Lindsay's the Mann for Hickory
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie's Lindsay Mann, a Scotland amateur international and GB&I Walker Cup player of the early 1980s, won the World Hickory Open golf championship with a two-over-par round of 73 at Craigielaw Golf Club today (Friday).
The combination of being restricted to only six hickory-shafted clubs of pre-1935 vintage and a swirling wind meant that sub-par scores were simply not on.
"Even the pros cannot get nearly as much distance with a hickory club as they are used to. We cut the course down to 6,250yd but that didn't help them much with the wind getting up," said PGA Scottish Region tournament director Michael McDougall.
It's treated as a fun day but one that makes the players appreciate just how skilful the top players were in the days of hickory shafts - and old-fashioned golf balls. Perhaps a return to hickory shafts instead of ever-longer courses is the way forward.
Mann won the £1,700 top prize with a card that included three birdies - most players struggled to get one - at the long second, 14th and long 18th. He bogeyed the short eighth, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th in halves of 35 and 38.
Defending champion and Walker Cup player of 2005 and 2007 before he turned pro, Lloyd Saltman, playing over his home course, was runner-up with a 74, two more than his winning score of 12 months ago, to earn a £1,369 cheque.
Lloyd could birdie only the long second and short eighth in halves of 36 and 38. Hhe bogeyed the third, fifth, sixth, 12th and 13th - and did well to finish with five straight pars.
Bishopbriggs' Robert Arnott managed only one birdie but matching the inward par of 36, helped him collect the third-place prize of £1,027 for a 75.
Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Scottish boys match-play champion in 1999 when Musselburgh was his home club, had a 76 which included double bogey 7s at the second and the fourth in halves of 40 and 36. After his early misfortunes, Lee got the hickory hang of it before the turn and parred the last 11 holes.
Also on 76 was the third past Walker Cup player in the field, Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Links). He played in the same 1983 team captained by Charlie Green at Hoylake. Oldcorn's card included a triple bogey 6 at the short third as well as birdies at two long holes, the second and the 18th.
The only female player in the field, Gullane assistant professional Heather MacRae from Dunblane had an 89. Winner of the British women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Nairn in 2005 and the Welsh open stroke-play in 2007, Heather had four double bogeys - but no doubt enjoyed herself immensely as everybody in the field of 80 did.
One of the cluster of Swedes, pros and amateurs, who came over for event had a three-figure score but he is going home happy because he got his first and only par at the 18th.