History Repeats Itself at Club Championship Finals
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It was a case of déjà vu at the Peebles Golf Club Championship Finals on Saturday as Jamie Morris and Sheila Cuthbertson both chalked up another title success at the end of a superb week of golf over the Kirklands course.
The scorching heat was matched by scintillating play over five days of knock-out golf, with the course looking more like an Open Championship links as golfers across six different categories went head to head in the club’s blue ribbon event.
In the Men’s Championship, Jamie Morris made it ten wins in the space of just 21 years, overcoming the challenge of old rival Allan Turnbull in a superb final. The game ebbed and flowed over the first 18 holes with Morris recording no fewer than six birdies, but the match turned in Turnbull’s favour after the former Scotland international chipped in for birdie at 15 before Morris levelled at the halfway stage with a fine birdie on the 18th. The second round followed a similar pattern with Turnbull, looking for his first win since 1992, edging ahead early on. Ever the competitor, Morris battled back strongly and sealed victory number 10 by a 2&1 margin on the 35th hole to etch his name into the Peebles history books. On the Friday night, Morris earned a comfortable win over Jordan Lamb to reach the final, while Colin Fraser had put up a great fight with Turnbull in the other match, narrowly missing a birdie putt on the final green which would have taken the match to extra holes.
Sheila Cuthbertson clinched her 21st championship title with a win over June Ann Clark
The Ladies Championship Final had a familiar look to it, with Sheila Cuthbertson battling hard to edge out Mandy Rodger in an excellent semi-final tie to earn her place against June-Ann Clark, who impressed with a comfortable 5&4 win over Denise Richards. Looking for her first ever title, Clark had a narrow lead at the halfway stage, but the experience of Cuthbertson – 51 years after winning her first championship – won the day, eventually closing out the match on the 17th hole.
Experience was also to the fore in the Men’s B Championship, as 70-year-old Jimmy Nicol stormed through the field to take the title. The three-time Boys’ champion showed his class throughout the week, defeating Sam Anderson in the semis to set up a final with another member of the Clark family, June Ann’s husband Allen, who overcame the challenge of Davie McAllister on Friday evening. It was Nicol however who belied his age to earn a comfortable 4&3 win, much to the delight of his watching family and fellow pipe band members.
There was a second successive Ladies B Championship success for Lillian Smith, who beat Mandi Bain 4&3 to lift the Laverock Cup, while the closest battle of the day came in the Men’s C Championship, as David Rusnack held off the challenge from Les Shortreed to clinch a popular win.
New junior champion Jack Kinghorn
Earlier in the day, the club saw a rising star clinch the Junior Championship title, with 7-handicap youngster Jack Kinghorn – younger brother of Scotland international Blair – storming to a 7&6 victory over Rueben Sterricks. Congratulations to both players on reaching the final and it was great to see such a strong field take part in this year’s knock-out stages, with more juniors coming through the ranks to challenge them next year. The future looks in good hands!
The club would like to thanks the various volunteers who supported Championship Week through starting and refereeing and the fellow members who came out to support the players in the final. To see more photos and videos from Championship week, visit our Facebook page.
