Kevin Riddell nudges his way to the 8th green to complete the third of six opening round birdies
It’s club championship week at Stonehaven Golf Club with competitors battling it out to become this year’s top dog. The format is straightforward strokeplay, ie. whoever strikes the ball the fewest number of times over 72 holes becomes club champ.
Short sleeves were the order of both opening days this weekend, the players basking in sunshine, soaking up the heat and enjoying a course looking the best it has all season. All the more reason then to be surprised by the number of casualties after the first round, several contenders playing themselves out of the tournament early doors.
Round One’s marquee group was unquestionably the 07:32 trio of Alex Russon (Junior Champion 1986), Kevin Riddell (Club Champion 2013, 2021, 2022, 2024) & Brian Davie (Arduthie Primary School Egg & Spoon Race Silver Medallist 1979). The cameras were trained in particular upon Russon, the group’s main attraction, the starstruck Riddell struggling to compose his nerves over the first two holes until finding his groove on the 3rd hole to register the opening birdie of his round. Further birdies came at 5, 8, 15, 16 & 17 to find him standing over a putt for a 60 on the final green, ushering it narrowly past and unfortunately missing the return. Still, when you’re tapping in to complete a remarkable round of 62 then you know you’re different gravy.
Meanwhile, Craig & Neil Irvine were elsewhere on the course compiling splendid scores in the 60’s themselves, as were Jason Barbour and Stuart Wright. Round Two found two of those names bettering Kevin Riddell’s level par 66 to set up an exciting final 36 holes over the forthcoming Wednesday and Friday evenings. There’s a gap between the top 3 and the rest of the field but all is certainly not lost for some. Neil Irvine and Iain Brattey remain in the mix and Alex Russon hovers menacingly, a mere thirty shots behind. His opening two rounds weren’t aided by his decision to switch from Titleist to Ping irons on the eve of the tournament, but his class began to shine through towards the end of the second round as he negotiated the tricky stretch of holes between 16 and 17 in level par. It’s not over until the fat lady sings and right now she hasn’t even climbed into her evening gown.
Top 10 After 36 Holes
128 (62,66) – Kevin Riddell
131 (66.65) – Craig Irvine
131 (66,65) – Jason Barbour
141 (69,72) – Neil Irvine
141 (73.68) – Iain Brattey
143 (71,72) – Michael Wood
145 (69,76) – Stuart Wright
147 (73,74) – Steve McGhie
148 (78,70) – Iain Macleod
148 (78,70) – Bruce Ferguson