Scottish Universities Golfing Society (est 1906)
London University GS - Muirfield - 2 February 2012
There could hardly be a better way to start the golfing year than a match at Muirfield against our friendly foes from London University GS. The match was played on a Thursday for the first time, but was blessed with perfect winter golfing conditions - a cold but sunny start, very little wind, and a Muirfield course in its usual excellent condition. Pre match friendships were renewed in the Old Clubhouse in Gullane during the evening prior to the match, but with LUGS looking for their first win since 2007, and SUGS mindful that their had been little to separate the two sides in recent years, both sides were on their best behaviour, and no casualties were reported.
The morning games saw a number of close matches, but it was LUGS who went into lunch with a narrow lead after a fine morning's work. Both sides were delighted to be joined by former SUGS President, Archie Baird, who still enjoys competitive golf in his 88th year. The Hon Sec was feeling under pressure, as SUGS had not lost at home in this fixture since he took office. With that statistic in mind, a strong performance from the afternoon pairings would be required, but would they deliver?
Early on, there was reason for both sides to be optimistic - an 8 & 7 win for SUGS was countered by a 9 & 7 win for LUGS. A number of matches finished on the 18th under the scrutiny of those watching from the sanctuary of the clubhouse. When LUGS put in a strong performance to win Match 1, it looked as though they might just sneak an overall win. However, SUGS yet again proved they are made of stern stuff, and as dusk settled, it was the young SUGS pairing of Greenshields and Fearnside who delivered the winning point on the last hole against the medical pairing of Lloyd and Leonard.
A fine post match dinner was held in Muirfield clubhouse, with entertainment provided by both sides in song, verse, and story. Proof yet again that the result in matches like this immaterial - the friendships and camaraderie count for much more.
AMT
Results from Muirfield (SUGS names first)
A.M.
1) Andrew Biggart & Fraser McCluskey halved with Ed Clutton & Stuart Lloyd
2) Graeme Belch & Andrew Jessop beat John Sugden & George Yeandle
3) Dave Greenshields & Ewan Cameron lost to Tim Leonard & Hugh Maurice
4) Doug Graham & RIchard Inglis lost to John Dennis & Jimmy Bull
5) Andrew Thomson & Brian Eccles lost to Sam Baker & Mike Kershaw
6) Alastair Fearnside & Mike Morrison beat Neil Falconer & Nick Kershaw
Morning Result: SUGS 2½ - 3½ LUGS
P.M.
1) Fraser McCluskey & Ewan Cameron lost to Ed Clutton & Hugh Maurice
2) Dave Greenshields & Alastair Fearnside beat Stuart Lloyd & Tim Leonard
3) Andrew Jessop & Andrew Thomson beat John Dennis & Sam Baker
4) Doug Graham & Graeme Belch beat John Sugden & Jimmy Bull
5) Brian Eccles & Mike Morrison lost to Mike Kershaw & Nick Kershaw
6) Andrew Biggart & Richard Inglis beat George Yeandle & Neil Falconer
Afternoon Result: SUGS 4 - 2 LUGS
Overall Result: SUGS 6½ - 5½ LUGS
Heriot Watt University - Gullane 2 - 12 February 2012
Yet again, the students struggled to raise a team due to a backlog of cancelled matches, and the match was reduced to 6 aside. Don Reekie nobly played for Heriot Watt despite his student days long since gone. The combination of good weather, competitve golf over Gullane 2, and a well earned lunch ensured that a good time was had by all, particularly SUGS who had a comfortable victory, thus retaining their 100% unbeaten record in 2012.
