Golf: Helensburgh medal win earns Cairns handicap cut

Once a player with a single-figure handicap, before expatriate life took him to Singapore, Cairns’ net 67 – achieved despite two double bogeys in the last three holes – saw his handicap reduced to 11, taking him closer to his previous low.

Mark Tynan was the first class section runner-up, one shot behind with a net 68.

The second class prize was won by senior player Roy Nesbitt on a net 70, with another senior player, Bob Berry, one shot behind. George Gill, also once a single-figure handicap player in his younger days, before ageing joints gave him a new swing, took the third class honours with a net 69, two ahead of Jonathan Sturgeon.

Meanwhile, the July nine-hole stableford competition was won by Joe Barton – no relation to special agent Dick – whose 19-point haul was one better than his nearest challenger, David Gethin.

Helensburgh’s team, in the county-wide Thomson McCrone Competition, for gents between handicaps of 9 and 18, has won through to the tournament’s semi-finals courtesy of victory by four matches to one over Douglas Park at the neutral venue of Windyhill Golf Club in Bearsden.

All of the Helensburgh gents’ teams have performed well in the various county leagues this season – the scratch team were close runners-up; the ‘five to eight’ team are in their semi-final; and the senior team are fourth in their league of 17 clubs.