Announcement
This year’s event took place on Sunday 30th September at Stonehaven Golf Club.The weather this year was yet again perfect.The first group teed off at 10 am.
Due to having a couple of call offs the 1st group was a 2 ball but they were playing for 3 points in total , 1pt for the 1st 9 holes, 1pt for the 2nd 9 holes and 1 point for the match.
Match 1 - Michael Ross v Ronnie Massie
Massie was indeed the man who clinched the title for team Tavendale last year and he continued where he left off by getting into an early lead and never looking back winning the 1st 9 holes at a canter ,the match was then clinched at the 12th by a score of 7 & 6 . Also going onto seal a whitewash by winning the 2nd 9 holes.
Looks like them years of being mates with Ross Coull starting to pay off for Massie.
Michael Ross on the other hand , too many years bailing with his auld man !
( Team Gill 0 Team Tavendale 3 )
Match 2 – Roy Gill v Dave Tavendale Ralph Mennie v Dean Milne
Gill & Mennie both got off to a great start with Tavendale & Milne struggling to keep up with them.Gill was 3 up at the turn and with a little late surge by Tavendale , Gill finally finished the match at the 16th.Tavendale did well to keep this match going as far as this ,as Gill was in good form.
After Mennie getting off to a good start and upsetting Milne at the 4th when Milne lost a ball , Milne was able to keep plugging away until Mennies resistance broke down.Milne clinching his match on the 17th.
With Tavendale having a late surge this then helped himself and Milne sealing the doubles win on the 18th.
( Team Gill 1 Team Tavendale 5 )
Match 3 – Derek Muir v Ross McLeod Paul Whyte v Kevin Young
This was a real game of true Ryder Cup golf.
Muir (with new irons I believe) who was making his debut at the event went into a 2up lead after 8 holes.But he couldn’t get away from McLeod, who as the holes were running out hit what can only be described as top form which included an eagle 3 at the par 5 16th.So with 1 hole to play and 1 down to McLeod , Muir went for a big one at the last but only succeeded in pulling his tee shot into the graveyard which is of course Out Of Bounds.The pair then shook hands as McLeod took the point for team Tavendale.
There wasn’t anything in the Whyte and Young game for the 1st 9 holes , however after the turn Whyte hit good form to go into a 4up lead with 4 holes to play.
This was looking like sweet revenge for Whyte after last year’s beating from Young, however in dramatic Ryder Cup fashion Young won the next 4 holes which included Whyte hitting his final tee shot also into the OB at the 18th hole.What a turn around by Young to get ½ from this match.
With McLeod and Young hitting good late form the doubles match was then also halved.
( Team Gill 2 Team Tavendale 7 )
Match 4 – Chris Masson v Mark Young Kevin Smith v Alan Riddell
A lot of competiveness in this match.
Young who was making his debut in this year’s event started brilliantly and before Masson could get into any kind of rhythm and with not having a pre-season this year then his fitness struggled to keep up with his opponent. Young had won the game by the 14th.Young had an excellent round and shot the best score of the day a 3 over par 69.
In the other match , Smith and Riddell the 2 veterans of many Ryder Cups were battling it out.But it was Riddell who came out the winner in this one, winning 3 & 2.
( Nae bad for the lad fae Inver who hasnae played muckle golf this year due to doing up his house , we heard that he hasnae played much cos he’s always at the Glaxo ! )
With Riddell and Young both winning their singles , they made this a whitewash by winning the doubles as well.
( Team Gill 2 Team Tavendale 10 )Match 5 – Graham Ferris v Steve Clark David Craig v Duncan Croall
Clark had been drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Paul Masson.Ferris would have to wait another year to get a game against auld Mass and put him in his place.This was a game where both players were making their debuts.
With Clark getting 8 strokes from Ferris along with Ferris’s hangover , the ever so steady Clark edged this one to give Tavendale yet another point.
Craig v Croall this was a real tight game with Craig taking a 1up lead at the turn.The back 9 holes there was never anymore than 2 holes in it .Craig then held a 1 hole lead with 2 holes to play and then having N/R at the 17th and now make the match all square the dependable Croall won the 18th with a par 3 and also the match.
The doubles match was halved ( they think ! )
Great to see Craig dressed with the same polo shirt as his captain Gill ( must have been a BOGOF offer )
( Team Gill 2 1/2 Team Tavendale 12 1/2 )
Match 6 – Des Petrie v Grant Rae Ron Mitchell v Mike Simpson
After last year’s hammering by Petrie 10 & 8 , Rae was surely seeking personnel revenge. Rae who had been taking professional lessons along with just back from a golfing holiday surely this would stand him in good stead for the challenge ahead.
But having played not much better than last year Rae went down to the steady Petrie by 8 & 6.At this rate Rae will start contributing by the year 2011 ( surely time for a substitution or planning this event when Rae cannot manage )
In the other game it them old foes Mitchell and Simpson against each other.Simo set the early pace and raced to a lead of 3up at the turn.Simo never gave Mitch much of a chance to get back in the game and he finished the game off at the 14th winning by 5 & 4.Mitchell will have to spend some of that retirement time on the golf course so that he can mount a better challenge against Simpson next year.
The doubles match went to Petrie & Mitchell as Rae was what can only be described as woeful.
( Team Gill 4 1/2 Team Tavendale 13 1/2 )
Match 7 – Andy Maiden v Martin Christie Alan Coull v Ian Edwards
Maiden v Christie was a real up and down game with no one getting anymore than 2 holes up at any one time.Nip and tuck all the way until Maiden who was another debutant finally shook off Christie and the 17th to win by 2 & 1.I must give a special mention to Christie for the Ian Poulter award of the day as his dress attire and his appearance was immaculate to say the least.Maiden on the other hand had the just got out of bed hairdo look !
Coull v Edwards , there was not much in this game in the 1st 9 as Coull went to the turn 1up.However the debutant Edwards struggled at the start of the back 9 probably due to his heavy weekend. Coull took full advantage of this by finally winning the match 3 & 2 .Lets hope after this defeat that Edwards will return next year as Coull has got history of finishing off some players golfing careers.
Maiden & Coull winning the doubles for a 3 nil whitewash to Gill .
Final Score ( Team Gill 7 1/2 Team Tavendale 13 1/2 )
ROY Gill gave the thanks to everyone who attended and made some apologies to those who couldn’t .Looking forward to see everyone at next year’s event .Roy resigned as captain and proposed that Ralph Mennie took over from him.( oh dear )
Captain Dave Tavendale accepted the trophy on his team’s behalf.
Then it was time to go back to the Golf Inn via the harbour bar in Gourdon for some well deserved refreshments.
Regards
Dean Milne ( Ryder Cup Organiser)
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