DSR / AMT
Results from Gullane (SUGS names first)
1) Nicky Gold & Graeme Belch beat Varun Varadharajan & Rory Whitson by 3 and 2
2) Stephen Govenlock & Jamie Sharp beat Don Reekie & Craig Ewing by 3 & 2
3) Andrew Biggart & Barry Templeton halved with Euan Paterson & Tristan Blumli
Result: SUGS 2½ - ½ Heriot Watt University
Strathclyde University - Western Gailes - 26 February 2012
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart & Dougie Hunter lost to Alistair Macdonald & Mickey Manson by 5 and 4
2) Alexander Main & Kenny Fraser beat Daniel McLagan & Jordan Leask by 2 and 1
3) Nicky Gold & Jamie Sharp beat Sam Mailer & Chris Harkins by 4 and 2
4) Barry Templeton & Steven Scott halved with Euan Brown & Andrew Cunningham
Result: SUGS 2½ - 1½ Strathclyde University
Aberdeen University - Royal Aberdeen - 4 March 2012
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart and Jim Christie beat Keith Shanks and John Drummond by 3 and 2
2) Lance Sloan and Niall Farquharson lost to Douglas Maxwell and Cameron Hay by 2 and 1
3) Donald Macandrew and Alastair Morgan beat Gavin Bisset and Douglas Allan by 1 hole
4) Steven Scott and Peter Burnet beat Peter Grant and Michael Ridley by 2 and 1
5) Ian McPherson and Martin Duncan beat Ross Crummey and Duncan Arthur by 2 and 1
Result: SUGS 4 - 1 Aberdeen University
Dublin University GS – Portmarnock – 9 March 2012
Results from Portmarnock (SUGS names first)
A.M.
1) Graeme Belch & Iain Crawford lost to Michael Brett & David Conway by 2 and 1
2) Nicky Gold & Charles Hammond lost to Jerome Counihan & M Jacob by 5 and 3
3) Bobby Watson & David Rennie halved with Dougie Heather & Nick Dillon
4) Stuart Farmer & James Haggart lost to John Kenny & F Fullen by 2 holes
5) Andrew Biggart & Niall Farquharson halved with Aedan Jameson & Huntly Lauder
6) David McFarlane & Richard Inglis halved with Connor O'Brien & P McEligott
Morning Result: SUGS 1½ - 4½ DUGS
P.M.
1) David Rennie & Stuart Farmer lost to M Jacob & Dougie Heather by 5 and 4
2) Bobby Watson & Niall Farquharson beat David Conway & Nick Dillon by 1 hole
3) Richard Inglis & Iain Crawford lost to F Fuller & Huntly Lauder by 2 and 1
4) James Haggart & Andrew Biggart beat John Kenny & Connor O'Brien by 3 and 2
5) Charles Hammond & David McFarlane lost to Aedan Jameson & P McEligott by 2 and 1
6) Graeme Belch & Nicky Gold lost to Jerome Counihan & Michael Brett by 4 and 3
**The Match Captain noted that Belch and Gold (a.k.a "the dream team") failed to get a point at No 6, and were all square after 9**
Afternoon Result: SUGS 2 - 4 DUGS
Overall Result: SUGS 3½ - 8½ DUGS
St Andrew University - St Andrews (Eden & Old) - 17 March 2012
This year's match was played in ideal conditions - plenty of sunshine with steady breeze to test both sides shot making abilities. The morning foursomes were played over the Eden Course which was in excellent condition - something all the St Andrews links are increasingly renowned for in addition to the historic setting. With both sides playing foursomes in the traditional "walking ahead" style, the pace of play was refreshingly brisk until the first match caught up with some slow early starters. Despite this, all games were completed in under 3 hours, and as has frequently been the case, went into lunch with a comfortable lead.
The combination of a brisk morning round, coupled with later afternoon tee times than the 2011 match meant there was plenty of time to enjoy the facilities of the R&A. At least one student claimed a trip to the R&A showers was the highlight of the day! The serious matter of lunch was preceded by drinks in the Big Room at the R&A, and duly followed by the obligatory kummel / port / sloe gin before the afternoon fourball matches over the Old Course. Despite the first hole having the widest fairway in golf, it still proved a challenge to hit for some, with reports of drives out of bounds (left and right) as well as one tee shot reaching the Swilken Burn! Fortunately the quality of golf quickly improved, and a number of matches were decided by birdies on the 18th. SUGS redeemed themselves with 3 points of out 6, but this was insufficient to overcome the morning's deficit, giving the students a comfortable overall win. All matches were played in good spirit against a typically international looking university side, which made for a very enjoyable day, and regarded by the students as their highlight of the year - a tribute to both sides.
