Finals Day

Finals Day at Annanhill was blessed with fine weather and, in places, some tense and skillful golf. In the Caxton Cup final, Alan Purvis struck early, building a significant lead of seven holes on Gordon Ferguson by the turn. Alan increased his lead by another hole and the pair shook hands on the thirteenth, Mr. Purvis winning by eight and six.

The First Class Singles went a bit further. Tom Sclater built a slim lead of two holes after ten had been played. He maintained this through thirteen but had to recover well around this green having opened the door for Chris Kerr by just a fraction. Tom finally slammed it shut on the fifteenth green having won the two previous holes, the match concluding four and three.

The Second Class Singles was an even closer affair. Darren McCutcheon established a commanding lead of four by the turn. Alistair Munro then battled back and by the time the pair reached the fifteenth tee the match was all square. Darren held his nerve to half the fifteenth and steady play saw him win the next two to win the match by 2 & 1 on the seventeenth green.

The last match to be completed featured the Doubles Final. Mark Robertson and Grant Bolton set a blistering early pace and were four up after five holes. 

A fantastic - and much-needed birdie putt - in excess of 30 feet was made by Brian Griffin on the 6th to claw a hole back. Then a tap-in birdie on 8 for Ross was given to reduce the lead to 2. It was all square going down the fifteenth where Brian G rolled in a near twenty-foot putt to take the hole. 

The sixteenth was halved before Ross G sent his 188-yard tee shot on the par 3 to an unmatchable fifteen inches (the ball was much closer than that as it passed the hole!). The putt was conceded and with a score of 2 & 1, the Griffins are anointed Doubles Champions - an incredible team effort by the brothers.

At the beginning of the day, perhaps foreshadowing events to come, Michael Lynn built up an impressive early lead in the Third Class Singles final. Try as he might Gordon Ferguson could not make a dent in this deficit and the pair shook hands on the thirteenth with Michael holding an unassailable 7 & 5 lead.

Congratulations to all participants of Finals Day; silverware and bragging rights for those who won and for the rest of us, sharpen your short game and get your putting in line. It will all start again before you know it.