A STIRRING performance in Kingarth's Winter League has taken John Stewart from wooden spoon to silverware.

The 24-handicapper, who finished bottom of the table last year, was celebrating his first-ever trophy success at the weekend when he won the McArthur Cup. Stewart was a late challenger in the stableford tournament with best eight scores counting as he overtook early pacemakers Gordon Little (14) then John Kernaghan (11) to take the title by a two-point margin. He finished on 317 with Kernaghan having to settle for runner-up spot on 315. Little slipped back into fourth place after Jim McKirdy (10) overtook him with an impressive final round on Saturday.

McKirdy's 39-point finale was one clear of Duncan Speirs (6) on 38 with other leading scorers David Bryden (9) on 37, John Stewart (24), 36 and John Kernaghan (11), 34.

The prize for most twos in the league rounds goes to plus-one player Graham Bolton with seven, two ahead of second-placed Jim McKirdy. A red-white-and-blue bedecked wooden spoon has been won by James McAlister who will be striving to follow in the footsteps of John Stewart next winter.

Winter League final placings (best eight scores): J. Stewart 317, J. Kernaghan 315, J. McKirdy 312, G. Little 310, D. Cameron 305, D. Bryden 305, L. Ferguson 300, G. Bolton 300, R. Speirs 288, D. Speirs 288, J. Bunyan 283, R. Gordon 282, I. McDougall 281, F. Robinson 279, D. Standaloft 279, G. Cuthbertson 275, D. Speirs 273, A. McFarlane 273, J. Burnside 270, J. McAlister 260.

The 2006 season begins tomorrow (Saturday) with the April medal. The usual ballot is at 8.30am at the clubhouse and players are reminded of the new £1 entry charge for competitions with an optional £1 for the sweep.