Fereneze Legend Breaks His Age to Take Stunning Russell Cup Win and Johnstone Continues His Impressive Form to Take the Jay Little

 

Russell Cup - Scratch 

 

It's been quite a few weeks for Fereneze, double handicap county championship winners, a new course record from Callum Macaulay and an amazing storyline in yesterday's Open with Alan Gorrie becoming the oldest Russell Cup champion with an incredible 69, beating his age by 1. Now, I don't want to come across as a smart a*** as you know that's not my style, however, it's nice when you document something and it comes true...so here's my prediction in my Spring Meeting event report from May 17th: 

 

 

Fantastic achievement from Alan, 2 bogeys and 4 birdies, crucially, one at the last was enough for him to see off Renfrewshire strokeplay and matchplay champion Stewart Watt from Old Course Ranfurly who had 70.

 

Stewart playing the course for just the 2nd time had 5 birdies and also finished strongly with birdies at both 17 and 18. A few of us joined Callum Macaulay at his proper home course Tulliallan, where he won with a 2 under 67, so he was warmed up (or seizing up as turned out to be the case) for his second round at Fereneze. Despite his best efforts and a half chance to make birdie at the last he had to settle for third place with 70, losing out to Stewart on the countback for the last 3 holes.

 

Nice to see Andy Duncan (one of the Tulliallan Six) make a return to form with a level par 71 sneaking 4th place from 6 time club champion Ian McMillan on the BIH. 

 

Jay Little Trophy - Nett 

 

Alan actually had the best nett score but with only one prize up for grabs for multiple winners we naturally awarded him the Gross prize. That left 2nd placed Steven Johnstone with his name being etched on the Jay Little Trophy. Steven's nett 66 follows hot on the heels of his nett 63 from the Tuesday Medal. Nothing worse than the 2 nett bogeys on Steven's card and his handicap has come down 2.5 thanks to the last couple of rounds. A strongback 9 from Brian McWilliams secured the 2nd placed voucher 2 shots adrift of Steven beating Kyle Richford courtesy of the BIH. Brian recorded 8 4s and a 5 on the back 9 to come home in 37. Kenneth Donnelly from near neighbours Caldwell won the 4th placed voucher with a nett 69, a good card with very few mistakes. That was enough to beat fellow club mate and ex Fereneze member Jack Phillips to 4th with Jack having to settle for 5th. Jack also had nett 69 gross 76 like Kenneth but lost out on the last 3 holes Kenneth level to Jack's +1. 

 

Analysis 

 

We had a field of 166, that's 15 more than last year and 20 more than 2023 so the event is proving to be increasingly popular.

 

• The average score was the 4th highest of the season at 89.50
• Guests, no guests...doesn't matter to the 3rd hole. As it does most weeks it played the hardest hole on the course, playing more than 2 over it's par at 7.06. I'm beginning to think it might be the hardest par 5 in Renfrewshire and the west
• The 6th was the next hardest hole but playing more than half a shot less than the 3rd. 
• The 16th was the easiest hole, yielding 15 birdies. 
• The 18th was the 2nd easiest hole, giving up 14 birdies. 
• Every hole had at least 1 birdie recorded. 
• No surprise that the 3rd had the most bogeys (50) and dreaded "others" (51) and the fewest birdies (2)