MORE than a dozen junior members from Whinhill recently made the trip over on the ferry to take part in the Cowal Golf Club Junior Open competition.

For many, this turned out to be a successful trip — but the biggest achievement on the day was the performance of the team of Scott Cummings, Adam Henderson, Jamie Sinnamon and Andrew Todd winning the prestigious Russell Weir trophy for the best scratch team.

Andrew Todd also won the individual scratch trophy with his fine score of 75.

The only junior girl member to enter from Whinhill Golf Club, Jan Adams, finished second in the handicap section after returning an excellent nett score of 71 which resulted in a significant reduction in her ever-reducing handicap.

Several other Whinhill junior golfers were successful in some of the novelty competitions, such as nearest the pin and longest drive sections.

Attending junior open competitions is a priority for the Whinhill Golf Club junior section, as they offer a great day out for young golfers.

The experience that can be gained by playing unfamiliar courses is of tremendous benefit to a young golfer’s game. Most junior open competitions are held during the school holiday period and give the players something to take part in while they are off for the summer.

Juniors have the chance to win a prize, reduce their handicap and have the opportunity to meet junior golfers from other clubs.

The Whinhill Golf Club junior section would like to take this opportunity to thank Cowal Golf Club for hosting such an excellent competition.

Congratulations go to all Whinhill Golf Club junior golfers who made the trip, regardless of whether they found success, or not.

Meanwhile, Scott Cummings, Adam Henderson, Jamie Sinnamon and Andrew Todd represented Whinhill in the recent West of Scotland Boys’ Championship at Kilbirnie Golf Club. The first event was the strokeplay competition — held over two rounds — and was for junior golfers under a handicap of 12 in the Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Stirlingshire areas.

Jamie Sinnamon finished in fifth place in the strokeplay championship after returning two rounds of 71 and 76 for a total of 147. Andrew Todd also qualified (for the top 16 matchplay stages) with two rounds of 76 and 73 for a total of 149 which also earned Andrew third place in the nett prize category.

In the matchplay stages Andrew was defeated by Connor Toal, of Old Course Ranfurly Golf Club, in the last 16, by the score of 4&2.

Jamie won his last 16 match, beating the current Renfrewshire junior champion of champions Andrew McColl, of Erskine Golf Club, by the score of 2&1 — before defeating Fraser Kane, of Kirkhill Golf Club, in the quarter-final by the score of 3&1.

Despite being two holes up with five to play against the winner of the strokeplay competition and number one seed Colin Edgar, of Cochrane Castle Golf Club, Jamie went on to lose at the last hole to end his challenge for the matchplay title.

Jamie, with another two full years in junior golf, can be very proud of his efforts throughout the championship.