AMT
Results from St Andrews (SUGS names first)
A.M. (Eden Course - Foursome)
1) Nicky Gold & Fraser McCluskey lost to Freddie Edmunds & David Wilmerding by 1 hole
2) James Hetherington & Sandy Reid beat Pete Greene & Bryn Rocke by 2 and 1
3) Lee Ramsay & Lance Sloan halved with Matt Wheeler & Fred Irwin
4) Jonathan Brewer & Ben Kelly lost to Mike McCarthy & Jake Ramsden by 2 and 1
5) Andrew Thomson & Ewen Cairns lost to Sam Narji & Scott Gill by 4 and 3
6) Andrew Biggart & Niall Farquharson lost to Paul Campbell & Will Elvin by 4 and 3
Morning Result: SUGS 1½ - 4½ St Andrews University
P.M. (Old Course - Fourball)
1) Nicky Gold & Lance Sloan beat Pete Greene & Paul Campbell by 3 and 2
2) Sandy Reid & Lee Ramsay halved with Will Elvin & Fred Irwin
3) Ben Kelly & James Hetherington lost to Sam Narji & Bryn Rocke by 7 and 6
4) Jonathan Brewer & Ewen Cairns lost to Freddie Edmunds & Scott Gill by 1 hole
5) Andrew Thomson & Niall Farquharson halved with Matt Wheeler & Mike McCarthy
6) Fraser McCluskey & Andrew Biggart beat David Wilmerding & Jake Ramsden by 1 hole
Afternoon Result: SUGS 3 - 3 St Andrews University
Overall Result: SUGS 4½ - 7½ St Andrews University
Luffness New GC - Luffness - 18 March 2012
The Captain and Hon Sec, who had played against St Andrews University the previous day, brought the good weather from St Andrews down the coast to Luffness, which was to be found in excellent condition, with the addition of some new tees to test both sides. This was the 3rd visit SUGS had made to Luffness in 12 months following a cancelled match in 2010, and a decision to move this fixture from a short December day to more favourable March date. Both sides were in fine fettle, and following an excellent lunch, headed out for some golf. With Luffness on home ground, and in receipt of shots in all matches, the betting man might have favoured a home victory. However, the blend in the SUGS side of experienced campaigners and young blood did enough to gain a narrow victory, in a match that exhibits all that is good about the game of golf.
AMT
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart & John Wood lost to Peter Clark & Dennis Kerr
2) Robin Duncan & Barry Templeton beat David Loudon & Brian Nicolson
3) Stephen Carruthers & Kerr Vance halved with Peter Grant & Keith Yuille
4) Dave Greenshields & Andrew McCrone lost to Colin Wood & Keith Thomson
5) Andrew Thomson & Graeme Palmer beat Alastair Milne & Peter Hastings
6) James Haggart & Hamish Phillips beat Robin Ford & Duncan McLaren
Result: SUGS 3½ - 2½ Luffness New GC
Dundee University - Gleneagles (Queens) – 25 March 2012
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Nicky Gold & Stuart Farmer beat Malwhinney & Massey by 6 and 5
2) Graeme Belch & Charles Hammond beat Svenson & Dunbar by 5 and 4
3) Andrew Limmer & Don Reekie lost to Robb & Cramb by 6 and 5
4) Graeme Palmer & Noel Crilley beat Webster & Donald by 3 and 2
5) James Haggart & Kerr Vance beat Griffen & Payne by 2 and 1
Result: SUGS 4 - 1 Dundee University
Spring Meeting - Prestwick GC - 13 April 2012
Baird / Purdie trophy
1) Jonathan King – 69
2) Nicky Gold - 73
3) Dougie Hunter - 75
Best handicap score
1) Sandy Reid - 72
Stirling University – Stirling GC - 22 April 2012
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart & Graeme Belch halved with Duncan Douglas & Cairn Rae
2) Keith Macintosh & Stephen Carruthers beat Jon Pitcher & James Morrison by 3 and 2
3) Jim Kinloch & Mike Nicol lost to Stuart Cochrane & Mike McNally by 2 and 1
4) Peter Kinloch & Andrew Thomson lost to Phil Neil & Chris Long by 4 and 3
Result: SUGS 1½ - 2½ Stirling University
Aberdeen SUGS - Royal Aberdeen – 29 April 2012
Detailed results not recorded, but SUGS beat Aberdeen SUGS by 7 – 1.
