Family tussle settles scratch crown at 'best ever' Buckpool four day open
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THE scratch final of the Morlich Homes Buckpool Four Day Open was to prove an exciting family affair.
Cousins Michael Campbell and Owen Coull, who are both Buckpool golfers, faced off for the Scratch Hendry Cup with former claiming the silverware. It was the first time in the years they have been playing golf that they been pitched together in a final.
It was to signal a clean sweep of all the trophies up for grabs for the host club in a tournament which was described as one of the best four day opens to be played at Buckpool.
The Section 1 Seaview Cup trophy saw club vice-captain Duncan Lamont taste victory against clubmate Kyle Campbell while in the Section 2 Harbour Bar Cup Drew Bruce overcame the challenge of Cullen's Colin Ross.
The Section 3 Doran Cup final was another all-Buckpool affair, with Christopher Farquhar successfully jousting with Ewen Macdonald to savour claiming the title.
The number of entries were up, reaching 150 compared to 133 last year, first post-pandemic four day open to be held at Buckpool.
Club vice captain Duncan Lamont said: "I'd say it was definitely one of the best four day opens we've had, especially since Covid.
"It's one of the biggest entries we've ever had and we've really bounced back from the effects of the Covid pandemic. Things have been difficult as people's habits have changed and are just getting back to something like normal.
"It was good to see people mixing again and people coming up from further afield, including England and Wales, and to welcome back faces we haven't seen for the last six or seven years.
"The scratch final was certainly something different, with two cousins who've never met each other in a match doing so for the first time in the final of their home club's open. It was very close and went to the 19th hole.
"Overall the standard of golf was very high with the matches keenly contested.
"The weather was mainly OK. Wednesday was fine, dry and warm but the Thursday was very wet apart from a break in the afternoon. Friday was freezing in the morning but shorts and T-shirt weather in the afternoon while Saturday was warm with a bit of a breeze.
"The course was in excellent conditions, especially the greens which were very fast. There were no excuses not to produce good golf!"
