Las Colinas Results and Reports

All of John Johnston's fine efforts came to fruition with a very enjoyable week at Las Colinas resort. The weather was not what we expect from the Costa Calida but, apart from losing out to heavy rain on the Thursday, this did little to dampen the spirits of a very convivial touring party.

Archie Wohlgemuth travelled to handle the tournament administration and did a highly proficient job with results and leaderboards there on the spot. Members were appreciative and kept him topped up with fluids to avoid any threat of dehydration.

A BBQ was set up for us on the Wednesday which, when combined with the wide ranging and entertaining quiz presented by Malcolm Sim, gave members plenty to chew over for the evening.

Las Colinas course is a complex mix with holes ranging from those which would challenge the world's best to some wide open drive and pitch holes. The concept of a gentle start goes right out of the window with a 90 degree dog leg- around 450 yards, uphill, bunkered and out of bounds right, extreme bundu left, bunkered short of a raised green surrounded by bushes. The second is only marginally easier and the third is a par five with water right and left and all of the way across the front of the green. Most considered 5,5,5 a decent start.  The 11th is a massive beast of around 620 yards with a double dog leg and ends up with a plateau green with out of bounds five yards over the back. Five and fourteen are par threes over 200 yards and over water which contrast with the 7th, a mere flick through an avenue of trees with friendly bankings right and left.

The course hosts a PGA Tour School qualifier in December and greens staff were in the middle of preparation. Their work did prove a distraction to our play at some stages and it seemed there had been a communication issue between the various strands of the organisation.

The doubles featured several strong pairings. Debutants Ian Morrison and Malcolm Reid led after the opening day's 4 ball better ball with an ousttanding 68. Ian Morrison contributed four birdies to the total but was quick to acknowledge the platform created by his plus 1 partner. Close up were the tried and tested combination of Gordon MacDonald and Sandy Pirie . Tied third were the new combination of Ian Brotherston and Ian Jeen, organiser John Johnston with Keith Bruce, and the Panmure Pirates Brian Kidd and Dougal Chalmers.

Scoring tends to be higher on greensomes day and a fine 74 was good enough to secure the title for the Pirie/MacDonald combine from three groups tied second..

 

PLAYER 1	PLAYER 2		4 BALL		GREENSOME		AGGREGATE
Gordon MacDonald	Sandy Pirie		70		74		144
Keith Bruce	John Johnston		71		74		145
Malcolm Reid	Ian Morrison		68		77		145
Ian Brotherston	Ian Jeen		71		74		145
Brian Kidd	Dougal Chalmers		71		77		148
Andy Ross	Muir Townsley		75		76		151
George Rodaks	Graeme Sharp		75		77		152
Jim Kinloch	Peter Kinloch		74		79		153
Ken Forrest	Jim Johnston		75		78		153
Andrew Laird	Norman Forster		76		79		155
Keith Howie	Scott MacDonald		73		82		155
Jim Pagan	Bob Lee		73		82		155
Ian Fraser	Gordon Doig		73		83		156
Alan Nelson	Bill Methven		77		79		156
Fraser Sharp	David Doodson		76		80		156
George Paterson	Jim Scott		73		84		157
Mike Currie	Ian Donald		78		79		157
Les Fowler	Andrew Brodie		75		83		158
David Millar	Billy Wallace		80		78		158
Gordon Gray	Neish Chisholm		79		81		160
Finlay Jardine	Norman Kelly		79		83		162
Malcolm Sim	Robbie McGregor		80		83		163
Tim McCaul	Ian Buchan		82		81		163
Jim Cameron	Duncan Forbes		77		87		164
Drew Wilson	Jim Roy		82		83		165
Doug Mitchell	Bill Miller		83		84		167
Alan Wallace	Neil Campbell		82		96		178
Tom Allan	Donnie Lie		85		wd		NR
Robert Gordon	Duncan MacMorran		89		wd		NR

And so....on to the singles.

Malcolm Reid has played nearly all of his golf in the South of England for the past 20 years and was clearly revelling in the chance to mix it with "his ain"

His opening 71 contained no less than seven threes, reflecting the opportunities and threats posed by the course. This was good enough to lead by a stroke from Ian Jeen and by two from Ian Brotherston, undefeated so far in this event. Norman Kelly was 4th and a resurgent George Paterson 5th.

Thursday's play was cancelled due to heavy rain and electrical activity in the area. Friday opened with some damp conditions and a tricky, swirling breeze which probably added 2 or 3 shots to the degree of difficulty.

The top three places stayed put as all three leading contenders returned 74s. Both Ians made progress at some points but Malcolm Reid held his discipline for a fine debut victory.

 

PLAYER		Rd 1		Rd 2		2 Round
						Aggregate
Malcolm Reid		71		74		145
Ian Jeen		72		74		146
Ian Brotherston		73		74		147
George Paterson		75		77		152
Norman Kelly		74		79		153
Dougal Chalmers		77		77		154
Scott MacDonald		77		78		155
Jim Johnston		79		77		156
Keith Bruce		75		83		158
David Millar		80		78		158
Ken Forrest		76		82		158
George Rodaks		82		77		159
Doug Mitchell		80		79		159
Jim Cameron		81		79		160
John Johnston		82		78		160
Ian Morrison		82		78		160
Mike Currie		84		76		160
Sandy Pirie		81		80		161
Alan Nelson		79		82		161
Graeme Sharp		83		78		161
Norman Forster		80		82		162
Jim Kinloch		80		82		162
Jim Pagan		82		80		162
Muir Townsley		83		79		162
Ian Fraser		83		80		163
Bill Methven		79		84		163
Andrew Brodie		81		83		164
Gordon MacDonald		86		78		164
Drew Wilson		83		81		164
David Doodson		82		83		165
Gordon Doig		84		81		165
Peter Kinloch		84		81		165
Billy Wallace		87		78		165
Fraser Sharp		85		81		166
Keith Howie		84		83		167
Andrew Laird		82		87		169
Les Fowler		86		84		170
Neil Campbell		84		86		170
Gordon Gray		85		86		171
Brian Kidd		89		82		171
Robert Gordon		88		84		172
Andy Ross		89		85		174
Jim Scott		84		91		175
Malcolm Sim		88		88		176
Duncan Forbes		93		83		176
Bob Lee		91		88		179
Tim McCaul		91		91		182
Neish Chisholm		90		93		183
Duncan MacMorran		97		89		186
Tom Allan		94		95		189
Ian Buchan		96		94		190
Bill Miller		96		96		192
Donnie Lie		94		99		193
Jim Roy		90		NR		NR
Finlay Jardine		92		wd		NR
Alan Wallace		Rtd		0		NR
Ian Donald		79		NR		NR

SSGS Captain George Rodaks introduced the prizegiving and paid tribute to the efforts put in by the organisers before handing over to John Johnston and Archie Wohlgemuth. ably assisted by Public Relations Manager Maria, to complete the formalities.

 

Programme for the week-

Sunday evening- welcome reception with tapas and drinks

Monday Doubles round 1- 4 ball better ball. Tuesday Round 2- Greensomes

Wednesday singles stroke play round 1  Wednesday evening BBQ and Malky Sim's Bumper Quiz

Thursday singles rouns 2 (rained off)

Friday Final round singles and presentation of prizes.