MARGARET ANDERSON, DEE WILLIAMS WIN GIBSON CUP

                              Dee Williams and Margaret Anderson with the Gibson Cup
                                                MORE PICTURES LATER

GIBSON CUP : 2013 REPORT

From Anne Brownie, Chair of Gibson Cup Committee

Over 90 ladies participated in the Gibson Cup weekend staged over Edinburgh Leisure’s Braid Hills Golf Course on 5^th and  6^th October and, as ever, there was a mix of great shot-making and tales of woe as golf balls disappeared without trace into the gorse, chips and pitches that rattled flagsticks and putts that simply refused to drop.  The weather was kind, the views were wonderful (when the golf wasn’t!) and competitors all agreed  that regardless of their scores, the Gibson Cup is a fun to be a part of.

Saturday’s stroke-play qualifying round yielded a  one under par, net 71 from Harburn pair Fiona Smith and Aileen Kennedy – three better than their nearest rivals .  71 is an excellent score in  foursomes medal play over the Braids where any lack of accuracy can prove very costly.  Four of the qualifying pairs had the same (popular!) scratch score of 85 before taking off their handicaps (see Scores below).  The top four  net scores qualify for the Sunday morning semi-finals with the four next best net scores going into a second flight of matchplay with the Finals for each on Sunday afternoon. The Consolation Salver played in foursomes stableford format  gives the non-qualifiers a  “second bite at the cherry”.   Qualifying  scores from Saturday and the Consolation Stableford leading points scorers are listed at the end of this report.

Sadly, an overnight bereavement meant the leading qualifiers and hot favourites, Aileen and Fiona, had to give a walkover in the top semi-final as a result of which Dulcie Barnes and Sarah Stichbury (both Gullane Ladies) progressed to the Final where they met Dee Williams (Duddingston)  and Margaret Anderson (Craigmillar Park).  Dee and Margaret had a  morning 2 and 1 win over Anne Henderson and Gail McKill  (also both members of Gullane Ladies) meaning there wouldn’t be an all-Gullane clash in the Final.  The Final was closely contested with Dee and Margaret using their seven strokes received to good effect despite frequently being outhit by their lower-handicap opponents. 
The match was all square on the 18^th tee and was looking like it might take more than 18 holes to separate the sides until Dee and Margaret managed to win the 18^th and hence the Cup itself.

In the second flight of matchplay, Karen Burns and Margaret McFarlane (both Bathgate) had to give nine shots to Barbara McQuillan  and Liz Moody (both Prestonfield) but came through with a 3 and 2 win. In the other semi-final, the defending Gibson Cup holders Catherine Stewart and Janet Begrie (both Lothianburn) were up against previous winners Anne Brownie (Gullane Ladies) and Mary Stark (Lothianburn).   

Anne and Mary eased through with a 6 and 5 win but despite taking an early lead against Karen and Margaret to whom they were giving one stroke,  their short-game which had been so hot in the morning cooled off and a good run of holes from Karen and Margaret (pictured right) around the turn laid the foundation for their 3 and 2 win.
Whilst the matchplay was under way, 35 foursomes pairings competed for the Consolation Salver which was won (coincidentally) with 35 Stableford points (after countback) by Mandy McBain (pictured below) and Susan Randall.

The Prizegiving with prizes sponsored by The Ladies Golf Centre/www.golfing-lady.com took place in Thistle GC Clubhouse  when Anne Brownie was also pleased to announce that the fundraising undertaken at the  Gibson Cup  in breast cancer awareness month  meant that £260  would be sent to Breakthrough Breast Cancer.  Thanks to all who contributed.

Next year’s Gibson Cup will take place on 4^th and 5^th October 2014.

LIST OF PRIZEWINNERS

Saturday Qualifiers (Qualifiers 1-4 play for Gibson Cup, qualifiers 5-8 play for H and P Trophy)

1 Fiona Smith and Aileen Kennedy (Harburn) 84 (13) 71

2 Dee Williams (Duddingston) and Margaret Anderson (Craigmillar Park) 89 (15) 74 
3 Anne Henderson and Gail McKill (Gullane Ladies) 85 (10.5)  74.5

4 Dulcie Barnes and Sarah Stichbury (Gullane Ladies) 85  (8.5) 76.5  BIH

5 Karen Burns and Margaret McFarlane (Bathgate) 85  (8.5) 76.5

6 Janet Begrie and Catherine Stewart (Lothianburn) 87 (10) 77 BIH

7 Mary Stark (Lothianburn) and Anne Brownie (Gullane Ladies)      85  (8) 77

8 Barbara McQuillan and Liz Moody  (Prestonfield) 95 (17.5) 77.5

Matchplay Final for  Gibson Cup

Winners - Dee Williams and Margaret Anderson

Runners Up - Dulcie Barnes and Sarah Stichbury

Matchplay Final for 2^nd flight (H and P Trophy)

Winners - Karen Burns and Margaret McFarlane

Runners Up - Mary Stark and Anne Brownie

Consolation Trophy

1. Mandy McBain (Turnhouse) and Susan Randall  (Carrickvale)  35 points (BIH)

2. Gail Joughin and Marian  Duff (Merchants)  35 points

3. Dorothy Wilson and Linda Boyle  (Harburn)   34 points

4. Anne Smith (Gullane Ladies) and Eilidh Wiseman   32 points (BIH)