A BLISTERING back nine earned Rothesay's Peter Crawford his first major success on Sunday when he won The Royal Bank of Scotland Kingarth Open in some style. The eight handicapper, who had scored 37 to the turn, shot a brilliant 31 on the inward half for level par 68 and net 60 to lift the Middleton Cup and the top prize of an £80 voucher. Crawford had thought that his chances of success were gone when he dropped three shots to par at the 6th and 7th in his outward half, but birdies at the 12th, 16th and 18th earned him a well-deserved victory.

There was also superb golf from his young clubmate Gordon McClean who took the scratch award with an almost flawless 65. The teenager, who won the Argyll and Bute boys' championship last year, returned a three-under-par 65 thanks to birdies at the 7th, 9th, 16th and 18th dropping only one shot at the 12th. While Rothesay club players dominated the prize list Bute took some satisfaction from the success of Archie McCabe (15) who led the second class with net 62 thanks to a better inward half which edged him ahead of Iain MacLeod (12), Port Bannatyne's only prize winner. Ian McFarlane (12) took third place also on 62. The first class was led by Hugh Charker (10) with a splendid 72 for net 62 with Bute's David Cameron (6) and John Gilchrist (4) both on 63.

There was widespread praise for the excellent condition of the Kingarth course which was looking its brilliant best thanks to the efforts of greenkeepers Joe McCabe and Jim Speirs. Club captain Ian McDougall paid tribute to them and to The Royal Bank of Scotland's senior agricultural manager Neil Gillies who, along with the local branch, had generously sponsored the tournament again. Mr McDougall also thanked the club's honorary captain, Jim Burnside, and Rothesay professional Jim Dougal for helping to make the event, which attracted an entry of 71 players, such a success.

Full details of leading scorers (Rothesay unless otherwise stated): Middleton Cup winner: P. Crawford (8) 60. First class: H. Charker (10) 62, D. Cameron (Bute) (6) 63 bih, J. Gilchrist (4) 63 bih. Second class: A. McCabe (Bute) (15) 62 bih, I. MacLeod (Port Bannatyne) (12) 62 best last three holes, I. McFarlane (12) bih 62. Scratch G. McClean 65. Other prizes: First class - longest drive 4th hole: J. Shaw, nearest pin 6th hole: G. Haig. Second class: longest drive 7th hole: S. Haig, nearest pin 3rd hole: S. Maher. All prizes can be uplifted from Jim Dougal at Rothesay Golf Club.

THERE was some consolation on Saturday for club championship beaten finalist Robert MacDonald when he won the fist class in the June medal. The nine-handicapper scored an excellent three-over-par 71 for net 62 to win by one shot from David Bryden (9) on 63 with Graham Connor (11) third with 64. Leonard Ferguson led the second class with net 62 playing off 18. Stephen Greenshields (27) and John Bunyan (20) were next with scores of 64.

KINGARTH golfers are back in competitive action tomorrow (Saturday) in the July medal with the usual ballot at 8.30am.