Jas keeps up good form to lead Stirling qualifying
| Published date | 23 June 2021 |
| Publication title | Stirling Observer |
Scoring was the lowest for many years with 17 players on 150 (+6) or better and David Kernohan losing out on the better second round to Alan Ferguson after scoring a great level par 72 in round one.
Jas Donaldson - fresh from winning the Tryst Trophy the previous weekend and defending Strokeplay Champion - maintained his excellent run of form returning a tremendous score of eight under par 136 with rounds of 67,69 to defend the title.
Runner up was young gun Lewis Clark, four shots adrift after excellent rounds of 69,71 for a four under par total of 140.
Alan Dryden and Chris Forsyth were a further shot back on 141 with rounds of 73,69 and 70,71 respectively.
Playing in handicap order, Jas was last out and made a dazzling start to round one with an eagle, three putt bogey, birdie, birdie, birdie start followed by four pars for an outward 32. Birdie opportunities were plentiful with two more added at 14 and 18 with a bogey at 13 for an inward 35.
Lewis had birdies at 2, 5, 9 and 10 and a solitary bogey at 4 in his halfs of 34/35.
Chris Forsyth and Lee Wilson both returned two under par opening rounds of 70 to lie three shots off the pace. Chris had birdies at 2, 6, 9,12 and 15 and Lee birdies at 1, 5, 11, 13, 16 and 18 interspersed with a double bogey at 17.
Last year's finalist Ben Liddell was on level par 72 with playing partner and six time club champion and recently turned 60, Kevan Brunton struggling to a 76.
Jas was on a birdie roll with loads of opportunities and holes 2, 3, 5, 16 and 18 all yielded birdies in round two with only two dropped strokes at 4 and 9.
Lewis added a one under par 71 with birdies at 5 and 18 and an eagle two at 16 with a run of three consecutive bogeys at 7, 8 and 9.
Alan Dryden, a previous club champion, compiled an excellent best of season 69 in round two with a tremendous burst covering holes six to 11 in four under par with figures of 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3. Another gain came at 16 with dropped strokes at 12 and 15.
Blair Murphy and Greg McLellan - another club champion - secured their places with great second rounds of 71 after both struggling with...
To continue reading
Request your trial