Result- Blue/Yellow Tee Challenge. King’s. Sat 26th July.
Double Trouble at Gleneagles: Mitchell, Swa, and O’Carroll Steal the Show in a Day of Stableford Shenanigans
By our new correspondent, David McColgan, (edited by Taz)
Saturday 26th July 2025 will go down as a day of double jeopardy at Gleneagles, as the Dun Whinny Golf Club staged not one, but two Stableford competitions on the King’s Course. With the field split between the daunting blue tees and the slightly more forgiving (but still mischievous) yellow tees, the only thing more unpredictable than the Scottish weather was the leaderboard. By sunset, three names had etched themselves into club folklore: David Mitchell, who edged a blue tee thriller on countback, and the inseparable duo of Ken Swa and Aidan O’Carroll, who shared the yellow tee spoils after a deadlock that not even the most creative tiebreaker could split.
Blue Tee Bravery: Mitchell’s Methodical March
The day began under classic Scottish skies—grey, breezy, and with just enough drizzle to make you question your life choices. Sixteen hopefuls took on the King’s Course from its full 6,919-yard blue tee length—a test that’s less “golf course” and more “endurance event with flagsticks.” The Stableford format, with full handicaps, offered a glimmer of hope: even if you made a mess of one hole, you could always pick yourself up and chase points on the next.
Early groups set the tone, with Michael Collier’s 15-point round quickly falling by the wayside (rumour has it his scorecard is now being used as a cautionary tale in the clubhouse). The Good Doctore, Jonny Dickson fared better with 26, but it was Michael Page who really got the leaderboard humming. Page’s early run was a thing of beauty—points on the first five holes, mature play on the par-3s, and a par-par-par finish that would have made even the King’s Course architect nod in approval. Alas, a catastrophic 10 at the 12th nearly derailed his charge, but he rallied to finish joint-top on 34 points.
Enter David Mitchell, the day’s quiet assassin. Playing off 14, Mitchell’s round was a study in consistency. He survived the early gauntlet of tough holes, kept his card ticking with scoring on 13 of 18, and delivered a net birdie at the last to clinch victory on countback. His playing partners, Kevin Beattie (30 points) and Ewan Kinnear (19), provided the soundtrack—cheers, groans, and the occasional existential sigh.
Elsewhere, Kevin Dickson’s 33 points and Iain Aitchison’s 32 kept things interesting, while Rob Simpson’s 30-point effort was a model of technical soundness. The late starters, including Alastair Cantlay (29 points off a 3 handicap), battled rising winds and firming greens, proving that even the best can be humbled by the King’s.
The holes themselves played their usual tricks. The 4th (SI 1) was a destroyer of dreams, yielding zero birdies and just two net pars. The 6th and 18th offered rare scoring chances, while the 12th was a round-wrecker for more than one contender. In the end, Mitchell’s calm, deliberate approach was the blueprint for blue tee success—a reminder that, on the King’s, slow and steady often wins the race (and the medal).
Yellow Tee Drama: Swa and O’Carroll’s Shared Triumph
If the blue tees are a test of stamina, the yellow tees are a test of nerve. The course shrinks to a “mere” 6,419 yards, but don’t be fooled: the King’s still has plenty of bite, especially when the Perthshire breezes decide to join the party.
The early group, led by Michael Cantlay (34 points), Bill Sexton (32), and David Watt (26), set a respectable benchmark. Cantlay’s round was a model of steadiness, with net pars galore and a closing birdie look on 18. Sexton’s mid-round surge was undone by a bogey-double-double finish, while Watt’s par-par close was too little, too late after a front nine best forgotten.
But the real drama came from the 08:40 group, where Ken Swa and Aidan O’Carroll staged a duel for the ages. Swa, off 20, built his round on consistency, making the turn with 18 points and finishing with a composed 17 on the back nine. O’Carroll, playing off 13, matched him blow for blow, with a back nine that was a masterclass in control. Both men finished on 35 points, tied on gross, Stableford, and countback—a result so rare the scorer had to double-check the maths (and possibly the whisky supply).
The rest of the field had mixed fortunes. Allister Wallace’s 29 points were hard-earned after a volatile front nine, while Alan Penman’s 27-point round was a lesson in missed opportunities with the putter. The King’s, even in yellow, proved it doesn’t do “easy.”
The King’s Course: Always the Star
Across both competitions, the King’s Course was the true protagonist. From the blue tees, it was a beast—long, demanding, and utterly unforgiving. From the yellow, it was subtler but no softer, with stroke index 1 at the 4th and SI 2 at the 15th asking tough questions all day. The 4th, in particular, was a heartbreaker, with only one player (Penman) carding a net par in the yellow tee event.
Scoring holes like the 6th and 14th were pivotal, and those who capitalised—Mitchell, Page, Swa, and O’Carroll—found themselves at the top of the leaderboard. Yet, despite the lower yardage from the yellow tees, no one exceeded 35 points, a testament to the King’s enduring challenge.
Winners’ Circle: Acknowledging the Champions
So, hats off to David Mitchell, whose blue tee victory was a masterclass in course management and composure. And a hearty handshake to Ken Swa and Aidan O’Carroll, who proved that sometimes, sharing is indeed winning—especially when the course refuses to play favourites.
As the Dun Whinny season rolls on and the Order of Merit tightens, these results will be remembered not just for the scores, but for the way they were achieved: with grit, guile, and just enough good humour to survive the King’s Course with dignity (and most of their golf balls) intact.
If you’re looking for a lesson, it’s this: on the King’s, fortune favours the steady, the strategic, and, occasionally, those who can laugh at a triple bogey. See you next month—bring your A-game, and maybe a spare umbrella.
