The new Gibson Cup winners’ photo is of Ruth (on left) and Viv with Cup, flanked by Fiona Smith on left and Aileen Kennedy on right.

FULL REPORT FROM 2010 GIBSON CUP WON

BY RUTH BROWN AND VIV CURRAN


Ruth Brown and Viv Curran (both of Lothianburn GC) won the prestigious Gibson Cup which was again sponsored by the Ladies Golf Centre (http://www.golfing-lady.com/).
The Braid Hills golf course was in great condition and was beautifully presented for this annual ladies’ foursomes tournament which is hosted by Edinburgh Leisure and dates back to 1907.
The leading four foursomes pairs in the Saturday qualifying round progress to contest the Sunday match-play stages for the Gibson Cup. The next four best, net scores go into a second flight of match-play with non-qualifiers playing in the Consolation Salver.
Some 90 ladies participated in the 2010 Gibson Cup over the weekend of September 25 and 26.
Whilst the sun shone both days, there was a biting wind on the Saturday morning, making competitors wrap up warmly and look for some hand warmers. As a result it was hard for foursomes partners to play to par in the Saturday qualifying round.
The absence of almost any breeze on the Sunday , however, provided many more scoring opportunities. As ever, the gorse did claim quite a few golf balls over the weekend – to the delight of the ball searchers.
In the first semi-final for the Gibson Cup Aileen Kennedy and Fiona Smith, both from Harburn GC, won by one hole over Sandra Hennessey and Linda Wemyss (both Broomieknowe GC). In the second semi-final Viv Curran and Ruth Brown (Lothianburn GC) defeated another Harburn pair, Dorothy Wilson and Linda Boyle, by 3 and 2 , to set up an exciting Gibson Cup Final in the afternoon.
Aileen and Fiona, who were the leading qualifiers from the Saturday medal round, looked to have the edge for much of the closely contested Final. However, a strong finish from the Lothianburn pair saw them go one up for the first time in the match when Viv Curran holed a tricky five foot putt for par at the 18th - to win the Cup.
The crowd who turned out to support the Final witnessed some excellent shot-making and thrilling match-play from both sides and it could easily have gone to sudden death extra holes until Viv holed that winning putt.

In the second flight match-play Kate McIntosh and Wendy Nicholson (both Broomieknowe) put on a show of long-hitting and precision iron play to overpower Vivien Mitchell and Louise Wells of Prestonfield GC by 6 and 4 – despite having to give their opponents a shot a hole.
The second semi-final was a nail-biting contest between a second Prestonfield couple, Liz Moody and Barbara McQuillan, and the Lothianburn pairing of Anne Brownie and Mary Stark. This was eventually won at the 17th by Anne and Mary by the score of 2 and 1.
The second flight final was won by the same margin of 2 and 1 by Kate and Wendy whose consistency and more accurate short game set up their victory over Anne and Mary.
The Consolation Salver allows competitors to bounce back and improve on their scoring from the Saturday with an enjoyable foursomes Stableford competition. All three prize-winning pairs bettered par in the lovely, still and sunny Sunday conditions with overall Salver winners Kay Baillie (Musselburgh) and Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) scoring 39pts.
Runners up Adrienne Turner and Laura Reekie (both Baberton) notched 38 points with third place going to Sandra Kempston (Craigmillar Park) and Zandra Mathieson (Broomieknowe) on 37 points.
Great fun and camaraderie was shared by all both on the golf course and in the Edinburgh Thistle Clubrooms which provided 19th hole refreshments and hosted the Prizegiving. All prizewinners were presented with their prizes from the Ladies’ Golf Centre by Ian Grimwade, Head of Golf for Edinburgh Leisure.

Next year’s Gibson Cup dates are the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2011 – lady golfers around Edinburgh are invited to put these dates in their diaries!


RESULTS ROUND UP


SATURDAY QUALIFYING SCORES
Aileen Kennedy and Fiona Smith (Harburn): 83 less 10.5, 72.5
Ruth Brown and Viv Curran (Lothianburn): 82 less 8, 74 (bih)
Linda Boyle and Dorothy Wilson (Harburn):87 less 13, 74
Sandra Hennessey and Linda Wemyss (Broomieknowe): 83 less 8.5, 74.5
Anne Brownie and Mary Stark (Lothianburn): 84 less 9, 75 (bih)
Vivien Mitchell and Louise Wells (Prestonfield) : 96 less 21, 75
Kate McIntosh and Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) : 79 less 3, 76
Liz Moody and Barbara McQuillan (Prestonfield): 99 less 22.5, 76.5


SUNDAY MATCH-PLAY
Gibson Cup flight
Aileen Kennedy and Fiona Smith (Harburn) bt Sandra Hennessey and Linda Wemyss (Broomieknowe) 1 hole
Ruth Brown and Viv Curran (Lothianburn) bt Linda Boyle and Dorothy Wilson (Harburn) 3 and 2.


Final - Ruth Brown and Viv Curran (Lothianburn) bt Aileen Kennedy and Fiona Smith (Harburn) 1 hole


Flight 2
Anne Brownie and Mary Stark (Lothianburn) bt Liz Moody and Barbara McQuillan (Prestonfield) 2 and 1.
Kate McIntosh and Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) bt Vivien Mitchell and Louise Wells (Prestonfield) by 6 and 4


Final - Kate McIntosh and Wendy Nicholson (Broomieknowe) beat Anne Brownie and  Mary Stark (Lothianburn) by 2 and 1


CONSOLATION SALVER
Kay Baillie (Musselburgh) and Sal Shepherd (Craigmillar Park) (12) 39pts
Laura Reekie and  Adrienne Turner (Baberton) (16) 38pts
Sandra Kempston (Craigmillar Park) and Zandra Mathieson (Broomieknowe) (16) 37pts.

Consolation Salver winners, Sal (on left) and Kay with Ian Grimwade.

REPORT AND PICTURES BY ANNE BROWNIE