GLOBETROTTING golfer Andrew Fulton turned the clock back 40 years last week when he was once more a winner on Bute. Now a nine-handicapper, the former scratch player lifted The Burnside Bowl with a two-shot victory in the Seniors Open at Kingarth after scoring net 62.

Back in 1966 at the age of 21 he had the distinction of winning the Rothesay club championship during his term as captain of the club. Fulton, who left Scotland in 1967 on a Foreign Office career which took him all over the world, played most of his competitive golf while at university. He won the British Universities title and captained the Glasgow University team to a memorable double when they won the Scottish and British championships. While posted to Vietnam in the early seventies he won the Vietnam Open at Saigon where, in addition to the usual golfing hazards, there was the small matter of avoiding Vietcong booby traps!

Further success came when he moved on to Rome where he won the Oligiata Club championship in 1974. And Fulton was delighted to be back on the winner's rostrum on Bute. He remarked: “It's nice to win something again after all these years. Kingarth was in terrific condition. Joe McCabe's greens were superb ... they were difficult, but very true.” Steady golf in testing windy conditions paved the way to victory for Fulton as he scored two-over-par 36 to the turn and 35 on the inward-half for a gross 71. The Rothesay player finished two shots clear of Bute GC hon. secretary Frazer Robinson (18) and Cochrane Castle's Tom Caldwell (10), both on 64.

Robinson had the consolation of finishing first in the 61-years-and-over category while Caldwell took the main award for those aged 50-60 years. The scratch prize went to Tommy Duncan for the second successive year. He beat Rothesay clubmate, and last year's overall winner, Neil Ritchie thanks to a better inward half after both finished on two-over-par 70. Sandy Long (21), also Rothesay, was the over-65s winner on net 65. There was widespread praise from the 40 competitors for Kingarth's greenkeepers Joe McCabe and Jim Speirs for presenting the course in exceptional condition. Club captain Ian McDougall said: “Our congratulations go to Andrew Fulton as a worthy winner of this our third Senior Open.

The day again proved to be highly successful and thanks go to our sponsor, honorary captain Jim Burnside, for his great generosity and to Annemarie McLean of the Rothesay branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland for providing the special prizes.”

Details (Rothesay unless otherwise stated): Overall winner, The Burnside Bowl - R. A. Fulton (9) 62.

Scratch - T. Duncan 70. Over-65s - S. Long (21) 65. Ages 50-60 - T. Caldwell (Cochrane Castle) (10) 64, N. Ritchie (5) 65, J. Ewing (5) 66. Ages 61 and over - F. Robinson (Bute) (18) 64, T. Burke (14) 67 bih, D. Scott (12) 67 bih. Longest Drive (50-60) - J. Duncan. Longest Drive (61 and over) - I. Macrae (Kyles). Nearest the pin - W. Leckie. The competition scratch score was 64.

KINGARTH was scorched by more than the sun on Saturday as the second round of the Sir Harry Hope Cup produced the lowest competition scores on the course for years.

John Stewart, winner of the Winter League, is now red-hot favourite to take his second trophy after finishing with net 56 to win by three shots from James McAlister (20) and David Cameron (6) both on 59. Remarkably 10 players in the field of 23 were on the competition scratch score of 63 or better. Cameron, obviously unaffected by his recent marriage, produced the best golf of the day with a flawless round of 65. Birdies at the second, seventh and eighth took him to the turn in 31 and he remained bogey-free on the back nine for 34. Neil McMillan (9) was fourth with a splendid gross 69 for net 60 with Gordon Pettigrew (7), Leonard Ferguson (18), and Duncan Speirs (7) all on 61. The third and final round of the competition will be played on Saturday, August 26, but Stewart's target 56 will be hard to beat.

KINGARTH members are back in competitive action tomorrow (Saturday) in an extra medal with the usual ballot at 8.30am while on Tuesday a party is heading for Irvine Ravenspark for the club's annual outing. The final mixed trophy event of the season takes place next Friday (August 4) when members will compete for the R. A. Pride Shield. Those wishing to take part should add names to the list in the clubhouse.