Golf: Gilmour bids to bag tag of Champion

JIM GILMOUR came close to a Lothians title triumph earlier this year – as a caddie.

Now he’s hoping he can keep picking the right clubs for himself to bag another of the most prized titles on the Capital scene.

The Harburn player is through to the last 16 in the Lothians Champion of Champions – and fully deserves to be there after beating two former Lothians title winners.

Gilmour had already claimed the scalp of Mark Timmins at Pumpherston before he won at Bruntsfield Links against Alan Anderson.

“I played really well against Alan, parring the first two then having five birdies and an eagle in the next nine to be six-under after 11 holes and four up,” he said. “It was just a case of hanging on from there.”

Gilmour, who recently became the club champion at Rowallan Castle in Ayrshire a week after joining there, caddied for clubmate Craig Deerness when he reached the final of this year’s Lothians Championship at Dalmahoy.

“I enjoyed that and it was great to be back close to the action,” he added. “If I could go one better in the Champion of Champions that would be great.

“I lost in the semi-finals in 2004, so it would be great to get to Muirfield (venue for the semi-finals and final in August).”

Others through to the fourth round include four-time winner Keith Nicholson (Haddington) and prolific Kilspindie title winner Bob Humble.

Third-round results: J Whitelaw (West Linton) bt D Souness (Amisfield Park) 5 and 4; D Miller (Temple) bt G Pollock (Stewarts & Melville FP) 2 and 1; S Morrison (Braids United) lost to J Ralston (Edinburgh Western/ Portobello) 4 and 3; R Craig (Watsonian) bt J Rhind (Uphall) 2 and 1; S Hermiston (Carrickvale) lost to C Brown (Third) one hole; D Hunter (Scottish Universities) bt I Neilson (Liberton) 5 and 4; K Nicholson (Haddington) bt T Paterson Kingston by a walkover; B Humble (Kilspindie) bt I Randall (Cramond) 4 and 3; A McHardy (Prestonfield) bt M Clapperton (Musselburgh) 2 and 1; A Brooks (Kings Acre) bt G Campbell (Dundas Parks) 6 and 5; K Girdler (Longniddry) bt A Macphail (Ratho Park) 3 and 2; R Munro (Whitekirk) bt D Wilkinson (Carrick Knowe) at 19th; D Beatson (Castle Park) bt D Anderson (Edinburgh Thistle) at 20th; A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) lost to J Gilmour (Harburn) 3 and 2; M Simants (Dunbar Castle) bt G Nisbet (Lothianburn) 2 and 1; M Wilson (Royal Bank) bt D Nicolson (Standard Life) 3 and 2.

Handicap Match Play

Third-round results: D Muir (Winterfield) lost to P Fortune (RICS) 6 and 5; J Russell (Royal Musselburgh) bt J Young (Carrick Knowe) one hole; K Roy (Lothianburn) lost to G Young (Mortonhall) two holes; G Henry (Mount Vernon) bt D Hand (Register House) 2 and 1; R Moffat (Newbattle) bt A Ramage (Edinburgh Drapers) 3 and 2; B Wishart (Buckstone GS) bt G Walker (Edinburgh Thistle) 8 and 7; D McLean (Bathgate) lost to A Davie (Thorntree) one hole; D Mackie (Edin & Leith Lic Grocers) lost to M Hunter (Buckstone GC) 7 and 5; T Bourhill (Braids United) bt R McLean (Gogarburn) 8 and 6; G Sneddon (Harburn) bt D Munro (Cramond) at 19th; P McFarlane (Observers) lost to M Miller (Watsonian) one hole; A Campbell (Caermount) bt G Rudd (Longniddry) 7 and 6; R Eggins (Dunbar Castle) lost to A Allan (Dunbar) at 19th; P Valente (Rhodes) bt J Richardson (George Heriots FP) one hole; A Lawson (Dundas Parks) bt M Lawrie (Haddington) two holes; C Brown (Ratho Park) bt G Reilly (Portobello) one hole.