Result - Summer Meeting. King’s. Sat August 2nd.
Higham Shines as Summer Meeting Brings Three-Way Net Showdown at Gleneagles
By our Golf Correspondent, David McColgan.
The second act of Dun Whinny’s medal trilogy took centre stage at the King’s Course on Saturday 2nd August, with the Summer Meeting delivering a masterclass in pressure golf, late-round drama, and tactical grit. Played under clear Perthshire skies on firm, fast fairways with testing greens, the course was unforgiving from the outset.
As pins danced on plateaus and nestled behind bunkers, Gleneagles once again demanded players bring not only their skill — but their composure. Mark Higham answered that call in emphatic style, delivering the best gross score of the day with an 80, while the net contest produced a three-way tie, with Higham, Kevin Beattie and Patrick Elsmie all carding net 72s.
But beneath the top lines of the leaderboard was a field brimming with stories: comebacks, collapses, and key turning points that now shape the destiny of both season-long trophies.
Higham’s Composed 80 Leads the Field
If the Summer Meeting was a test in staying calm while all around you fell apart, Mark Higham aced it. His gross 80 was a model of control — the only player in the field to break 85 on a day when even low-handicappers struggled to tame the slick greens and swirling crosswinds.
Higham’s round was built on consistency. He played the opening six holes in just 27 strokes, navigating the tough 3rd and 4th — two of the trickiest holes on the King’s — without major damage. On the back nine, he avoided any doubles and closed with steady pars on 17 and 18, finishing the round with a calmness that eluded many of his rivals.
His net 72, playing off a handicap of 8, also placed him in a tie at the top of the net standings — a rare feat in Medal play. He left Gleneagles not only with the day’s best gross, but with real momentum heading into September’s Autumn Meeting.
Three-Way Net Tie: Beattie, Elsmie and Higham Share the Spoils
While Higham was navigating his way to a gross victory, Kevin Beattie and Patrick Elsmie were quietly mounting net challenges of their own.
Beattie, playing off 17, delivered a gritty 89 that translated into a net 72, matching Higham’s total. His round was highlighted by a stretch of net par, net birdie, net par from holes 13–15 — a section of the course where many others saw their cards torn apart.
Elsmie, meanwhile, produced arguably his best golf of the season. His gross 93, while not spectacular on paper, was punctuated by long spells of control. A run of five consecutive net pars around the turn showed a player in command of his tempo and trajectory. His reward? A share of the net spoils — and a jump up the Championship Cup leaderboard.
Other Notable Performances
David McColgan continued his consistent campaign. His gross 84 was enough for fourth on the day, following an 81 in the Spring Meeting. Though he fell four short of Higham, his position atop the Duncrub Trophy standings is now underlined in bold.
Ken Marshall turned in another strong showing. His gross 86 and net 75 didn’t win prizes on the day but kept him firmly in contention for both trophies. His front nine 42 was among the best in the field.
Rob Crockart shot a gross 91, but his net 76 was built on solid foundations, with a par-par-bogey run from 6–8 and no triple bogeys on the card.
Craig Scott matched his Spring gross of 92 with another 92. His front nine 44 kept him close early, but dropped shots over Amen Corner saw him fall away late.
Andy Barton, who blew the field apart in the Spring Meeting, struggled to replicate with a gross 95 (net 84).
Trophy Standings After Two Legs
🏆 Championship Cup – Best Two Net Scores
Kevin Beattie’s steady two-round tally of 141 puts him at the summit, with Elsmie’s improvement vaulting him into the mix. Barton, despite a disappointing Summer round, remains very much alive heading into the final leg.
🥇 Duncrub Scratch Trophy – Best Two Gross Scores
McColgan’s back-to-back low 80s make him the man to beat. Higham’s Summer resurgence has propelled him into contention, but he’ll need another strong showing in September — and help from others — to climb onto the Duncrub podium.
Setting the Stage for September
As the Medal Series heads into its final chapter, the Autumn Meeting promises to be the most dramatic yet. With tight margins across both leaderboards, there’s everything to play for.
Beattie knows that a mid-70s net round in September could lock up the Championship Cup, but players like Barton and Elsmie are within one good round of stealing it.
For McColgan, the Duncrub Trophy is his to lose — but only just. A round in the high 80s could open the door to Marshall or Barton, whose games seem to trend one way or the other depending on the day. He’s also got players like McGill (82), Logie (73), Lock (75) and Moran (76) who all have great scores and need to record a second counting round in the Autumn meeting but must surely be considered contenders as well.
The King’s Course has already tested this field twice. In a few short weeks, it will ask its final question. And this time, there will be no second chances.