Andrew crowned 2011 junior champion
Published 7 Feb 2012 13:30
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CUP JOY: Andrew McAllister with centenary club captain Dan McAulay.
TALENTED Andrew McAllis-ter was crowned 2011 Junior Champion of Whinhill Golf Club, in the club's centenary year, after defeating Andrew Todd by the score of 3&2.
The competition started off with the club's junior golfers battling it out over 18 holes to try and grasp one of the eight qualifying spaces for the knock-out stages of the event.
The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final were then played over the next 10 days.
The largest junior field of 2011 came together for the qualifying competition, with the ages of the Juniors competing, ranging from aged 10 to 17, on a calm day blessed with ideal golfing conditions.
The junior Jimmy Lang Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Junior Championship qualifying competition, was won by Andrew McAllister who shot a scratch score of 75 to take top seeding into the knock-out stages of the competition. Second seeding went to Andrew Todd, with Jamie Sinnamon qualifying as third seed.
The standard of golf throughout the Junior Championship qualifying competition was of a very high standard. With the Junior Section going through a transitional period at the moment, due to losing at least 20 golfers (with single figure handicaps) to the adult ranks of the club over the past couple of years it was a great opportunity for some of the club's most promising young golfers to gain valuable matchplay golf experience.
The performance of the quarter-finals came from young Lee Gillan in his defeat at the 18th hole of Adam Henderson.
Twelve-year-old Lee hit every par three green in regulation to record pars at all of the short holes - no mean feat given the tricky par threes at the Whinhill Golf Club.
Andrew Todd defeated Lauren Coventry who can be proud of her performance in being the first girl member to reach the knock-out stages of the Junior Championship in the history of the Whinhill Golf Club. Jamie Sinnamon defeated Scott Cummings in a match of a high standard while Andrew McAllister's experience was enough against a young and brave Dylan Tause who can also be proud of his performance in making the last eight of the competition.
The semi-finals started with Andrew McAllister seeing off Lee Gillan by the score of 6&4 with the five year age gap the telling factor. The best match of the competition was the tussle between Jamie Sinnamon and Andrew Todd.
Both boys had been in good form all summer and played some great golf with Andrew producing an excellent fight back from two down with six to play to win on the 18th green.
The final between the two Andrews was played over 18 holes with McAllister the heavy favourite given his age, experience and handicap.
The match got off to an unexpected start with Todd winning the first hole courtesy of an excellent up and down which was followed by a three-putt bogey from McAllister. McAllister would then win the third, fourth and fifth before a good par at the seventh took him into a three-hole lead.
McAllister delivered a crushing blow at the eighth. After making a mess of the hole he knocked a full sand wedge to within three feet of the hole, watch Todd three putt, after playing the hole so well, and knocked his bogey putt in to half the hole.
To his credit, Todd would win the ninth with a solid par to reduce the deficit to two at the turn. McAllister's power won him the 12th and 14th holes before Todd once again fought back to sink a 25-foot putt to win the hole and take the match up the 16th.
Todd saw a brave birdie attempt narrowly miss at the 16th which gave McAllister two putts for the win which he duly took to be crowned 2011 Junior Champion, bringing to a close a match played in great spirit.
The final was completed in two hours 35 minutes with both boys playing at a refreshing pace!
Mr Todd can be very proud of his efforts during the Junior Championship qualifier - he produced some super golf while gaining great experience in the matchplay format while playing under pressure and has four years left as a Junior member to be crowned Junior Champion.
The final of the 2011 Whinhill Golf Club Junior Championship was a fitting end to great junior competition golf at the club. Matches were followed by large crowds, played on a course in great condition and played in a tremendous spirit. Congratulations go to Andrew and to all who took part in the Junior Championship.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 07 Feb 12
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