Sivewright Quaich Tournament 2024

Buckstone G.C. won the Sivewright Quaich for the fourth time on Sunday 22 September against StewMel F.P. G.C. at Prestonfield.

The opening pairing of Martin Hunter and Murray Sykes got off to a quick start being 3 up after 3 holes but were immediately pegged back, losing the next 3 holes to be all square after the 6th. They then halved the 7th and by parring holes 8 and 9 went 2 up at the turn. The second pairing of John Notman and John Dunn played solid golf but found themselves 2 down after 8. However, they were comforted to hear that front pairing were 2 up and the 2 Johns crucially got back to 1 down at turn so the Buckstone team turned 1 up.

Erratic golf from both opening pairings on the 10th and 11th holes were halved with the Buckstone pairing ruing a missed chance at 11 to press on. Murray and Martin halved the 12th after 2 good putts but lost 13 to par and looked likely to lose 14 but got up and down from the side of the green to halve the hole.  They then won the 15th to go 2 up with 3 to play.

A good up and down from 20 feet at the 10th followed by a win at the 11th saw the back pairing all square.  Despite JN and JD consistently getting in good positions to win a hole, each time their opponents would hole out for a half to keep the game tied.

The opening pairing lost 16 to birdie after their opponents drove the green and then went on to lose 17. For the second pairing on the 16th roles were reversed when, after their opponents holed from 8 feet, the Buckstone team responded by holing from 7 feet to keep the match tied. Then on 17th their opponents eventually missed a putt resulting in  JN and JD  going in front for first time in the match.

The opening pairing managed to eke out a half at the 18th to finish their game all square. The match score had been relayed to the second group, so they knew a half was good enough. In the end JN and JD won their match 2 up after their opponents conceded the 18th having failed to make an up and down from edge of green.

The final was played in good spirits, both teams being very sporting throughout. 

Thanks go to Ian Hall, Aki Barbod, Roy Miller, Robert Gray, Martin Hunter, John Dunn, John Notman and Murray Sykes for their invaluable contributions in winning the Sivewright Quaich this season.

In recent years the LGA have encouraged Clubs to enter more than 1 team and so we have again entered a "Captain's team" and a "Match Secretary's team" this year. Separate pools of players were established and kept separate for each round. This year we were represented in the final by players from the Captain's pool of players.

In earlier rounds other members of the Club helped get us to the final:

25/08/24 - The Captain's team defeated MCBA (Mortonhall Casuals Barmy Army) in their semifinal of the Sivewright Quaich Tournament. The Captain and Roy Miller were 4 down after the 13th but fought back well to halve their game. Johns Notman & Dunn Senior won the 15th & 16th holes to go 4 up. Just as well because their opponents had a hole-in-one at the 17th! Even that could not stop our boys winning 3 & 1 to reach the final.

09/08/24 - The Captain's team won their Sivewright tie against Binivell from Liberton G.C. On a windy evening with some showers, Captain Murray and Robert Gray won the first 2 holes but struck a bad patch later and were 4 down at the 14th. Fortunately Martin Hunter and John Notman also won the first 2 holes but then stormed ahead to be 6 up after 15. The match was eventually won 3 & 1 to progress to a semi-final against MCBA away from home.

01/07/24 - The Captain's team won their Sivewright tie against Dunbar Castle. Our Captain and Roy Miller went 3 up early in their match, eventually getting to 6 up after 15 holes. Meanwhile John Notman and Martin Hunter had a much tighter game playing some good golf to be 1 up after 15 holes, giving our team a 7 & 6 victory.

26/06/24 - Our Match Secretary's team facing Corstorphine Golf Club were defeated 3 down at Newbattle.  Stephen Graham and Sandy Myles managed to win their match whilst Gordon Shaw and Sean Black failed to pull back the 5 shots they were giving away and lost 4 down.

30/05/24 - On a busy night for Sivewright golf ties the Match Sec's team were victorious against Mount Vernon at Mortonhall. Sean Black & Gordon Shaw (eventually) won their match comfortably after a difficult start. Stephen Graham & Richard Duncan's match was very nip and tuck but they also ran out the winners. Overall score was 7 & 6.

30/05/24 -  The Captain’s team of Murray Sykes & Aki Barbod, Robert Gray & Ian Hall won their Sivewright tie against Kingston B playing "away" at Liberton. Strong finishes from both our pairs gave us an overall 3 & 2 up win.