ON a day when bursts of torrential rain, backed by fierce winds, swept across the exposed Kingarth links the Oldest Member stayed the course. As golfers of half his age and younger were washed off the fairways last Saturday 85-years-young Jimmy Burnside battled on to finish in a creditable third place in the latest round of the Bute club’s Winter League.

Half the field gave up because of the extreme conditions but there was no surrender by the club’s hon. captain, who has two replacement hips, as he strode on bareheaded to the bitter end. Burnside’s 30-point total was six behind winner Duncan Speirs whose score included a fighting back nine. Despite the squalls the six-handicapper had birdies at the thirteenth and eighteenth to finish with a level par inward half of 34. Bobby Speirs (13) was in second place with 34 points while Ian McDougall (18) and last year’s winner John Stewart (22) were joint fourth with 28 points. Fortunately everyone managed to get dried out in time for the club’s annual dinner and presentation of prizes which took place at St Blane’s Hotel in the evening. Donald Standaloft collected the Gavin North Trophy for his second successive championship win while Elizabeth McMillan and Marion MacDonald were again leading prizewinners among the ladies.

Club captain Ian McDougall congratulated all winners and thanked officials, especially hon. secretary Frazer Robinson and hon. treasurer John Macartney, and everyone who had contributed to the successful running of the club during the past season. There was praise for greenkeepers Joe McCabe and Jim Speirs for their continuing good work in maintaining the course. The captain also thanked David and Janis Haig and their staff at St Blane’s Hotel for an excellent dinner and for their ongoing support for the club. Mrs McDougall, who handed over the gents prizes, was in turn presented with a bouquet of flowers by club vice-captain John Bunyan.

Gents prize winners: Club champion (Gavin North Trophy) - Donald Standaloft; runner-up - Robert MacDonald. Cuthbertson Cup - John Kernaghan; runner-up - Gordon Little. Kingarth Trophy - Leonard Ferguson; runners-up - John Kernaghan and Alistair McFarlane. Baillie Cup (singles handicap) - David Cameron; runner-up - John Stewart. McArthur Cup (Winter League) - John Stewart. St Blane's Hotel Trophy - Gordon Pettigrew. RNLI Shield - Gordon Little; runner-up - John Kernaghan. Kerrytonlia Cup - Phyllis McKirdy, David Cameron and Bobby Gordon. Hume Ferguson Cup - Marion MacDonald, Beck Reid and John Bunyan. R A Pride Shield - Marion MacDonald and George Cuthbertson. Alex Speirs Memorial Trophy (six best medal rounds) - David Cameron; runner-up - David Bryden. Emslie Medal - Leonard Ferguson; runner-up - Bobby Speirs. Robertson Medal - George Cuthbertson, runner-up - David Cameron. Wm Barclay Trophy (over 60s) - Leonard Ferguson, runner-up - David Bryden. McAlister Tankard - David Cameron, runner-up - John Kernaghan. James Lamont Quaich - Graham Leonard, runner-up - David Bryden. Sir Harry Hope Cup - John Stewart; runners-up - James McAlister and David Cameron. W D McFarlane Memorial Trophy - John Kernaghan and Frazer Robinson; runners-up - Bobby Speirs and John Stewart. Ladies: Captain's Prize - Elizabeth Speirs; runner-up Jenny McDermott. Coronation Foursomes - Marion MacDonald and Beck Reid qualified to represent Bute Golf Club at Erskine. Millennium Rosebowl - Elizabeth Archibald. Thistle Brooch - Cathy McKirdy; runner-up - Katherine Keith. Gleneagles Medal - Elizabeth McMillan; runner-up - Marion MacDonald. SLGA Brooch - Elizabeth Speirs; runner-up - Jean Cuthbertson. Bronze Medal - Katherine Keith. McAlister Cup - Marion MacDonald; runner-up - Phyllis McKirdy. Salver - Elizabeth McMillan; runner-up - Marion MacDonald. Kerr-Speirs Shield - Beck Reid. R Gordon Rosebowl - Elizabeth Archibald and Phyllis McKirdy; runners-up - Elizabeth McMillan and Jenny McDermott