DONALD STANDALOFT was this week celebrating his second successive club championship title after a fairly comfortable final win against Robert MacDonald on Sunday.

The three-handicapper was never behind as he played consistently on his way to a 4 and 2 victory. MacDonald made an uncertain start after three putts at the first but produced the best birdies of the day when he twice beat par at the fourth. First time round his three got him back on level terms but Standaloft hit back strongly to be three up at the turn including a birdie three at the 304 yards seventh where he almost drove the green. MacDonald, playing the fourth for the second time again put his approach shot close for another sub-par three which appeared to herald a fight-back as he went on to win the next hole reducing the deficit to two down. However Standaloft replied immediately to win the 15th to go dormie three and a conceded birdie putt on the next hole secured victory. The Bute champion now has his eye on another title, that of Port Bannatyne GC where he is also a member. After unsuccessfully contesting three finals at the Port Standaloft is hoping that this could be his year for a memorable double.

In the semi-finals the champion beat David Bryden by 5 and 4 while MacDonald produced his best golf of the competition to account for David Cameron by 3 and 2.

THE "Wee Championship" for the Cuthbertson Cup has been won by John Kernaghan after his final opponent, Gordon Little, had to withdraw after three holes with a back injury. ---------------------------------

A FIFTEEN-FOOT putt for victory by Rory Macleod on the final green gave Port Bannatyne a halved match with Bute in the annual social fixture for the Challenge Cup at Kingarth on Saturday. However, despite that fight-back from three down by Macleod and partner John Preston against George Cuthbertson and John Bunyan, the trophy was retained by holders Bute. The Port's other winners were Hector Whitelaw and Andy Cormack who beat Bobby Speirs and Frazer Robinson. For Kingarth John Girvan and John Kernaghan beat Jack Paterson and Iain Macleod, while Gordon Pettigrew and David Bryden beat Jim Bicker and Robert Jardine. --------------------------------

A BIG field is expected for the Royal Bank of Scotland Kingarth Open which takes place at Bute Golf Club on Sunday. Rothesay's Keir Byars is defending the competition's Middleton Cup which he won with a net 60 playing off 11 last year. Club captain Ian McDougall said that thanks to the continued sponsorship from the Royal Bank of Scotland through their senior agricultural manager Neil Gillies, the event promises to be bigger and better than ever. Top prize is an £80 voucher for the best net score with a £50 voucher for the leading scratch score, won last year by Bute's David Cameron with a two-over-par 70. Again there will be two categories, scratch-10 handicaps will compete in first class, with 11-18 in second class. There will be three voucher prizes in each. Competitors should report to the starter between 7.30am and 3.00pm on the day. There is an entry fee of £7.00. --------------------------

The June Medal is being played tomorrow at Kingarth with the usual 8.30am ballot.