by Wednesday, this had done the complete circle to, quite literally, summer weather and all this while Edinburgh and the Lothians were being flooded out.

The practice round on the Monday - for those who bothered  - was a slog.  As was round one on the Tuesday.  Most had on waterproofs for the entire round, although it wasn't particularly cold, but because many of the fairways had areas of casual water, this kept the referees very busy dispensing with kindly advice.  Many of the referees wore appropriate footwear and we apologise for not having a photograph of June McEwen's flowery red wellies for all to enjoy.  Most tasteful.  All those who had never been to Kemnay before, were deprived of a view of the local mountain, Benachie, until the Thursday when the mist rolled back and exposed it in all its solitary glory.  In fact when the mist rolled back, the whole place changed and everyone exclaimed at how lovely it was.  Whereas on the first two days, it was drenched in mist and rain and most people, heads down, just plodded doggedly up and down fairways they could never recognise again, miserable and probably wishing they had never come.  Actually it wasn't quite as bad as that and the odd good hole fairly perked one up.  The scoring was undoubtedly rather high and its only redeemable factor seemed to be it was a non-counter.

At night was the traditional supper after which the ladies were entertained by those who had a story to tell, a poem to relate, a skit to perform or a downright dirty joke - the latter generally being the most popular.  We have to isolate an East Vet/County captain here whose contribution practically brought the house down. It came under the latter category.

Round Two maybe started dull and misty but in no time the mist rolled back just enough to let the sun through and it was all very nice.  Scoring was still high although fractionally better, but considering the distinct possibility of the stroke-play competition being completed on simply the one round due to the wet conditions, the SLGA must have been breathing a sigh of relief.  A most excellent score was brought in by Alison Bartlett of the Highland Vets.  This, together with her first round score meant that a play-off was needed to find the Stroke-Play winner, which indeed proved to be Alison.

The top scratch sixteen players went forward to the matchpay and this included Pamela Williamson (Baberton) and Fiona Hunter (Baberton).  Both played very well.  Pamela beat Anna Telfer (West) by 3 and 2 but then lost to Linda Urquhart of the North by 1 hole.  Fiona played steadily to beat helen faulds by 6 and 5 before losing to Karen Burns (Bathgate) by 1 hole.

Last year was the inauguration of a new consolation tournament, the net Championship.  After the names of the sixteen scratch players had been removed for the Seniors Championship, the players with the top sixteen net scores went forward for the Net Trophy.  This proved to be an excellent idea last year  as it meant more ladies stayed at the venue rather than leaving immediately after the strokeplay finished.  This year Morag Wardrop (Turnhouse), Barbara Biggart (North Berwick) Karen ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) and Mairi Pollock also Craigmillar park qualified for this tournament.  Barbara, Morag and Mairi were both beaten in the first round but Karen fought through all the way to the final, which she won to become the 2012 Net Championship winner.   She beat Barbara (unfortunate draw) in the first round by 3 and 1, Karen Maxwell (Milngavie) by a runaway 8 and 7, Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine) 5 and 3 then Leigh Duff (Cathkin Braes) in a very tight match at the 19th.  Well done Karen.

All scores and matchplay results are on the SLGA website.