Friday, April 19, 2013

IT’S GILLIAN AND DONNA IN THE FINAL (AGAIN!)

What a difference a day makes........ Weather-wise, today we are most definitely in Spring.

Iona and Gillian
Denise and Tracy
The quarter finals were played this morning with top qualifier Iona Stephen playing Vice-Captain Gillian McGinlay in the top match. The game was played in a very sporting manner with the competitors acknowledging good play by each other. Iona was never ahead but pegged Gillian back repeatedly. A terrific up and down par 3 for Iona at the 17 got the game back to all square playing 18. Gillian played short of the green in two but Iona pushed her second shot out of bounds and a five was enough for Gillian to progress to the afternoon Semi-Final.

The second game out was Peggy Clark Trophy winner Tracy Masterton (Windyhill), who plays off 13 and had it all to do against 6-handicapper Denise Cowan of Ranfurly Castle. Denise played terrific golf and was par for the first 10 holes. Tracy had a great five down the 11th but lost the 12th to go dormey. The 13th was halved in pars and Denise ran out the winner. Really terrific golf by both players.
Carol Whyte, Gillian Kyle, Donna Jackson and Liz Stewart

The second half of the draw had four fellow RLCGA team mates pitted against each other.
Gillian Kyle and Carol Whyte played good solid golf but once Gillian got her nose in front it was always going to be difficult for Carol to catch up. Gillian won the match with some fine play.
The bottom match saw the Battle of the Giants – Liz Stewart against Donna Jackson. The two friends and team partners were nip and tuck all the way to the 18th with never more than one or two in it. Donna was very happy to see her winning putt drop on the 18th green to take her to the Semi Final.

In the afternoon, the sunny weather continued and the top game was Gillian McGinlay against Denise Cowan. Denise got off to a sparkling start and several pars saw her 2 up through four holes. It rocked between two up and one up for Denise in the next few holes then Gillian produced a couple of birdies at 12 and 14 to move to 1 up for the first time in the match. Denise showed her grit and won the next two holes to gain the advantage playing 17. Gillian had a fantastic ‘up and down’ from a tricky lie on the right of the green and that took the game back to square playing 18.
Good drives by both players were followed by two slack second shots although both players had fine shots to the 18th green. Denise putted first and ran her putt a fair bit passed. Gillian, on the other hand, left her putt an agonising six or seven inches short. Denise played a decent enough second putt but it just sat on the edge of the hole – game won, Gillian. Congratulations to both players who had a fine sporting match.

The other second semi-final involved the evergreen Donna Jackson and Gillian ‘skippy’ Kyle. Donna must have had something in her soup at lunch time because she stormed off to a four hole lead after only four holes. A half at the next stopped the rot for Gillian and by the 9th she had got Donna back to being only one up.
Good solid golf by Donna saw the lead creeping up and a birdie on 13 saw her back to 3 up. A par at the 14th then again at the 15 saw her win 4 and 3. As Gillian knows, you can’t let Donna get even half a chance as she’s got the game and the experience to take full advantage. Both players are to be commended for the friendly way in which they played.

That takes us to tomorrow for the Final on a Saturday for the first time anyone can remember!!
Donna and Gillian McGinlay last played a County Final way, way back at Cowglen in 2005 when Donna won her last championship.
It looks like it’s going to be a great final tomorrow with the two Cochrane Castle members battling it out - in the sunshine (hopefully). Come along and support them – after you’ve had your breakfast!!

Quarter-finals - Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt Iona Stephen (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole, Denise Cowan (Ranfurly Castle) bt Tracy Masterton (Windyhill) 3 and 1, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt Carol Whyte (Windyhill) 3 and 1, Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt Liz Stewart (Greenburn) 1 hole.Semi-finals - McGinlay bt Cowan 1 hole, Jackson bt Kyle 4 and 3.

MAUREEN