Lothians golf round-up: Babe is reborn

Gullane Ladies were denied a double when the East Lothian club staged the Babe Zaharias Trophy in its original format as a stroke-play and handicap competition.

Joyce Hunnan, a host club 10-handicapper, claimed the Ultraplast Handicap Trophy with a 67, beating second-placed Louise Duff, who plays off 14 at Murrayfield, by four shots.

But, in the scratch event, the Babe Zaharias Trophy was claimed by The Roxburghe’s Julie Birdsall as her 74 gave her a one-shot victory over Hunnan’s clubmate, Stacey Cameron.

• Eilidh Crawfiord wins scratch spoils

Kingsfield’s Eilidh Crawford took pride of place as Midlothian’s rising stars shone in the East of Scotland Girls’ autumn event at Dunnikier Park.

With a 73, Crawford claimed the scratch spoils on a day when Craigmillar Park’s Emma Morrison, Greenburn’s Lauren Reid and Ellie Ferguson (Swanston New) also topped their respective handicap sections.

Elsewhere, Broomieknowe’s Hannah Darling won the under-14 section in a Scottish Junior Series event at Glencorse.

• McKechnie on top

Braid Hills Golf Range pro Paul McKechnie shared top spot in the second of the M&H Logistics Scottish PGA Championship qualifiers at Crieff.

He carded a two-under 69 to progress to the £60,000 event at Gleneagles on 17-20 October along with 1997 winner Gordon Law (Uphall) and Musselburgh’s Norman Huguet.

Qualifiers from the other 18-hole shoot-out included Scott Catlin and Iain Stoddart, the former and current pros at Greenburn respectively.

• Cameron Gallagher wins Boys order of Merit

Longniddry’s Cameron Gallagher held off a two-pronged Royal Burgess challenge to win this season’s Lothians Boys Order of Merit.

With 478 points, he finished 75 points ahead of second-placed Cameron Adam with Angus Rigby, another youngster at the Barnton club, 10 points further back in third.

Gallagher was a worthy winner, having managed to get in the points in nine out of the 13 counting events, including a win at Duddingston.