ALASTAIR McFARLANE landed the main prize in last Saturday’s HSBC-sponsored medal at Kingarth by the narrowest of margins when he pipped the in-form Gordon Pettigrew with a better inward half after both players finished on net 62.   After dropping three shots to par at the tenth and eleventh, seven-handicapper Pettigrew made a valiant attempt to recover with four birdies in seven holes, but had to settle for runner-up place after McFarlane (12) edged him out with a steady back-nine of 36.  

McFarlane now has the opportunity to represent the Bute club in the regional finals of the HSBC Amateur match-play championship.   Jim McKirdy (12) won third prize after scoring net 63 with Donald Standaloft (3) also among the leaders on 67.   John Bunyan (21) led second class with 64, four shots clear of Bobby Speirs (13), with Ian McDougall (18) third with 69.   But all competitors were winners on Saturday thanks to the generosity of banking organisation HSBC.  In addition to prize vouchers of £45, £20, and £10, there was a free gift for all players who were also treated to food and refreshments at St Blane’s Hotel after the competition.  

Pettigrew has the consolation of being the first winner of the McDougall Trophy following a two-over-par round of 70 in the previous week’s stableford competition.   The seven-handicapper's 41 points' total was just one clear of runner-up John Bunyan (22) with David Bryden (9) and John Kernaghan (13) joint third on 39 points.  The trophy  was donated for annual competition by club captain Ian McDougall.   There’s more silverware at stake tomorrow (Saturday) when members compete for the McAlister Tankard in a stableford competition. The usual ballot takes place at 8.30 am.