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Dispatch Trophy
Team lost in Quarter Finals (names not recorded)
Midlothian Ladies - Gullane 2 - 1 June 2012
This year's match was not blessed with quite as benign weather as previous years - whilst still sunny a cool east wind kept the temperatures down. Gullane was looking exceptionally verdant - the rough was not the place to be! Following some competitive games the match ended in an amicable draw, and a bar supper in the Visitors' Clubhouse drew an enjoyable evening to a close. In her speech, MCLGA Captain, Mary Richardson, paid tribute to Ethel Jack, whose funeral had taken place earlier that day. Ethel had been a stalwart of MCLGA and Scottish ladies golf for many years, both as a player and administrator, and had played in the match against SUGS for many years, including the match at Liberton in 1973 where Nigel Watt made his first SUGS appearance, and will be sadly missed by the many who knew her.
AMT
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart & Michael Beamish lost to Emily Dalgleish & Hannah Scott by 3 and 2
2) Stephen Govenlock & Andrew McCrone beat Kate McIntosh & Wendy Nicholson by 1 hole
3) Iain Currie & Iain Crawford lost to Karen Marshall & Linda Caime by 2 holes
4) Jim Barnet & Andrew Thomson halved with Karen Ballantyne & Rachel Livingstone
5) Tim Edward & Douglas May beat Linda Bain & Sal Shepherd by 4 and 3
Result: SUGS 2½ - 2½ Midlothian Ladies
St Andrews SUGS - St Andrews (New) - 26 August 2012
Results (SUGS names first)
1) Keith Macintosh & Mike Reid beat John Hall & Hamish Macnaughtan by 2 and 1
2) Alastair Russell & Hamish Phillips (NB - both played for SUGS!) lost to Colin Steele & Graham Murray by 3 and 2
3) Alistair Pugh & Michael Beamish lost to Sandy Reid & Ian Kerr by 5 and 4
Result: SUGS 1 - 2 St Andrews SUGS
Gullane GC - Gullane No 1 - 2 September 2012
Results from Gullane No 1 (SUGS names first)
1) Andrew Biggart & Barry Templeton beat Scott Walker & John Clelland
2) Jim Kinloch & Stephen Govenlock beat Stewart Menzies & Gabrielle Salucci
3) Andrew Limmer & Alex Main lost to Keith McCall & Roddy Stevenson
4) Andrew Thomson & Peter Kinloch lost to Gordon Simmonds & David McCall
5) Graeme Palmer & Nigel Watt lost to Tim Gardiner & Bruce Boyd
Result: SUGS 2 - 3 Gullane Golf Club
Oxford & Cambridge GS - Ganton – 15 & 16 September 2012
Day 1 (SUGS names first)
1) John King & Michael Choong lost to Ramskill & Silver
2) Charles Hammond & Keith Macintosh lost to Cumbernauld & Birrel-Gray
3) Ewen Cairns & Jonny Brewer lost to Goodrich & Bellingham
4) Ben Kelly & Martin Todd lost to Mann & Davidson
5) Graeme Palmer & Noel Crilley beat Smith & Palmer
Result: SUGS 1 - 4 OCGS
Day 2 (SUGS names first)
1) Graeme Palmer & Noel Crilley lost to Goodrich & Palmer
2) Charles Hammond & John King lost to Ramskill & Cumbernauld
3) Ben Kelly & Michael Choong lost to Silver & Birrell-Gray
4) Ewen Cairns & Keith Macintosh halved with Mann & Melville
5) Johnny Brewer & Martin Todd halved with Smith & Davidson
Result: SUGS 1 - 4 OCGS
Overall Result: SUGS 2 - 8 OCGS
Queens University GS – Portstewart / Royal Portrush – 27-28 September 2012
Day 1 - Results from Portstewart - SUGS names first
A.M.
1) Graeme Belch & Andrew Biggart lost to Chris Brown & Brian Fleming by 5 and 4
2) Nicky Gold & Hugh Harvie lost to Keith McGarry & Brendan Cashell by 2 and 1
3) Simon Holt & Colin Steele beat David Cameron & Peter Greene by 1 hole
4) Andrew McCrone & Ewan Cameron beat Neil McCluney & Ian Young by 5 and 4
5) Sandy Reid & Andrew Jessop beat Andrew Dick & Alan Irwin by 2 and 1
6) Stephen Govenlock & Robin Duncan beat John Hanna & Rab Brady by 6 and 5
Morning Result: SUGS 4 - 2 QUGS
P.M.
