A FIERCE south-easterly wind took its toll last Saturday as Kingarth's golfers battled with the elements in the RNLI Trophy competition.

Indeed it would have been convenient if the charity which is to benefit from the event had stationed a rescue boat offshore at the third hole to retrieve wayward balls!

That tricky 156 yards' par three proved to be the toughest test of the day and yielded only two pars out of 30 attempts. There were 12 bogies, 13 double bogies, two sixes ... and a nine. Gordon Little (15) refused to be blown off course and held his game together to take the trophy with net 68.

Runner-up John Kernaghan (13) was just one stroke behind on 69 with George Cuthbertson (10) third on 70.

Other leading scorers were Jim McKirdy (11) on 71 with Bobby Speirs (12) and Frazer Robinson (18) both scoring 72. The competition scratch score was 67. Bute's members will be hoping for calmer conditions tomorrow (Saturday) when they compete in the April stableford competition. The ballot takes place at the clubhouse as usual at 8.30am.