Draw - Jack Adams Trophy. Queen’s. Yellow Tee Stableford. Sat 18th July
The Jack Adams Trophy – A California Classic on the Queen's
This Saturday, Dun Whinny members return to the Queen's Course for the Jack Adams (Jnr) Stableford Trophy. Played from the yellow tees, the competition offers a different strategic challenge to our usual medal rounds, rewarding aggressive play and the ability to bounce back from the occasional visit to the gorse.
A Larger-than-Life Legacy
The trophy, first awarded in 1996, carries a history as colorful as the man who donated it. Jack Adams was known affectionately as “the big American”—a title well-earned by his 6'0" frame and a weight that conservatively tipped the scales at over 20 stone. A retired Vice President of the Crocker Bank from Carmel, California, Jack was a bridge between two great golfing worlds. He looked after prestigious clients in Carmel but spent his summers here at Gleneagles, becoming a popular and generous figure within Dun Whinny.
Jack’s wife, Willene, was equally embedded in the local golf scene as a former Captain of the Dunbracken Ladies. When Jack became unwell in the mid-90s and had to remain in California, he donated this trophy—a glass molding of a golfer set upon a silver-plated hardwood base—to reflect the years of joy he found as a member of our club.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
If last year's leaderboard is any indication, we are in for a tight contest. Mike Collier took the spoils twelve months ago with a solid 36 points, narrowly edging out Robert McCleary (35) and a chasing pack of heavy hitters like Andy Lothian, Billy Z McNeill, and David Logie, who all posted 34.
The forecast for Saturday looks promising, with warm weather and light winds predicted. It should be a terrific day for scoring, provided the morning fog—which has been a stubborn companion today—clears out to reveal the Queen's in her summer glory.
The draw will appear tomorrow. For now, refine your short game, channel some of Jack Adams’ famous California hospitality, and prepare for what should be a fantastic day’s golf.
Good luck to all competitors!
Jack Adams Trophy – The Draw
The draw is in, the forecast is encouraging, and the Queen’s Course awaits a strong field for Saturday’s Jack Adams Trophy. With warm temperatures and light winds expected—assuming the morning fog has finally packed its bags—there should be every opportunity for a healthy Stableford score.
Defending champion Mike Collier begins his title defence alongside Billy Z McNeill and Scott Williamson. It is an excellent opening group: Collier knows what it takes to win this trophy, while Billy Z remains one of the most reliable collectors of Stableford points in the club. Williamson, meanwhile, has enough game to make sure neither of them gets too comfortable.
A particularly interesting group brings together Michael Page, Ken Marshall and Rob Crockart. Page has been a regular name around the top of gross leaderboards this season, Marshall will be keen to continue the form that has put him firmly in contention in several events, and Crockart has the sort of tenacity that makes him dangerous even when his ball chooses an unconventional route around the Queen’s.
The following group of Paul Lewis, Alan Black and David Logie also demands attention. Logie’s class needs no introduction, and on a calm Queen’s from the yellow tees, he will be expected to threaten the better scores if the putter joins in. Lewis and Black are both more than capable of producing a quietly excellent Stableford card, making this a very well-balanced three-ball.
Further down the draw, Rob Simpson, Bill Sexton and Patrick Elsmie form another compelling trio. Elsmie continues to demonstrate strong net form, while Simpson and Sexton both have the resilience to recover points after the inevitable moment of Queen’s Course mischief.
The group of David Bruce, David Clarke and Colin Campbell is another to watch closely. Campbell’s consistency this season has been exceptional, and while Stableford can be wonderfully unpredictable, he arrives as one of the obvious favourites. If he gets off to a solid start, the rest of the field may be playing catch-up.
Elsewhere, Daley Smith, Mark Higham and Alan Penman contain serious quality. Higham has enjoyed a fine campaign and will fancy his chances, while the later group of Mark Nicolson, Neil Lock and Iain Aitchison brings together three capable players who could easily produce a late leaderboard challenge.
There are also several potential dark horses. Jon Cooper, Eric Lambert and Thomas McCulloch are a talented trio, while Jonathan Dickson, Aidan O’Carroll and Paul Kelly have enough individual flair—and enough previous adventures between them—to ensure their round is unlikely to lack incident. O’Carroll, in particular, will be hoping that the route towards the Gleneagles Hotel is not required this week.
With a field this competitive, the winner may well need to improve on last year’s winning mark of 36 points. The Queen’s from the yellow tees can reward bold play, but it will still punish overconfidence, especially around the greens.
Good luck to everyone taking part. May the fog clear, the putts drop, and the spirit of the big American himself inspire a memorable day.
