Top golf honour for PA’s Gordon

Jul 1 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PA Sports editor Gordon Bannerman was crowned King of The Castle this week.

Blairgowrie Golf Club member Gordon joined Gleneagles Hotel’s Graham Hesketh on the honours list at the annual Scottish golf writers’ and guests’ golf championship played over The Castle Course in St Andrews.

Both players were making their debuts in the tournament.

While Gordon, a 23-handicapper hacker, won the golf writers trophy, Graham, off 12, secured the guests’ top award at an impressive course designed by Auchterarder specialist David McLay Kidd.

Gordon posted 34 Stableford points to win the Alex Fox Trophy by six points from St Andrews-based runner-up Malcolm Campbell, who had 28 points off seven.

Gleneagles regional sales manager Graham was presented with the Bunkered Tankard as the leading guest, thanks to a better last three holes points score after he and Scottish PGA secretary Michael McDougall, playing off seven, both finished with 35 points. Third was course designer Graeme Webster with 34 points off 10.

Alison White of the R and A Golf Development staff at St Andrews won the leading female guest award with 32 points off six of a handicap.

Perth-based SLGA secretary Sheila Hartley was runner-up with 28 points off 12.

Gleneagles man Graham also won the Belhaven Trophy as the player from any category with the most points.

The John Letters (St Andrews) Team Challenge was won by Michael MacDougall, Jim White, Martin Dempster and Billy Sim with a best two from four points total of 68.

They finished a point ahead of SGU president Gordon Murray, Graeme Hesketh, Alison White and Kenny Smith.

Third with 64 were Gordon Bannerman, Hugh Hunter and Sheila Hartley, playing as a team of three.

The annual tournament’s main sponsors were St Andrews Links Trust, John Letters (St Andrews), Callaway, Nike and the Scottish Golf Union.