Golf: Lamb flying with albatross

STEPHEN LAMB produced a wonder shot to achieve that rare golfing bird – an albatross – in the Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance meeting at Duddingston.

The Cardrona professional holed his second shot, using a utility club, at the par-5 fourth hole. It helped Lamb reach the turn in four-under and he went on to card a three-under 69 to earn a share of the scratch spoils.

Lamb’s effort was matched by two amateurs, Glencorse’s Sean McGarvey and Allyn Dick of Kingsknowe, as well as Uphall professional Gordon Law.

McGarvey had halves of 36 and 33, while Dick and Law both signed for matching nines of 34 and 35.

Maintaining his excellent start to the Alliance season, McGarvey won the top handicap prize, the M Allan Memorial Trophy, with his 69 off scratch.

He finished a shot ahead of host club four-handicapper Robert Denholm as well as Gordon Eadie, who plays off eight at Musselburgh. The senior prize was claimed by Harburn’s William Smith with a 74 off 14.

After four events, Lamb has taken over at the top of the scratch order of merit with 222 points, ahead of McGarvey (217.50) and Greenburn’s Scott Catlin (216).

McGarvey, with 75 points, leads the handicap rankings from Pumpherston’s Steven Dand (68) and Falkirk Tryst’s Daniel Airens (67).

The next event is at Dalmahoy on November 16.