Golf: McLeary beats weather to take Alliance trophy

On a bitterly cold day on the East Lothian coast, the former Scottish Challenge winner laid the foundations for his victory with a six-under 62 in the morning on No 3.

He then added a one-under 70 on the neighbouring No.2 course to claim the UniRoyal Trophy with an impressive aggregate of 132.

McLeary, who is attached to Marriott Dalmahoy, finished three shots ahead of defending champion Andrew Oldcorn, who had a 71 in the morning on No.2 followed by a 64 on No 3.

“It was absolutely freezing, but I managed a good round on No.3,” said the new champion. “In the second round I got off to a good start but had a wobble from holes 5-8, where I was four-over. The rest was pretty solid stuff on courses that were in unbelievable condition and it’s nice to win the championship in my first year.”

Secretary Alan Greenshields was delighted to get the event finished without any weather delays after an anxious start.

“It was a tricky morning due to snowy squalls that nearly stopped events,” he admitted. “Thankfully, we managed to keep things going to allow a new name to be added to the UniRoyal Trophy, first played for in 1937.”

The outcome of the handicap championship, for the Gavin Clark Trophy, had to be determined by a card play-off after two players posted net aggregates of 139. It saw Musselburgh’s Philip Leggate pip Robin Cockburn from Harburn by virtue of a better round on No.2 – 70 compared to a 72.

Meanwhile, Uphall’s Gordon Law secured this season’s scratch Order of Merit title, ahead of Oldcorn and  Greenburn’s Scott Catlin.