1) Nicky Gold & Colin Steele lost to Chris Brown & Ian Young by 1 hole
2) Andrew Biggart & Hugh Harvie lost to David Cameron & Keith McGarry by 2 and 1
3) Graeme Belch & Simon Holt beat Andrew Dick & Peter Greene by 3 and 2
4) Ewan Cameron & Stephen Govenlock lost to Brian Fleming & Neil McCluney by 1 hole
5) Andrew Jessop & Andrew McCrone beat John Hanna & Brendan Cashell by 3 and 2
6) Robin Duncan & Sandy Reid halved with Rab Brady & Alan Irwin
Afternoon Result: SUGS 2½ - 3½ QUGS
Day 1 Result: SUGS 6½ - 5½ QUGS
Day 2 - Results from Royal Portrush - SUGS names first
A.M.
1) Simon Holt & Nicky Gold lost to Darren Crowe & Brendan Cashell by 2 and 1
2) Graeme Belch & Sandy Reid lost to Alistair Dick & Chris Brown by 2 and 1
3) Andrew Jessop & Stephen Govenlock beat Brian Fleming & Peter Greene by 3 and 2
4) Ewan Cameron & Colin Steele beat Ian Kerr & Andrew Dick
5) Robin Duncan & Hugh Harvie lost to Ian Young & David Cameron by 3 and 2
6) Andrew McCrone & Andrew Biggart beat Alan Irwin & Eddie Bill by 1 hole
Morning Result: SUGS 3 - 3 QUGS
P.M.
1) Graeme Belch & Nicky Gold beat Darren Crowe & Peter Greene by 2 and 1
2) Simon Holt & Sandy Reid beat Ian Kerr & Chris Brown by 4 and 3
3) Colin Steele & Andrew Jessop halved with David Cameron & Alistair Dick
4) Stephen Govenlock & Hugh Harvie lost to Andrew Dick & Eddie Bill by 1 hole
5) Ewan Cameron & Andrew Biggart halved with Brendan Cashell & Brian Fleming
6) Andrew McCrone & Robin Duncan halved with Alan Irwin & Ian Young
Afternoon Result: SUGS 3½ - 2½ QUGS
Day 2 Result: SUGS 6½ - 5½ QUGS
Overall Result: SUGS 13 - 11 QUGS
QUGS Seniors – Royal County Down & Royal Portrush - 27-28 September 2012
Day 1 - Results from Royal County Down - SUGS names first
1) Hamish Macnaughtan & Jim Barnet lost to Peter Dick & Ian Dick by 3 and 2
2) Clifford Hastings & David Anderson lost to Craig Cameron & Ian Sanderson by 4 and 3
Day 2 - Results from Royal Portrush - SUGS names first
1) Jim Barnet & Clifford Hastings lost to Ian Dick & Craig Cameron by 5 and 4
2) David Anderson & Hamish Macnaughtan beat Peter Dick & John Hanna by 2 and 1
Overall Result: SUGS 1 - 3 QUGS
Autumn Meeting - Gullane 1 & 2 - 27 October 2012
W N Boase Putter:
1) Dougie Hunter - 68 scratch stableford points
2) Alex Main - 64 scratch stableford points (better 2nd round)
R S Sloan Trophy:
1) Nicky Gold - 32 scratch stableford points
2) Steve Scott - 31 scratch stableford points (BI 9)
C R Duncan Leeds Trophy:
1) Ewan Cameron - 33 net stableford points
2) John King - 32 net stableford points (BI 12)
Seniors Salver:
1) Stephen Govenlock - 32 net stableford points (BI 9)
2) Keith Macintosh - 32 net stableford points (BI 6)
Edinburgh University - Gullane No 2 - 17 November 2012
Results as available (SUGS names only)
1) Dave Greenshields & Fergus Niven won by 1 hole
2) Nicky Gold & Barry Templeton won by 6 and 5
3) Alex Main & Scott Henderson won by 3 and 2
4) Jake Halliday & Iain Thomson lost
5) Hugh Harvie & Douglas Morton lost by 2 and 1
Result: SUGS 3 - 2 Edinburgh University
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Matches Not Played
Glasgow University
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