Bootland aces while Erskine lifts trophy

HINTON Bootland didn’t win the East Alliance event in his name at Royal Musselburgh yesterday, but the Duddingston man still had cause to celebrate.

He had a hole-in-one at the 176-yard sixth – the fifth ace of the long-standing Alliance member’s colourful career.

“I received several descriptions of the shot in jest, but a 
reliable source (the man himself) tells me it was a solid 3-wood,” reported Alliance secretary Alan Greenshields. “It went straight at the pin, landing on the green and rolling towards the hole. Hinton thought that it must be close until his partner said in a loud voice, ‘It’s in!”

The Bootland Trophy, meanwhile, was won by Ratho Park professional Andrew Erskine with a four-under-par 66 (34, 32). In a field of 99, he pipped Kings Acre’s Andrew Oldcorn by a shot, with Iain Wilson (Dalmahoy) three shots further back in third spot. The handicap honours went to 
Torwoodlee’s David Brydon with a net 67 off four, closely followed by Glenbervie five-handicapper Tony Boyle on 68.

Third prize also went to 
Torwoodlee via John Denham on net 69 off six while the senior spoils were claimed by 
David Watson from Peebles with a net 73 off 13.