Result - McKelvie 4BBB Trophy. Queen’s, Yellow Tees, Saturday Oct 17th. (Copy)
From Frostbitten Spikes to Blazing Glory: Crockart and Bruce Master the McKelvie
A sharp, biting frost greeted the dawn patrol on Saturday morning over the Queen’s Course, coating James Braid’s fairways in an icy sheen and prompting serious whispers around the clubhouse of an inevitable delayed start. Thankfully, the sterling efforts of the Gleneagles greenkeeping staff paid off handsomely, giving the field the green light to proceed on schedule.
The opening holes, however, were an outright test of arctic survival. Thick rims of ice quickly caked themselves around spikes and jammed trolley wheels, while the frost-dappled greens ran painfully slow, leaving first putts woefully short and testy returners decidedly treacherous. Yet, as the morning wore on, the autumn sun burned through, giving way to pristine, clear blue skies and rising temperatures that set the stage for an absolute scoring bonanza.
Rising above the early freeze to produce the round of the season were Rob Crockart and David Bruce, who stormed to victory with a breathtaking, peerless better-ball net score of 60.
It was an inspired display of four-ball harmony. Bruce—who only three weeks ago suffered the indignity of coining "The Brucey" by leaving putts agonizingly short on twelve consecutive greens—found his touch with devastating precision once the ice thawed. Combined with Crockart’s metronomic accuracy off the tee, the pair dovetailed like seasoned tour professionals, carving four clear shots between themselves and the rest of the field to hoist the bespoke silver bowl crafted in memory of Past Captain and Council reformer George McKelvie.
Chasing gallantly behind them, David McLeod and Colin Campbell assembled an exceptional net 64 of their own to claim second spot, followed closely by veteran partners Bill Sexton and Sandy Grant on 65. The marquee pairing of in-form titans Allister Wallace and Ken Marshall carded a classy 66 for fourth, while a three-way tie on 67 featured Fletcher & Cantlay, Logie & Stirling, and the newly partnered O'Carroll & MacKenzie.
For this correspondent (Tariq Ali) and Past Captain Frank Johnson, the less said about our own frostbitten adventure that culminated in an early walk to the warmth of the Dormy, the better.
Our warmest congratulations go to Rob Crockart and David Bruce on a sensational victory and a masterclass in better-ball golf. A truly magnificent display to add to the rich lore of the McKelvie Trophy!
Taz
Wallace & Marshall looking resplendent in their outfits!