Youngsters benefit from pro-am event

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CELEBRITIES from sport, entertainment and the business sector descended on Lanark Golf Club for Clydesdale Sports Council’s 20th annual Celebrity-Am tournament.

Invited companies were joined by a guest player for 18 holes of Stableford golf, and the winners of the team competition were Argee Builders, partnered by five-time Walker Cup golfer Charlie Green.

Runners-up were South Lanarkshire Leisure, joined by former Scotland international footballer and Scottish cricketer Donald Ford, who is now a well-known photographer.

Granitmix, partnered by Scottish international goalkeeper Alan Rough, finished third as a result of a better inward half.

The fourth team prize went to A.W. Lithgow ‘B’ team, partnered by TV and film actor Alex ‘Happy’ Howden.

Former Rangers and St Mirren star Jim Rodger won the celebrity individual Stableford tournament with a score of 39 points, two better than Olympic and European Championship athlete Tom McKean.

Also recording an individual score of 37 points was a former winner of this tournament, Real Radio sport pundit Alan Rough.

Well-known football commentator Jock Brown, the Hamilton solicitor, won the Nearest the Hole competition at Lanark’s 7th, in addition to being closest at the 10th.

And at the 18th former football referee Martin Clark pipped Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld.

Also recording a double was reporter Paul McLaren, who was nearest the pin at the 7th and 10th in the team category.

Lanark Golf Club member Ian Michell, representing CFM, was nearest the flag at the 18th.

Longest drive winners at the 15th were athlete Tom McKean and Alan Russell of Granitmix, pipping A.W. Lithgow’s Jim Boyd, one of Lanark Golf Club’s leading players.

Celebrities leading the Stableford leaderboard also included former Rangers and Scotland striker Gordon Durie in fourth place, and ex-Hamilton Accies boss Ally Dawson .

Other celebrities who joined in the team prizes included ex-Scotland striker Billy Dodds, Real Radio presenter Ewen Cameron, former football referee Willie Young, and Motherwell FC legends Joe Wark and Willie Pettigrew.

At the tournament dinner the presentation of prizes was compered by one of Scotland’s leading after-dinner speakers, Robbie Glen.

Lanark Golf Club vice-captain David Graham gave the companies and celebrities an official welcome, and Clydesdale Sports Council chairman David Strachan gave the vote of thanks.

The host club were thanked for their excellent assistance and co-operation and Mr Tony Lithgow, who presented the prizes, for sponsoring the event.

That cash will help Clydesdale Sports Council take over 100 sporting youngsters to the annual School of Sport at the National Sports Training Centre.